I like your project.
My group is doing how to setup a router so we are working on a similar idea. I definitely think that you picked a good
topic seeing as how the number of people using home networking now days not to
mention the fact that almost every student not just at Purdue has to set up
some small amount of networking just to get the internet to function on their
computer. I especially like the section
of how to create a user seeing as this step is normally not seen because it is
done at the store when purchased or done in an over-simplified walkthrough
which teaches the user nothing of how to
get into the options to add a new user or change user settings. The idea that my group could implement from
your project is having a backup in case we need more information.

I definitely agree, you chose a great topic. I know everyday I find myself fighting with windows xp. It seems like it would be logical and easy to use, especially for someone like me who is firmiliar with computers, but in reality, I find myself getting lost with simple tasks!

I particularly like how you broke up your memo into specific topics that you will provide instruction on (network setup, sharing files and folders, VPN's, and static IP's). I believe this is especially effective because it makes the topic significantly more clear! Something like Windows XP, cealrly has a lot of different components, and its great that you are breaking it up into more manageable pieces!

Sounds like you have a good topic, and you know what you're talking about. I think that Purdue needs more tutorials like this on the iTAP pages. I can't count the number of computers I've had to setup and fix (especially in Windsor). It's important to get a good solid and secure network on a computer because if you don't, it can lead to bad things down the road. I've worked in IT for a long time and I also know how expensive it is to get someone else to set everything up for you. Places like Best Buy and Circuit City charge nearly a hundred bucks just to do a diagnostic! On top of that, they almost always screw up the diagnostic and end up telling to your hard drive is broken,when really you have a setting messed up in the BIOS. So a quick fix becomes several hundred dollars down the drain.

I agree with everyone in that your group has a good topic. Jeff brings up a good point in that many people now are using home networking and if you are a student here and lived in the dorms you had to do a minor amount of networking. This project would be good to use even if it is something simple like setting up the internet on a PC. It is good that you guys broke the project into specific parts. Windows XP is a very complex tool and can be very involved. This makes any user, beginner or expert able to understand how to set up home network.

I think this is a great idea for a
project. Many students such as myself have no idea how to network, or even
where to start. I liked in the memo how you went into detail explaining what
you plan on doing and giving a very good idea what to expect from you project. I
also liked in the memo how you explained what things are such as VPN. My only
concern is since you are doing a topic that may be over the heads of many students,
I would try not to get too far ahead of what they can understand.

Thank you for choosing to do your instructions on this. The other day my roomates and I were trying to set this up. Me, being the only semi-technical person had to search for instructions on to do this. They sat there and talked about how awesome it would to share files and music but other than that they were of no help. Google has a few detailed instructions but nothing that I thought was very efficient. This subject really pertains to us as college students as many roomates are on a network together and have the opportunity to set this up and learn themselves. I believe with a good set of illustrated instructions this can be a great project.

Good work in explaining your subtopics. That background will only inform your drafting and your final draft. I think your topic will be highly educational for your peers in the class, especially because many of them are off-campus and can benefit from this knowledge. I do think you can write more about how you are going to divide up the work. Articulating that more here will only make the project run more smoothly in the coming weeks. Nice work with document design, typography and headings. Make sure you use proper memo format. Please review pages 232-233 in The Thompson Handbook.