You often can run the same program from one computer but you also need to
have a license to do so. Buying a piece of software grants you te right to
run it on on computer at a time; to run it on more you need to either buy
multiple copies or an agreement for multiple licences. This is to compensate
the developers.
> Another question: Why do the programs we're running off the network run
> so slowly? The two of us here in the St. Mary's library are at a
> complete loss. Neither of us has networking experience. Please help!
Running programs over LocalTalk wiring is slow. To run applications you
really need Ethernet. To Ethernet 4 Macs is not that expensive - a mini-hub
runs between $125-$150, a card for each Mac is around $75, and the cables are
relatively inexpensive. You don't say what type of printers you have so I
can't suggest the cost of adding those to an Ethernet network.
What you need to decide is: Why are you networked? To share printers? To save
files to one location? To run programs? With only 4 computers and adequate
hard drive space, running programs from one computer to the other 3 doesn't
seem necessary. You may determine that you want to save files to one computer
instead of using floppies and share printers. In that case LocalTalk would be
adequate but even saving large files is painful (I know - we are putting
Ethernet in our LocalTalk middle school Mac lab in a couple of weeks.).
TyAnn
TyAnn Morehead, PK-12 Technology Coordinator
New Hampton (Iowa, USA) Schools
V: 515-394-2144; F: 515-394-2921; E: tyannm@aol.com
President, Iowa Computer Using Educators (ICUE)
ICUE World-Wide-Web URL:
www.jefferson-scranton.k12.ia.us/icue/icuehp.htm