In the Configuration tab of the Network dialog box, click the Add button. The Select

Chapter 11 ✦ Accessing the Network with Various Operating Systems Apple has made it easy to add Mac to Windows networks and to share files and printers with them. Older Mac operating systems, such as System 7 or 8, need help connecting by use of a third-party program. However, Mac OS X is easy to connect to the network and enables you to view other Windows computers and use their files and printers. Linux is another matter altogether. Linux has so many different distributions that it is difficult to discuss in a book like this. If you know Linux and you understand its features, you can eas- ily add it to a Windows network, however. Adding Windows XP Windows XP comes in two editions: Home and Professional. The Home Edition is not as full of features as the Professional Edition of Windows XP. As for networking, Windows XP Home Edition has built-in support for workgroup networking, but to include only five computers. In addition, you cannot connect to a server with a true NOS or a domain. A domain is a way to divide large networks into smaller segments; you won’t need a domain in your home or small- business office. Microsoft also has an edition of Windows XP for the tablet PC. Windows XP for the tablet is very much the same as Windows XP for a desktop or notebook, especially in networking. The few differences with the operating system have to do with inputting information. For more about the tablet PC, see the section, “Considering tablets” later in this chapter. You might not need a domain in your small-business office, but many small businesses use domains. You can use a domain to learn more about Windows 2000 Server, or you can use a domain in case you plan to expand your business, merge your business, or extend the business to remote sites in the future. If you do plan to use domains in your network, make sure you use Windows XP Professional instead of Windows XP Home Edition. Setting Up the Network With either the Home Edition or the Professional Edition, Windows XP detects the presence of a network card and automatically creates a connection named Local Area Connection. The network card can be of any type: wireless, Ethernet, phone line, or power line. The Local Area Connection is located in the Network Connections folder, as shown in Figure 11-2. Open the Network Connections dialog box by right-clicking the My Network Places and choosing Properties. You open the Local Area Connection by right-clicking it and choosing Properties. The connec- tion shows the type of card that Windows XP detected, as shown in Figure 11-3. Chapter 10 explains how to configure the card and to install the network software necessary to complete the network. See that chapter for more information. Small Business Tip Note