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This simple device allows two computers to share a single USB printer or some other USB device, such as an external flash drive, memory card reader or scanner. A rotary switch selects the PC that you wish to use with the USB device, while two LEDs indicate the selected PC. The most common way to share a USB printer between two PCs is to use one machine as a print server. However, that’s not always convenient because it means that the server PC must always be on if you want to print something. Picture of the project: That can be a real nuisance if you just want to quickly fire up the other machine and print something out. It also means that the two PCs must be networked together, either via a hub/router or directly via an ethernet crossover cable. Another way is to use a dedicated USB print server. However, as before, this must be connected to an ethernet network, along with the PCs. Such devices also need their own power supply, generally cost well over $100 and are overkill if you jus...

It's the end of summer and many students are coming out of a brief dip into the professional world  working alongside adults and performing entry level tasks, only to return back to classes in the fall. Some are paid, some are not  some provide both learning opportunities and a chance to build one's network, others less so. Across the board, most students will say that an internship is a better investment of time than sitting at home, or working a regular summer job.  But some students have found summer experiences that are, arguably, better for their careers — especially those students interested in entrepreneurship, not joining corporate life. I asked seven students who participated in Lightspeed Venture Partners' summer fellowship — a program that behaves like a startup accelerator without taking equity from the teams — how the experience compared to a summer internship, and what knowledge they'll be taking back to school. Would you consider a non-traditional summer ...