re. Alan Cooper's comments on keeping a PC permanently 'on' to recieve faxes etc.
A suggestion I saw on another mailing list was to use a cheap 286 box
for this (you may well not want more of these computer things though!)
This solution has the following points:
*) the 286 (386 etc) PC could be an older one from the back of the store cupboard,
or can be bought 2nd hand or from Morgans for a pittance
*) don't put a keyboard or monitor on it - just swap over your existing ones
*) if lightning strikes or anything else like that you'll only damage a cheap machine
*) I'd be surprised about a fire risk. If that really concerns you,
locate it somewhere you consider safe e.g. the potting shed
or garage (garages are supposed to be fireproof to a certain extent I think)
*) you will need to set up a small 'home network' between the two,
but that needn't be expensive - network cards are aroud 30 UKP I think
Coax cable can be bought at Tandy,
or you can take the real nerd route and build a wiring cabinet under the
stairs with telephone cables around the house
(seriously, a one metre length of coax will do the job)
John Hearns
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