Getting started and already confused

[cropwell]

Not forgetting a 32 bit version of Windows as parallel port support has been "retired" by microsoft in the 64 bit versions.

32bit desktop PCs are getting cheap as owt, because a hell of a lot are going to recycling.

For CNC I only use a 32bit machine, plenty powerful enough for Mach3 and I also use the onboard LPT port and a PCI parallel port card. The Internet gateway is disabled on the CNC computer, but it can still access the Internet enabled LAN network storage box to store working files, so I can get to my files from anywhere (private cloud !)

This discussion is confusing as it is split over two threads !!