Computers at Home

Although the image above is an Osborne I, no, I don't have one of those at home, thank you. Actually my first home computer was an IBM PC in 1986 (512K with two floppies), but that is a whole other story.

This section of my web page is intended to explain the configuration I use for writing these pages. I am typing on An Apple PowerBook G4 through a wireless connection to an Apple Airport Extreme. The Airport Extreme acts as a router for this computer and is connected to a Surfboard Cable Modem. Our cable service is provided by Adelphia. In addition to routing the connection to this Computer (the wireless Titanium PowerBook), the Airport Extreme is also acting as a router for three other computers: 1) A Dell PC running Windows XP home edition, 2) An Apple Strawberry iMac (333 MHz), and 3) A Compaq PC running Windows 98. My wife uses the Compaq, Maya and Sara use the Dell and the iMac.

In addition to the Airport Extreme, there is also a Compaq iPaq server forming a fast ethernet connection between the three stationery computers. That iPaq server with only three outputs is connected in Parallel to a NetGear four outlet hub so that an HP JetDirect 300x printserver can provide service to an OfficeJet G85 Printer. Oh, yes, that printer is also a FAX and a scanner.

I learned how to do a good deal of this networking from the outstanding computer people at my workplace, including Bailey Kessing.

My one complaint at this moment is that Apple has not made its Airport Extreme compatible with the HP OfficeJet G85. In fact, they have made the decision that it is too unwieldy to publish a compatible list of printers, and so some British hackers have published one of their own! (you can read about that HERE). Therefore, I am still not able to print wirelessly to my networked printer.

I am still in the midst of trying to solve that problem.