First time newbie to networking

[wizard_of_wires]

ok let me just list what I have in mind and see if any one can help.

I have 3 computers.
One toshiba tecre 520cdt(slow but still kicking) laptop
One biostar mother board p4 1.6 gig loaded for bear. desk pc
One FISA mother board p3 600mhz also loaded for bear. desk pc

Now I would like to have the p4 as the server and the p3 and the laptop as users with my employer and a trusted friend pluging in from time to time to use the lan based office software I have.
I do not want peer to peer as I don't want an accidental damaging of my software. My employer's idea of a word processor is Wordpad. Get my drift?

I have done my homework and found SMC to be most cost effective with a 5 port switch and 2 pc cards for around 50.00 or so. I would have to figure out how to tie in the laptop. On the other hand it being a p1 266 just might be too slow to cope with networking. All 3 of the systems are running Windoze 98se and have very little problems.

My question I guess would be 2 fold. First can I run a server/user on windoze 98se? Second is Smc really the one to use?
hhhhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeellllllllllllllllppppppppppppp p please.

[Greenstead]

Most of the small system switches will do the job. SMC are known for good tel technical support.

I don't understand your concern with a peer to peer network - but then I don't know what 'bear' is or your LAN based office software. I would not try to setup a Domain on such a small network.

Don't you have an internet service you need to share also?