INTERNET AND INTRANET USE WITH A PC: EFFECTS OF ADAPTER CARDS, WINDOWS VERSIONS AND TCP/IP SOFTWARE ON NETWORKING PERFORMANCE

Abstract

The experience is reported of access to the Internet from a common notebook computer connected to a local area network based on Ethernet and TCP/IP network protocols. Products used were: • network adapters in the form of PC cards from two product generations; • PC‐DOS and Windows 3.1 and various additional TCP/IP software packages, or Windows 95 with included TCP/IP software from Microsoft; • various 16‐bit or 32‐bit network application programs compatible with Windows Sockets. The main conclusions are that (even with the same basic microcomputer): • large differences (probably larger than expected by most users) exist in the data transfer speeds obtained with various combinations of hardware and software components; • newer combinations of PC cards and software are easier to install and offer greater stability as well as higher transfer speeds, so that upgrading is probably worthwhile for most users.

Citation

Nieuwenhuysen, P. (1997), "INTERNET AND INTRANET USE WITH A PC: EFFECTS OF ADAPTER CARDS, WINDOWS VERSIONS AND TCP/IP SOFTWARE ON NETWORKING PERFORMANCE", Online and CD-Rom Review, Vol. 21 No. 2, pp. 83-90. https://doi.org/10.1108/eb024609