iMac to PC - How do I connect for internet purposes?

[designer3581]

ok - I have an Indigo iMac G3 and would like to setup a wireless connection to a PC (eMachine) that is connected to a cable internet. What do I need to do this? and how should this be done. I am looking for any type of help or info!! Thanks I greatly appreciate it.

 

[ObviousTroll]

First, you need to tell us what operating systems the machines are running.

IIRC, if the PC is running XP, it has built in connection sharing. You need to set that up. On the Mac, you need an airport card - but I'm not sure that generation of iMac were Airport compatibility. You will need to find out if the iMac can accept an airport card and, if it can, buy an original airport card off eBay.

So, assuming you can get the airport card and set up connection sharing on the PC you should be all set.

 

[designer3581]

the PC is running Windows XP and my iMac is currently running 9, but I can run 10. It does have the ability to install an airport card.

So an airport card is all I need then? I will not need a router or anything?

Thanks for your help!

 

[ObviousTroll]

Depends on what you want. You mentioned connection sharing, which is when one computer acts as a relay for other computers.

You're really not clear on what you want; do you want both machines to have wireless connections, does the eMachines machine have a wireless card now? What are you trying to do?

I'm going to guess that the PC does *not* have a wireless card. In that case, you want to get a wireless router, something that has both wireless antenna and a couple of ethernet ports. You plug the cable modem into the router and the PC into the router, then the Mac connects wirelessly through the router.

 

[designer3581]

Sorry for not being clear enough, what I'm looking to do is basically get my iMac online. I really don't need to have them file sharing or anything involved. I'm a graphic designer and don't have any of my programs available on the PC in my house.

 

[ObviousTroll]

In that case, the easiest approach is the one I said - get a cheap Linksys wireless router, and put it between the PC and the cable modem, and install an airport card in the Mac. You will have to configure the router but you'll have the bonus that the router will act as an additional firewall to protect the machines from network intrusions.

 

[designer3581]

Awesome, thanks for the help. Now with the wireless router does it Have to be one that is compatible to both PC & Mac? or does that not matter?
Thanks again

 

[ObviousTroll]

Compatibility doesn't matter. Routers are routers.