Networking is way too complicated

This may appear as venting, but really its not.

I read the network thread trying to get a network working between Vista and
Xp machines.

After many hours and frustration I found a software solution called Network
Magic. It worked so fast it was ridiculous.

I don't work for the vendor nor am I affiliated in any way.

I would dearly like someone from MS to comment on why MS is unable to
provide specific step by step instructions that accomplish what a 3rd party
vendor does with software - OR - is networking so complicated that it demands
a software solution to setup/work?

Or do we users simply have so many unique circumstances that no set of
instructions would be adequate?

After reading through the threads it appears that here are the variables to
set:

Firewall conflicts
Naming conflicts
Protocals and patch requirements
Sharing settings
Netbios settings
etc

Why not build a word table that defines these and other factors I'm missing
and define the settings on each type of machine - with a short explanation of
their relevance.

My feelings on this, which I've expressed many times in the XP group, is that
on anything but the tiniest network users shouldn't be sharing folders
between workstations. Allocate one computer as the server and store the
documents there. (which probably wouldn't by choice be a vista one anyway, so
avoids these issues)

-------------------------------
An alternative Network-Logon for Windows: http://mylogon.net
(Works with Vista, bar for one setting which must be made manually)

How would MS make any money on tech support? I mean their practially giving
Vista away for up to $400.00 What a bargin!!
Sorry about the spelling..... Spell check doesn't work either!!

"Ian" <Ian@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:816130D3-F0AC-4B06-940E-7D56E3C26C6E@microsoft.com...
> My feelings on this, which I've expressed many times in the XP group, is
> that
> on anything but the tiniest network users shouldn't be sharing folders
> between workstations. Allocate one computer as the server and store the
> documents there. (which probably wouldn't by choice be a vista one anyway,
> so
> avoids these issues)
>
> -------------------------------
> An alternative Network-Logon for Windows: http://mylogon.net
> (Works with Vista, bar for one setting which must be made manually)
>
>
>
>
>