Transferring Data between two PCs

[rnparhi]

Hi frens,
I have tried trnasferring data between my Latop and PC using Direct cable connection (Parallel Port) on WIN ME. It looks like the transfer rate is very slow (may be 100 KBPS or less). I bought the only cable (called lab link cable) available on the market for connecting two PCs. Can someone suggest if there is an alternative, which will be faster also cost effective?

***Hoping and Praying for a Safer, Better world.****

[mjc]

Basically it boils down to a question of how much you want to spend...if you don't want to spend alot of money then you need to suffer through the slow transfer rates...dcc is not a very fast method of transfer but it is about the cheapest. The next would be a simple network but that would be about $40 or $50 (US) for the two NICs (network interface cards), but since one is a laptop the NIC for it will be more expensive (but check the specs it may have one onboard), also there may be a docking station for your laptop but that is probably the most expensive way to go.

------------------
mjc
Links list:Computer Links (http://www.dreamwater.org/tech/mjc/index.htm)

Celts are the men that heaven made mad, For all their battles are merry and their songs are all sad.

[kenja]

Yes, LapLink parallel cable data transfers are painfully slow. I use one only when imaging entire disks (using Norton Ghost).

I use ethernet for everything else. Name-brand (like D-Link (http://www.computers4sure.com//product.asp?productid=272515) or Linksys) PCMCIA 10/100bT cards (for the laptop) can be had for around US$30 (after rebate) and PCI 10/100bT cards for about $15. (I've heard you can get good deals in Singapore.) With 100bT, you don't even need to buy a hub (or "switch"), just connect the two computers with a crossover type CAT5 cable (http://www.computers4sure.com/Product.asp?ProductID=71406&iid=342) (about $8).

If both computers have USB ports, you can get a "peer-to-peer" type of USB cable (http://www.computers4sure.com/Product.asp?ProductID=107779&iid=342) for $35 to $50. This is an "active" cable, meaning it has some electronics inside. You can also get USB-to-ethernet adapters, but mine won't work reliably with a crossover cable; it needs the buffering of an ethernet hub ($35).

A Windows ethernet network is fairly easy to set up, I'd go that route; 100bT is quite speedy. It also makes it easy to share a printer.




[This message has been edited by kenja (edited 09-17-2001).]