Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : Frank Coluccio Technology Forum - ASAP -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Frank A. Coluccio who wrote (261)	11/6/1999 9:27:00 PM
From: Jay Lowe	Respond to of 1782

>> surprised by the fact that no one has suggested any wireless - server space was mentioned ... which to me includes space for stuff that goes with servers - don't install fiber now ... use the delta in price between fiber components (esp. NICs!) to pay for the PVC ... pull the fiber through later ... could change-out the house system in less than a day, termination, NICs, and all. Fiber buys nothing in the home today. - any future wireless products are most likely to operate off termination points compatible with Ethernet, or directly connected with servers ... I see the proposed infrastructure perfectly compatible with future wireless options. - Re server, router, proxy, firewall, etc ... it's very hard to make an argument against installing Win2k ... it's all right there in the box ... and MS has put a LOT of effort into making it useable in SOHO contexts. I focused on installing a conduit system and commodity LAN components because I think this approach is both cheaper and more functional moving into the future. Any counter-argument to this approach (all fiber now, wireless now) fails against the rock of their incompleteness. No one of these technologies currently handles all the home functionality at a reasonable price/performance level. Fiber will someday. Wireless will someday. They don't currently. Example: Install fiber or wireless now, and you'll still have to pull cable for the HVAC control, or some other not-yet-integrated function. Instead of thinking CAT-5, or RG, or fiber, or ??? ... think pipes and strings ... then you are ready for anything. Pipes and strings are the most "integrated solution" ... funny, eh? They create the most options at the cheapest price. They enable use of cheap, commonly available, commodity components which offer the best performance/price. In the future, there will be wireless or fiber "total home solutions" ... but they are just beginning to take shape now ... and buying into any current approach leaves one open to ... yes, sawing sheetrock later. All this is apropos the question "what to do now?" By the time "pipes and string" is not the answer, new homes will be built with fiber or wireless commodity solutions. And want to bet folks will still pull wires in those homes?

To: Frank A. Coluccio who wrote (261)	11/6/1999 9:45:00 PM
From: Valueman	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 1782

Frank: More options to ponder! How about a server location? Have you contemplated the need for a server, an harmonica hub or brouter, and some LAN extensions to back up devices and shared printers, as well? This is out of my area of expertise. The server and network will be something new to my home, so I have a lot of research to do in that area. In regards to wireless, is it not, by its very nature, something one does not need to pre-plan for? Bluetooth should allow for mods at the computer/notebook/handheld to allow the communications to occur. My wireless connection to Sprint's HDR system should be a PCI board(maybe NGIO by then!) with a small antenna. Better yet, my laptop will have a CDMA ASIC on the motherboard, as may my server. So, for now, I'll have to tote my laptop around and plug it in to the data ports in each room. While I remain tethered to the suburban copper, I see no alternative. We'll be the last to get DSL, if ever, last to get a cable broadband pipe. Now, I have heard about wireless connectivity around the home, but I have not explored that yet. My only hope is a two way satellite based service, and nobody has gone forward with a sensible solution there yet. I still find it unthinkable that nobody has latched on to ViaSat's planned system. It would use a GEO satellite, provide a 256K uplink, shared 30Mbps downlink, for a $30/month all you can eat internet connection. I've used the system, and it works great. It would be a godsend for broadband-hungry suburbanites and rural folks.