pc - mac broadband connection

bimbozo · 11-07-2004, 15:55

I have a pc downstairs and an apple ibook laptop upstairs. At the moment the pc is conneted to ntl broadband. I want to connect the laptop to the broadband connection with out having to pay another bill. I have been told by pc world that routers cannot connect pcs and macs together is this true? is there another way of doing it?

danielf · 11-07-2004, 16:00

to the site bimbozo. I don't think that should be a problem.

Have a look at the following thread:

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/sh...ad.php?t=13952

I think the last post (by Bizbo) sums it up. File sharing might be a problem, but other than that, any router would do.

Mr Clean · 11-07-2004, 16:09

I cant see how there can be a problem. A router sharing a connection with PC and A MAC. It's all internet. MAC's come with Ethernet ready anyway.

Like Danielf said, there might be a problem sharing files between the PC and the MAC but if it's just internet you require you should be sound.

eddie00001 · 11-07-2004, 16:13

There is no problem with sharing a connection. My mate has a Netgear router with one PC (Win XP) one Mac (OS 9) and his Xbox and never has a problem.

Neil · 11-07-2004, 16:49

Moved to Computers/Technology Forum.

**Chris** · 11-07-2004, 17:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by bimbozo

I have a pc downstairs and an apple ibook laptop upstairs. At the moment the pc is conneted to ntl broadband. I want to connect the laptop to the broadband connection with out having to pay another bill. I have been told by pc world that routers cannot connect pcs and macs together is this true? is there another way of doing it?

This tells you more about the technical competence of PC world than the technical ability of a router.

Stuart · 11-07-2004, 18:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by bimbozo

I have a pc downstairs and an apple ibook laptop upstairs. At the moment the pc is conneted to ntl broadband. I want to connect the laptop to the broadband connection with out having to pay another bill. I have been told by pc world that routers cannot connect pcs and macs together is this true? is there another way of doing it?

Another example of PCWorld bull.

There is no reason why you cannot use PCs and Macs on the same network, through the same router. The protocols used on the internet are a worldwide standard, and are platform independant.

As long as you have at least OSX 10.2 (Jaguar) then you can also share files over the network (the Mac will see the shared files on the PC).

Edit: One good site I found for helping integrate Macs and PCs: http://www.macwindows.com

macuser_e7 · 12-07-2004, 15:52

Never ask for advice in PC World!

My wife and I share our NTL broadband connection between her XP laptop and my G4 PowerMac with no problems at all.

We can also listen to the music stored on each other's machines via iTunes, access each other's hard drives as servers and copy files to and from them.

We use an Airport basestation as the router, but any router will do the same job.

bimbozo · 10-09-2004, 19:05

now ive been told the nbest way to do it is to go wireless!, does this mean i have to get an airport card and the base station or just the card and which router im sooooo confused!!!1

Stuart · 10-09-2004, 23:01

The Airport and Airport Express* cards work with standard Wireless routers (I know, I have one). It's a clever marketing ploy by Apple to make you think they only work with the Airport base station.

*Airport express is faster, but I believe you need at least a G4 based Mac or iBook to use it. You can check on the Apple website which is compatible with your Mac

macuser_e7 · 10-09-2004, 23:55

You need to check which Airport card is compatible with your particular iBook. The two cards are designed differently and have a different set of connectors, so they're not interchangeable.

If you need the original Airport card you'll have to hunt around to get one as Apple no longer make or sell them. Ebay is a good source, but prices are rising. If it's an Airport Express you need any Apple reseller will have them in stock, though with Apple's online store offering to match the best price you can find elsewhere you may as well go to them.

Whichever one it is you need, it will work with any wifi router/basestation, not just with the Apple ones. They are pretty straightforward to set up, so you shouldn't have any trouble.

Lew · 11-09-2004, 14:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by scastle

The Airport and Airport Express* cards work with standard Wireless routers (I know, I have one). It's a clever marketing ploy by Apple to make you think they only work with the Airport base station.

*Airport express is faster, but I believe you need at least a G4 based Mac or iBook to use it. You can check on the Apple website which is compatible with your Mac

You mean AirPort Extreme, btw. AirPort Express is the mini base station

Stuart · 11-09-2004, 15:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mimizuku no Lew

You mean AirPort Extreme, btw. AirPort Express is the mini base station

Whoops....