On  2 Jun 98 at 15:03, Allen Chetwood wrote:

> -----Original Message-----
> From: David A Abbe <[log in to unmask]>
>
> >Any ideas on the least expensive way for two computers running
> >win95a  to share a printer?  It will be about a 5 foot run for one
> >computer, and anywhere from 60 to 80 foot for the other.  One
> >person has suggested "Network in a Box"... which has 2 NIC's
> >(Network Interface Cards).. the BNC cabling that would go between
> >each, and the ethernet software which runs about $89 dollars?
> >Along with that purchase, the computers could also share resources
> >as an added benefit, so I've heard.
>
>
> I have read most of the other posts on this thread and they say
> the sometimes there is a problem with networking the printer on a
> windows 95 peer to peer setup. Might I suggest a "low tech"
> solution that I use for my two computers, a switching box. I bought
> a Data Switch made by Belkin with an A and B selection. It has
> worked just fine for me and I've had it for about 6 months.

  I did considr suggesting something like this, but am not sure that
it's workable or reliable when one of the computers is 60-80 feet
away:

1.  I don't recall the maximum reliable distance for a parallel
printer cable, but I think it's somewhere between 50 and 150 feet.

2.  I wouldn't want to trudge all that way to flip the switch, then
all the way back to my PC to hit the "OK" button on the "Print"
dialog, hoping that my partner doesn't flip the switch back before I
get there.

David G