Very Computer

1. Building a network / intranet connected to Internet - PLEASE HELP prevent a disaster !!!

trying to prevent a disaster here - long story cut short

I'm in a small company where the owners have decided to install a network to
connect the office PCs - ( 14 Win-98 PCs... and 2 iMacs ) - and include a
shared Internet connection

so, they called in a local so-called "computer expert" :p
who has put together a plan that seems suicidal

I've seen the first draft document, and his more outrageous claims include :

1 :"there's no need for a firewall - hackers aren't interested in small
networks..."

2: "ALL of the computers will need their own public IP address..."

  :o

anyway...
the decision as to whether to proceed will be taken at the end of May
so, I have a few weeks in which to become a networking guru  :)

well...
maybe not "guru"...

but have a sufficient working knowledge to be able to:

1: point out what is wrong - **and explain why**

Of course, at that point, it's likely that they'll ask me to

2: present a realistic alternative  :o

I think I understand the theory,
( I hope I'm beyond the "Networks For Dummies" stage )

but I haven't actually built a network,
especially one on which people's jobs will rely
so am unsure of the more "practical" factors

any recommendations for appropriate tutorials, references and the like ??

especially the pros and cons of MS vs *-nix for the "non-desktop" devices

Thanks in advance for any suggestions

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