Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!torsqnt!lethe!yunexus!rreiner From: rreiner@yunexus.YorkU.CA (Richard Reiner) Newsgroups: comp.sys.laptops Subject: Re: Zero Slot LANs query Message-ID: <14593@yunexus.YorkU.CA> Date: 1 Sep 90 16:24:52 GMT References: <3860002@hpsgm2.sgp.hp.com> <911@iceman.jcu.oz> Organization: York U. Computing Services Lines: 22 zlraa@iceman.jcu.oz (Ross Alford) writes: >I have experimented with these and found them a pain if all you want is >to transfer files. They require device drivers, etc installed on both >machines, and also usually want both machines to be running the same version >of DOS. True, The $25 Network requires device drivers to be installed at both ends, and it does require that you be running the same *major* revision of MessDOS at both ends (i.e. 3.3 is OK with 3.1, but not with 2.1). However, it gives you more than your ZIP utility delivers: not only can you transfer files, but you can do so without slaving one machine to the other, and you can view directories, execute programs, and so on from the remote disks just as if they were local. Plus you can share character devices like printers. So I agree: if *all* you want to do is transfer files, and making one machine a slave is not a problem, don't bother with a zero-slot LAN. Otherwise, you can't beat The $25 Network. #include