What's on your home network? Part 2

Good news! Turns out our newsletter readers are on the leading edge of home network technology after all. As you recall, recent internal Network World research suggested readers are attaching only basic devices (computers, printers), and ignoring the fancier ones (VoIP boxes, personal video recorders, media centers).

But when I asked you what’s on your network, plenty of you piped up:

From Bob S: "I’m using a laptop with a Wi-Fi card 802.11b. I have a wireless router, a wireless print server - a great addition to my network - and VoIP box. All are working fine, so I dumped my Verizon land line and could keep my number when I switched to Vonage.

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Good news! Turns out our newsletter readers are on the leading edge of home network technology after all. As you recall, recent internal Network World research suggested readers are attaching only basic devices (computers, printers), and ignoring the fancier ones (VoIP boxes, personal video recorders, media centers).

But when I asked you what’s on your network, plenty of you piped up:

From Bob S: "I’m using a laptop with a Wi-Fi card 802.11b. I have a wireless router, a wireless print server - a great addition to my network - and VoIP box. All are working fine, so I dumped my Verizon land line and could keep my number when I switched to Vonage.

"I might get some network-attached storage [NAS] for backup by the end of the year. I’m not much into digital audio or video - I’d rather get a large-screen HDTV and/or a digital projector, if I could hook them up to a media center. But only if the cost of replacement bulbs comes down."

From Ed B: "I have a file server, fax server, RAID arrays for online storage, and four Web cameras. My wife says I suffer from gadget-itis. I am OK with that."

From Mark W:" My wired home network consists of multiple printers, a wireless subnet, many PCs, and until recently, a PC cluster.  I use a wireless subnet for laptops and bedroom PCs.

On my wish list are:

• NAS: But I’ll likely get a USB drive for backup first if those prices come down.
• Net-based PVR: This market is too new and product pricing is high.
• Media center: To go with or bundled with PVR.
• Home control: I’ve used X-10 extensively, but have been disappointed with instability.
• Server appliance."

Of course, we also got feedback from readers asking why we’d want to connect all this stuff. For instance, TJ writes:

"Maintaining your home or small-office network with just the regular stuff takes time and talent.  Adding things that can work well on their own just adds network admin time. Let’s face it, I can attach a PVR to my cable/TV and watch just as easily and more comfortably than in my computer chair. Plus, recording to your computer means more headaches. My NAS is an external hard disk drive that’s simple to move and share on a network.  I'll be getting a NAS device for our office network in the future, but see little need for one at home. 

"Look at all the other devices. You don’t need to connect them all to the PC to get the experience in some way. And, if you do connect them, the system requirements and cost for your PC escalate. Where's the benefit or ROI for connecting them? It just isn’t there yet."
 
TJ makes an interesting point. Are we jumping the gun in trying to connect everything to our home networks? Or does it help us discover interesting applications and usages? Again, send any thoughts along to kshaw@nww.com

Read more about home networks in Network World's Home Networks section.