>this was way before the era of cheap multi function routers. Indeed! One of the first things I did with mine was turn it into a sort of router. I was taking a

>this was way before the era of cheap multi function routers. Indeed! One of the first things I did with mine was turn it into a sort of router. I was taking a Cisco class in high school where we were learning networking. Realized I could connect the two PCs in our house together to share the same dial-up connection, and so I walked out of school with some donated Cat5, crimpers, and a pair of 3Com NICs. Microsoft ICS (Internet Connection Sharing) did the rest. The only issue it created was that, in the process of explaining to my parents that my PC had to be turned on in order for theirs to reach the net, they continued to ask for years if my PC was on, long after we had a router. I still get a question occasionally like "my tablet isn't working, does your father's PC need to be on?" Heh. Good times. =)