creating an iMac village...

[blackfox]

OK, so I am looking for some advice/feedback on the following plan I have:

I am moving into a new penthouse Apt with two other people and wanted to upgrade the computer set-up. So I came up with this idea:

I thought I would purchase three (perhaps four) old iMacs (266 or 333), stick them full of RAM, load them with OSX and deposit them around the house...one in the kitchen, a couple in the living room, and another possibly at the door (for iCal and whatnot).

Now ideally I would like to put a wireless card in most, if not all of them along with Bluetooth (preferably) for a wireless keyboard. I would put all the iMacs on a network (wirelessly) with my PM in my room and my PB as a wanderer (out the door alot, and we have a private rooftop deck with a view over downtown). I would have a couple wireless keyboards to share with the iMacs, and regular keyboards as backup. I would administrate/control them via Remote Desktop from my PM.

Basically they would serve as media centers for iTunes and for movies/media based off my HDs on my PM or my external drives. Since I also have students in my household (including myself), they might also be used for Word. In addition, there would be some degree of file-transfer between the "papa" computer and the "children".

So are the early iMacs able to go wireless? to have bluetooth?

If not, any suggestions for a work-around?

I figure for around $1000 or so, I could have a pretty cool thing going on...

I have considered setting up old G3 towers with multiple monitors (wireless/bluetooth[again,if possible]) but that is a much less elegant solution...

BTW, the Apt is about 1700 sq feet...

*EDIT* Upon further research, can I use the ethernet 11g adaptor?
how about the Bluetooth USB dongles?

 

[TLRedhawke]

Only slot loading iMacs support Airport. And even then, it requires the adapter. Both parts were recently yanked off the market. Through some experimentation, it's possible to get a tray loading iMac to use wireless, by attaching it via ethernet to a wireless access point that has a client mode. However, since these things are bulky, and run a fair bit per, it's not an exceptional solution. Though, considering the cost of Airport cards, and the adapters at this point, the access points may be a bit more ideal, costwise.

Other than that, I rather like the idea. I've got numerous macs and PCs set up on a network throughout my apartment, though not wirelessly, and it makes things infinitely simpler. The concept of streaming a movie off my primary PC to a P3 hooked up to my TV always makes me giddy.

 

[cubist]

What's wrong with using wires? You can snake 'em behind the furniture, etc. Things will run better & faster.

 

[blackfox]

What's wrong with using wires? You can snake 'em behind the furniture, etc. Things will run better & faster.

Nothing. For some. For the iMacs in the Living room, I will probably end up wiring them, as I already have to snake a power/extension cord. For one in the kitchen and/or foyer, the distance could prove a pain, although it can be snaked along the molding where wall meets floor. I would like the option though, and my PB is already wireless.

BT keyboards are a bigger issue, although there are some decent alternatives (some IR, for example)...

Just looking for opinions...thanks for yours.

 

[monkeydo_jb]

I have the D-Link DBT-120 usb dongle for my TiBook, which I got from Apple's site.

It worked in perfect harmony with my Sony Ericsson t610.

I can't comment on its compatibility with Apple's BT keyboard and mouse, but would assume
that it would work just fine.

 

[Jigglelicious]

I just bought a Belkin 802.11B wireless USB network kit for my slot loading iMac for $20, since I didn't feel like shelling out over $100 for a used Airport card. To my surprise, it works perfectly. Its not pretty, but hey, its cheap and it works.