Dear Richard,

Please explain to me one more time.
I would like users to be able to enter data while on the go (via the website). I would like to use ASP rather than Sharepoint.
Please confirm that in order to use ASP, i must buy Windows server (i have read somewhere that ASP is an integral part of Windows server since 2003).
Secondly, I have seen many Windows server products including 2003, 2008, 2012, Enterprise etc. Which one matches closest to your lessons on linking an Access db to the web? I wouldnt want to buy Windows server product then i struggle to relate the lesson to may real circumstances that i will be facing.

Lastly, is there anything else i might need to achieve my objective? When i was going through the site, you mention "pcAnywhere". Do i have to get this separately?

If i were to use Sharepoint, would i still need to buy Windows server?

To many questions :). Thank you again for your guidance.

MICAH

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Reply from Richard Rost:

Micah, you don't have to buy Windows Server yourself. You could always have your database hosted by an ISP. For example, I currently use GoDaddy. Just make sure you get their WINDOWS hosting which includes ASP and Access database (or even SQL Server) hosting. But yes, if you want to have ASP at your own location with your own web site, you'd need a Windows server.

All of the Windows Server versions work fine with my lessons. 99% of the material focuses on the ASP language which hasn't changed at all. Yes, there's now ASP.NET which ADDS a lot of new functions and libraries, but the Classic ASP I teach in my classes works just fine. I still prefer Classic ASP myself (and use it on my site). ASP.NET adds a lot of new features, but also a lot of unnecessary complication.

pcAnywhere is software you can use to remotely log into a computer. If you host your own server you might want it to get in there when you're not physically at the same location. I don't use pcAnywhere anymore. Now I prefer VNC (Virtual Network Computing). There are several open-source FREE VNC clients and servers. I like TightVNC and RealVNC which both work great.

If you were to use Sharepoint and you wanted to host your own server, then YES, you would need a Windows Server. However, again, if you want an ONLINE database, you might want to consider having it hosted for you. You pay one low monthly fee, and they take care of all the setup and maintenance. I pay less than $20 a month, and I have a pretty robust site.