Winn L. Rosch Hardware Bible, Sixth Edition

Chapter 12. Local Area Networking

Computers are conspirators. They owe most of their success to deviously working together, subverting the established order like Bolsheviks plotting the overthrow of the Czar. Each computer by itself can be safely contained and controlled in a home or office. Linked together, however, and there's no telling what mischief they will get into. They might join together to pass subversive messages (which we call email). They might pool their resources so they can take advantage of powers beyond their capabilities and budgets (such as sharing a printer or a high-speed Internet connection). They can be each others' eyes and ears, letting them pry into affairs halfway around the world. They can gather information about ...