Everyone surfs happilyIt may seem like a long time ago but only a few years back, many families had only one computer at home. This meant the only one person can use it to surf the Internet at any one time.

Today, thanks to the convenience of home networking and broadband access, you no longer need to take turns to use the computer. Furthermore, with MaxOnline’s high-speed broadband Internet access, it’s easy for multiple users to log on to the Internet at the same time.

Having a common printer and CD burnerConnecting all your computers in a home network also means that you can share the computing resources among family members.

If you have a new PC that is fitted with a speedy CD burner, you can share that drive with others at home who don’t have a CD burner. All you have to do is copy your files to the new PC and burn the CD from there.

Similarly, you can share a printer with a home network. Some broadband routers let you connect directly to them so that every computer can “see” the printer. This is like sharing a printer in the office. It saves money on a second printer and also maximizes the use of a new printer.

Sharing your photos and videos
Besides sharing hardware, you can also share photos and videos with everyone at home. When all the computers are hooked up, you can transfer your holiday photos and videos from one to another. So, if you want to share your precious moments with your parents, just send the photos over the network!

Backing up your files
A home network is also a way of backing up important files. Nobody likes to lose their data, like written reports, spreadsheets or holiday photos. One way to back them up is to copy them to another computer.

For example, if one of the computers has a defective hard disk, it is a good idea to transfer the important files over to another PC while you get it replaced. With a network at home, backing up your files is easy and convenient.

Playing multiplayer games
A home network is also for fun and games. Father and son can test out their football skills on FIFA 2005, for example, if two computers at home are installed with the game. With a network in place, all you have to do is initiate the challenge!

You can also host a game and invite friends to log on to your computer to play a multiplayer game. Don’t like shooting down the bad guys alone? Enlist the help of your friends – you can invite them over virtually while your parents surf the Internet quietly in their rooms. All with just one MaxOnline connection.

Surf anywhere you want
It’s also much easier to set up a network these days, thanks to technological advancements. Key to the popularity of home networking is also the availability of wireless networking gear for the home.

With wireless technology known as Wi-Fi, people can hook up their computers without using any network cables, as was the case in the past. This means that you don’t need to lay cables all over at home and worry about wiring up your house.

With wireless home networking, you can virtually surf anywhere you want at home, because the data is transmitted through the air. So, if you want to cozy up in bed while doing a quick scan of the day’s news, do so with a wireless-enabled PDA in your hand. You can still enjoy MaxOnline broadband speeds even when you are in bed!

Watch your movies anywhereIn future, home networking will bring you even more benefits, one of which is wireless streaming. People are starting to make use of wireless networks at home to send multimedia streams to their hi-fi or AV equipment at home.

Today, there are adapters which connect an audio player or TV set wirelessly to a computer. This means you can stream your MP3 songs and holiday pictures to a hi-fi set and a TV respectively. In short, it is entertainment anytime anywhere.

With wireless home networking, the possibilities are boundless. It means that, in future, you will be able to experience your multimedia data – be it photos, songs, games or videos – on any home AV equipment. Don’t like to watch a streaming trailer on your PC? Send it wirelessly to your plasma TV!