File sharing across a network
Answer: Hi Ashley, it’s great having more than one computer to fall back on, and to be able to access your files from anywhere on the network. We’ve got several answers for you. Above all, you need one version of your files. If you save multiple copies of documents on different PCs, they will get out of sync as you switch back and forth between machines. Our first solution is cheap (free!) but it’s not perfect. Windows XP and Windows Vista both support multiple "users". This means that software and network drives, including the shared areas on each machine, can be made available to each ‘user’ as necessary. You can log onto any machine using your own ‘user’ identity, and see largely the same desktop, software and files as your ‘own machine.
However, there are challenges with this arrangement. Your files would have to live in shared folders, which can represent a security risk. Email too would be a problem: it should only be accessible on your ‘own’ machine. All in all, this is rather a ‘Heath Robinson’ solution to help you out in the short-term. Office Live Workspaces With Office Live Workspaces, you upload your documents to a secure online storage area. You can ‘share’ files from a single location – and create separate workspaces for those you need to collaborate with. You won’t even need to do backups, because your files will be safely stored online. Access to Office Live Workspaces is through your ordinary web browser, so not only will you be able to access your files from all the machines on your network; you’ll be able to access them from anywhere in the world. Office Live comes with a huge 500Mb of space, and it’s absolutely free- find out more here: http://www.microsoft.com/uk/smallbusiness/technology-in-business/working-together/introducing-office-live-workspaces.mspx Yes, you can have a server A server would give you one centralised access point for all your information and resources. You’d no longer be dependent on files stored separately on your different machines, and you’d benefit from best-in-class security. SBS comes packed with software designed to increase business efficiency by performing tasks like file sharing, print processing, Internet connectivity and email for each of the network’s computers and remote devices, such as Pocket PCs and Smartphones. Often the perceived cost of upgrading to a more efficient solution like SBS means small businesses like yours put off implementing a server until their PCs start falling over. Yet it’s well worth taking the plunge now as the investment will quickly pay for itself through increased productivity – as your question clearly illustrates! For more opinions and advice, have a chat with one of our IT partners. You can find ones local to you at: http://www.microsoft.com/uk/smallbusiness/how-to-buy/solution-finder/find-a-partner.mspx --Emma | ||||||||||||
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Microsoft Small Business Server 2008 (SBS) have been designed specifically to allow small businesses like yours to get the best out of their IT. 
