My first two networked Linux computers where my desktop (probably a 486) and a laptop, though the parallel port using PLIP. My desktop was much faster than the laptop so I'd just launch a X11 server on the laptop and then run everything on the desktop. By doing that my brother and I could both use the Internet (Netscape) at the same time, sharing our... 28 800 modem connection : )
It not too far from how I work today - I have all sorts of devices around the house that I use to ssh and tmux attach to my EPIC server; I’m logically running the same session for months, but the terminal changes several times a day.
I don’t think any of the devices in use have a (parallel) printer port though.
Oh the memories.