Advantages of Networking

 

Introduction.  As we have briefly mentioned, there are disadvantages to not having networked computers such as limiting the abilities to transfer data.  There are plenty of other disadvantages, but the following list is an effort to summarize many of them.
  • Sharing Output Devices
    • printers
    • graphics display
    • presentation
    • plotters
    • copiers
    • faxes
  • Sharing Input Devices
    • scanners
    • digital cameras
    • video
    • midi devices
    • touch screens
  • Sharing Storage Devices
    • hard disks
    • floppy disks
    • CD-ROM drives
    • tape backup
    • SANs - Storage Area Networks
  • Network Connections
    • modems
    • DSL lines
    • cable lines
    • ISDN lines
    • T1 lines
    • T3 lines
  • Sharing Data and Applications
    • databases
    • software packages
    • e-mail
    • download sources
    • collaborative software

It has now become fairly commonplace for people to have home computers that they can hook up to a network through something like a phone line, cable line or DSL line.  Some of these require modems, others require particular network interface cards.  It is also possible to link home computers together on their own internal network to make use of common resources and link up to a network.

These sorts of network connections allow users to have a web presence and engage in e-commerce.  They also allow the user to surf other networks, typically connected to each other on the internet.  People are able to do everything from online learning to telecommute.  The following list details many of the services available on the internet.

  • e-mail
  • remote login (Telnet)
  • transferring files (FTP)
  • newsgroup (Usenet)
  • the world wide web (WWW)