Can one have a wireless router and a wired router at the same time? I'm thinking I might do that, with the netbook as wireless.

I'm not sure what a NAS device is. I have a 74GB external hard drive for my current backups.

 

Like Gary said, you can get a router that has both wired and wireless capabilities. I have 4 wired ports and one wireless port on my Linksys router.

Not sure what the NAS device is, but I'm going to research it now.

 

Typically, you only have one router. Choosing one with wireless capabilities will still have some wired ports. (I don't have DSL or FIOS, but cable provided internet - some things below may be similar but not exact.) You can add switches/hubs as required to allow more devices to share one wire. A router can do this as well, but only ONE router can actually have routing capabilities or you'll have problems.

A typical configuration has your cable line/DSL line coming into the house. That 'wire' goes to your cable modem. If you only have one 'PC' that typically gets connected with an Ethernet cable to your PC.

The router goes between your cable modem and PC(s). A wired only version has 2, 4, 8 even 16 or 32 connections for wired devices. A wireless has the same, plus an antenna or two that broadcast a wireless signal. Your wireless devices work using a wireless protocol, where the wired devices use the wired connection to talk to the router, which then acts with the cable modem to allow data outside of your house and to the general internet.

My house looks like this:
Cable IN - goes to Cable Modem in Basement.
Cable Modem OUT goes to Wireless Router in Basement.
Wireless Router OUT 1 through 4 go to a set of wired jacks in the basement that run to other jacks in the Finished Basement, Living Room, Home Office, Master Bedroom.
The Finished Basement has a 'live wired connection'.
The Master Bedroom has a live wired connection.
The Living room connection goes to a 4 port hub. My Xbox, A/V Receiver, Blu-Ray player and extra empty wire are all connected there.
The Home Office has an 8 port hub where 2 network printers, 2 NAS devices, my PC a laptop docking station all connect.
My iPad, GF's laptop, or visitors use the wireless connection.

A NAS (Network Attached Storage) device is an external hard disk. However, your 74 GB one requires your PC to be up and running and the PC sees the drive. A NAS device doesn't require a connection to a specific PC, it attaches to the network directly. It allows all devices on the network to use the disk. All of my devices I listed below can see the NAS devices I have to store data, music, etc... My A/V receiver can play music from the NAS device without my PC being on. My GF can share data files with me without being on my PC.

I was going to point you to wikipedia for NAS devices description, but its not described very well. If I find a good link, I'll update it.

I guess the one thing to consider in all of this - What do YOU do with your PC. Who else is at the house that needs to use/share/have access. Everyone's solutions above, including mine, may be completely invalid for your needs.

 

If you're going Windows based I'd definitely recommend one of the 64 bit Windows 7 versions. You can address memory above the 4 GB limit of 32 bit operating systems and they are very fast.

 

Dave,
I don't know what you have for peripherals, printers etc that you will will want to re-use but here is a data poin to remember.
if you go windows environment the current release you get will be windows 7.
there are several flavors of windows 7 but the most prominent are home and professional.
A lot of the vendors did not release updated drivers for window7.
but a nice feature of professional 64 bit is the ability to have a virtual Xp machine.

it's like running your old operating system but on your new machine.
all ( most at least) of your old programs can run in the Xp window, this includes things like camera drivers etc.

 

Thank You I've had Apples for about 7 years now. No plans of going back to the evil empire

My next Apple will have an Intel processor and will allow me to run both the Apple operating system that comes with it, plus install and Windows when I want Internet Explorer to test the web sites I build.

I would never consider a "desktop" again - laptops are just so much more versatile. Two machines is a PITA. My one does it all... pics, music, video, movies, programming, graphics, you name it.

Hoping to afford a new machine by this time next year as I really need an upgrade, but something blue in the driveway seems to suck up all my money

 

Gary, Thank you for the full explanation.

As you suggested I have simple system and simple needs. I have a Comcast cable to a cable modem, and through a 4-port wired ethernet router to a desktop. Other devices are a scanner, a printer/scanner, a external hard drive, and a 7-port USB hub. All the hardware is within arms length.

Do I understand correctly, If I switch to a wireless router I can still run a wire from it to the pc?

Do I still get the same protection level as I have now? I was under the impression having the wired router was an excellent protection against hackers; whereas, wireless is much more exposed unless you have complex passwords, etc.

Bolt, the operating system that comes with Asus I’m considering is listed as Windows 7 Home Premium. Is there anyway to know before hand what might be lost without the proper drivers? I’ve got a couple cameras, an old Palm, etc,

Ellen, as we know there are two camps out there and I’ve heard preaching from the Apple camp for years how great it is. If there was a store and assistance nearby, I’d try it again. But based on my past experience I not going out on limb, there’s not enough fruit there. I had to take over as a club newspaper editor from a lady who had a Apple pc. She died suddenly. There was no local help and all my background was Windows. It wasn’t fun, nor easy, and even when a “Mac” friend travel across the state to help, we could not dig out all the files we wanted. She was part of the ‘art and media’ crowd who I realize generally think it’s wonderful.

Thanks again for the interest and feedback.

 

Dave, thanks for sharing your research.

I've rarely used laptops and I agree the keyboards are "different." Would take some getting used to I suppose.

My sister spent around that amount you mentioned for her netbook, and made sure it had a keyboard she was comfortable with.

I think that is the route I'd go if I wanted a portable unit. There's not much room in the S for a full size laptop.

 

I have both Apple and a PC - the laptop is a13 inch MAC Book and the PC is a local build that is about 5 years old. I've reciently moved to Windows 7 and am learning that OS. The next issue I have with the PC will result in a move to a 21 inch iMAC. We have both wired and wireless (MacBook) available at the house. We travel with the Mac Book even to Europe.

 

Guess you ignored my post.

Here is the Linksys router I was speaking of. It has 4 wired ports as well as wireless capability. Linksys Wired/Wireless Router

If you carefully read the description, you can see that it handles both. Also, you can set it to be password protected so that only those that know the password are able to access your network.