Networking 2 PC's

[Spartan73]

Hi Guys - Id be really grateful for some advice please as I'm a bit confused as to how I go about this -

 

Other than internet purposes Im kinda clueless on networking ( 2 computers together )

 

I have a couple of questions.....

 

 

1. Is there some sort of a quick guide to networking page someone would kindly point me to please?

 

2. When you network 2 Pcs together - Is it possible to use a Programme ( ie Office ) installed on one machine - by the other PC?

 

3.As My main Pc is in my office - and I just need to create and print invoices about 2 metres away at my sales counter ( secondary printer also ) - Am I better off using the same machine - with a dual graphics card and have 2 monitors and KB/Mice ( 1 set at the point of sale ) all running off the same machine? Ideally Id like all thesaved data on my main PC.

 

Ok thats 3 q's :o and sorry if they are confusing.

 

Thanks,

 

:D

[Guest Wolfeymole]

Have a look at this Spartan if your really determined to or have set up a new business.

 

SalesStream POS Software

[Spartan73]

Thanks Wolfey mate

 

The business has been running for 2 years ( But just reinvested everything giving the place a face lift / modernization and trying to go a bit more " year 2008" ) , but we use a carbon copy paper invoice system currently, and is getting a bit of pain, and doesnt look very proffessional.. Its not a stock business as such. It's a glazing business, where everything is more or less made or cut to measure, so there is no up loading of pre priced items, or anything with a barcode ( less a few sundries we also sell )

 

Sales must be manually input mostly. We also supply and install double Glazing, so there is no fixed price on this either....I think an invoicing programme like MS accounting is actually pretty good for us, as it has service, and non stock product options, and I've almost worked it out ( I think )

 

Its just as I like to work in my office to create larger ( installtion invoices ) as opposed to my sales counter, and of course I like to check sales etc from my office also, do I need to have 2 machines and two lots of software to do this, as they are only about 2 metres apart?

 

Thanks again. :D

Edited September 8, 2008 by Spartan73

[Dalo Harkin]

There are many ways to describe what you are talking about - the one that springs to mind for me is an External HDD that you can plug into your router and access it via the web.

so you would install whatever software you need on the external and use the other 2 to access the net to the external.

Hope this makes sense and that I have understood.

[Spartan73]

There are many ways to describe what you are talking about - the one that springs to mind for me is an External HDD that you can plug into your router and access it via the web.

so you would install whatever software you need on the external and use the other 2 to access the net to the external.

Hope this makes sense and that I have understood.

 

Never thought of that or that it was possible.

 

Deffinately an option, that I will look into. Thank you Dalo

[Dalo Harkin]

You just need to make sure that your router has slots for USB devices or you can buy an external HDD caddy that has the ability to use a gigabyte lan cable - they are readily available and range from around £70 - £150 dependant on the size of the HDD ;)

[Guest Wolfeymole]

Thanks Wolfey mate

 

The business has been running for 2 years ( But just reinvested everything giving the place a face lift / modernization and trying to go a bit more " year 2008" ) , but we use a carbon copy paper invoice system currently, and is getting a bit of pain, and doesnt look very proffessional.. Its not a stock business as such. It's a glazing business, where everything is more or less made or cut to measure, so there is no up loading of pre priced items, or anything with a barcode ( less a few sundries we also sell )

 

Sales must be manually input mostly. We also supply and install double Glazing, so there is no fixed price on this either....I think an invoicing programme like MS accounting is actually pretty good for us, as it has service, and non stock product options, and I've almost worked it out ( I think )

 

Its just as I like to work in my office to create larger ( installtion invoices ) as opposed to my sales counter, and of course I like to check sales etc from my office also, do I need to have 2 machines and two lots of software to do this, as they are only about 2 metres apart?

 

Thanks again. :D

 

Do you have any system in place that records how much uPVC profile and aluminium inserts there is on the premises at any one time Spartan?

 

Do you supply hardware at all?

[Spartan73]

Do you have any system in place that records how much uPVC profile and aluminium inserts there is on the premises at any one time Spartan?

 

Do you supply hardware at all?

 

We buy windows in - and make the glass units that go inside - so no we stock no UPVC or ALU.

 

We stock Glass - but there is a lot of waste, and as such, becomes a mjaor pain having this listed as a stock product.

 

Any hardware or sundries we sell, are also consumables we will use on an istallation or repair for example, and also have waste issues in some cases.

 

From what I understand,in accounting terms - we are running the business as non stock - and services provided.

 

I hope that answers your question, and thanks for asking mate.

[Spartan73]

Also need to keep it as simple as possible, as We simply dont have the time for all this data input. The business is only 2 -3 yrs old, and really cant afford more than the 4 ( inc me ) staff we have there already. We are just breaking even so expensive invoicing / accounting solutions are not an option right now.

 

Im doing most of the office work mysef, and it is hard enough keeping up calling everyone back, and arranging quotes etc...

[Guest Wolfeymole]

Very well, in that case you must go down the road of what I said earlier and become fully conversant with Excel and Access if you are to construct any kind of customer accounting.

 

You must appoint your head man to deal with customer calls and then to inform you so you can update the database otherwise you'll have the VAT people on your back at some stage.

 

I can't stress this strongly enough mate.

[Spartan73]

I understand what your saying Wolfey, thats all done on Sage i THINK, by our accountant, who does our VAT quarterly.

 

We basically give him all our paper work and Im sure has that side of things covered mate,

 

I just need to be able to create quotations, invoices and to be able to keep track of those - from two separate places , only 2 metres apart..

[Guest Wolfeymole]

This is not simply a networking issue Spartan, you either need to get up to speed on excel and access, which I doubt you have time for or buy the software.

 

You have to speculate to accumulate my friend.

 

Your accountant will have no idea of your stock control situation and losses on broken glass etc.

 

If you have an excess of glass wastage consider contacting a person similar to a scrap metal dealer who will buy it from you, hence profit.

 

Sometimes you just have to pay mate to get what you want as there is no such thing as a free lunch.

[Spartan73]

This is not simply a networking issue Spartan, you either need to get up to speed on excel and access, which I doubt you have time for or buy the software.

 

You have to speculate to accumulate my friend.

 

Your accountant will have no idea of your stock control situation and losses on broken glass etc.

 

If you have an excess of glass wastage consider contacting a person similar to a scrap metal dealer who will buy it from you, hence profit.

 

Sometimes you just have to pay mate to get what you want as there is no such thing as a free lunch.

 

Noone buys scrap glass wolfey, we looked into that as one of the first things we did - we actually pay to dispose of it.

 

Just "briefly" spoke to my accountant, and he advises the same thing - its hard to keep stock levels when there is so much waste. The very few products we do sell that need to be stock checked are minimal (sundries ) and can easily be checked....

 

I cannot justify spending money on a barcoding till system, when nearly everything is made to measure and we have to work out prices for ourselves to the nearest square millimeter, and these are not preloaded stock items, as each window, or IGU or piece of glass, has its own price ...i.e how long is a piece of string?.....I just want to create invoices LOL.

 

As for a database, thats probably a good idea for the future when we build up a slightly larger "trade" clientbase - where we get repeat custom. For now they are all in a good old fashioned address book. We are tradesemen at the end of the day, not accountants or bookkeepers.

 

Going to speak with him more at length tomorrow, thanks for the advice :)