Gateway 200STM, User Manual

Page: 185 / 316

179
Selecting a network connection
www.gateway.com
Assessing your connection needs
To select the type of network that will work best for you, consider how you
will use your network.
HPNA
An HPNA network is appropriate if:
■
Your home, small office, or home office has a telephone jack with the
same telephone number in each room that has a device you want to
connect
■
You have several Windows-based computers that are used for drive
sharing, printing to a single printer, or surfing the Internet
■
Your computer has one of the following:
■
An HPNA jack for connecting to a telephone jack
■
A USB port to connect to a HPNA adapter
■
Cost savings is more important than network speed
■
Your connection speed needs are less than 10000 Kbps (see “Comparing
data transfer speed” on page 180)
Ethernet
An Ethernet or Fast Ethernet network is appropriate if:
■
You are building a new home or your existing home already has Ethernet
cable installed in each room that has a device you want to connect
■
You are creating a network in an office or business
■
Network speed is more important than cost savings
■
You have a combination of Windows-based computers and
non-Windows-based computers that are used for drive sharing, printing
to a single printer, or surfing the Internet
■
Your computer has an Ethernet jack for connecting to the network