To connect five computers, I am unsure whether to use a terminal to host, a file server, or a client/server connection. Which would be the least expensive and why?
These five computers will just be used to access email and browse the internet. Not really for work related tasks, but for my customers.
The cheapest solution is to buy a switch or a router and plug all the computers into it. There is no dedicated "server". The only cost is the price of the switch/router.
If you buy a server, obviously you'll have to pay for the server plus you still have to buy a switch/router (unless the server has built-in capabilities).
If you need file-storage, consider buying a NAS (Network Attached Storage) device instead of buying a file-server. You can plug this directly into the switch/router and all the systems on the network can access it at the same time. (Don't confuse a NAS with a normal external hard-drive).
The type of setup you choose depends on what your needs are. Do you need to share a database? Or do you simply need to share documents? If you have a program that will require multi-user access to a complex database, I recommend a file-server. Otherwise, if you're doing simple tasks like file-sharing and print-sharing, I recommend buying a router/switch and possibly a NAS device.
