8-bitters and multi-whatever

[Jules Richardson]

Chuck Guzis wrote:
> On 13 Sep 2007 at 0:41, Geoff Reed wrote:
> 
>> IIRC the trs-80 model III and IV could network (saw it in use in a
>> classroom) via cassette port (hazy memory here) the network III device IIRc,
>> where it hooked to a main computer that had a HD, and let you load and save
>> programs on diskless III'S and IV's
> 
> I'm getting a little confused about the definition of "networking".  
> What I've been interpreting as is making another computer's files and 
> or drives or other resources appear (seamlessly) as part of the 
> current host's resources.
> 
> Just using a link to me doesn't imply "networking"--it's file 
> transfer, perhaps, but not networking.

I suppose I've always seen it as "electronically connected computers" or 
somesuch - i.e. it doesn't imply anything about what data is shared (or how), 
just that something *can* be transferred without sneakernetting information 
around.

> And I'd also disqualify device-sharing, such as a MAC (multiple 
> access controller) between an I/O device and two computers.

So would I, just because I think that networking is about connecting computers 
together, not computers to peripherals (but I realise it gets a bit fuzzy when 
you have things like printers with Ethernet interfaces)