Connect Laptop to PC

[Foxie3a]

I got a laptop today, I was planning on keeping it but it's pretty nice. It's pretty snappy, but if you try doing serious work it lags. Watching a DVD puts me at 90% cpu usage. Duron 900. Oh well.

I think the network adaptor is supposed to be dead on this laptop, and I sure as hell can't get the one on my IC7 to work, so that's out of the question.

I have a parallel port and two USB ports. Is it possible that way?

The only thing I can do now is use my camera and it's 16mb flash card to move files back and forth. I'd also prefer not to go through CD-R's.

I can get a HD converter and put the laptop's HD in my computer and do it that way, but I'd like an easy way like just plug in a USB cable. USB always seems to work very nicely.

Any ideas?

[skab]

According to Apex forums don't use a plain usb cable or it'll short out your mobo.
Link: http://www.gotapex.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-9261.html

Looking like you need a special cable from 39.00 to 70.00 for a usb transfer.

[ozzlo]

If you have a pcmcia card slot (or whatever) then you can get a simple network card to slide in there for like 20 bucks... if you have wireless you could invest in one of those usb to wifi thingies. you can prob tell that I don't use this stuff lol :p

[sharkmont]

I would probably go with teh PCMCIA card route as well, there have been some good deals floating around for around 20 bux or less.

[Pinky]

Network them together. I have a Dlink wireless router I found for $40 on sale at Best Buy, PC's plugged straight in and I can wander around the apartment with the laptop using the wireless. I also leave a spare cable on port 2 in case I want high speed transfers of data (wireless still isn't as fast as standard 10/100 over cat5 cable). PCMCIA wireless would be the best way to go, they're real cheap now (check ebay ;) ).

You may also want to check the manual for the laptop, my older Toshiba had a mini-PCI slot underneath that allowed me to add a wireless NIC card.

[Foxie3a]

Thanks a lot guys, you helped me so much in such a short period of time.

I'm going to buy this. I understand that I can only use it to transfer files, but sometime I might get a wireless router(can those be USB?) and plug that into my PC, and then use one of my wireless PCMCIA cards on the laptop.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=20313&item=5752473830&rd=1

Sound good?

[mbentley]

while this is a fine solution for just transferring files, if you ever want internet access, i would go with a ethernet or wireless solution. it is futureproof. however, if you never plan in implementing internet access with this laptop, then the usb to usb would be fine. i have never used one but i've known people who have used them fine.