Can you connect 2 PC's via USB?

2000AD · Post by **2000AD** » 2004-07-01 06:29pm

Can you connect 2 PC's with a USB cable and transfer files between them?

General Zod · Post by **General Zod** » 2004-07-01 06:34pm

You need special drivers and some type of hub. The USB cords alone isn't enough, iirc. Devices such as this are handy for that type of thing.

2000AD · Post by **2000AD** » 2004-07-01 06:43pm

So i can't just hook the two up using a normal USB cable. Doh!

Shinova · Post by **Shinova** » 2004-07-01 06:44pm

Also, IIRC, you're better off with a normal 10Mbps or 100Mbps ethernet cable I think.

2000AD · Post by **2000AD** » 2004-07-01 06:49pm

I'm not actually planning on setting up a network. I'm just so lazy that i'm getting annoyed at all the floppy disk swapping, or having to fetch my brothers MP3 player for large files. I was wondering if i could just hook them up with USB like i do the digi-cam or MP3 player.

Shinova · Post by **Shinova** » 2004-07-01 06:52pm

2000AD wrote:I'm not actually planning on setting up a network. I'm just so lazy that i'm getting annoyed at all the floppy disk swapping, or having to fetch my brothers MP3 player for large files. I was wondering if i could just hook them up with USB like i do the digi-cam or MP3 player.

It's just that I think an ethernet cable is faster than USB.....I think.

General Zod · Post by **General Zod** » 2004-07-01 06:53pm

2000AD wrote:I'm not actually planning on setting up a network. I'm just so lazy that i'm getting annoyed at all the floppy disk swapping, or having to fetch my brothers MP3 player for large files. I was wondering if i could just hook them up with USB like i do the digi-cam or MP3 player.

ever consider opting for a USB Flash Drive? they're relatively cheap and can hold anywhere up to 4gigs of data, for the more expensive range. the typical range is about $80.00 for 256 megs of storage that doesn't require any type of installation on computers with up to date operating systems.

2000AD · Post by **2000AD** » 2004-07-01 06:58pm

That's pretty much what my brothers MP3 player is (It's a Creative MuVo IIRC), the problem being that since it's his, he normally keeps it with him or in the car.
I am tempted by the device that resembles a highlighter pen though. One of my friends at uni has one and it is quite useful.

Vendetta · Post by **Vendetta** » 2004-07-01 08:09pm

Connecting PCs by ethernet is a shitload cheaper than any USB solution you care to mention.

Spanky The Dolphin · Post by **Spanky The Dolphin** » 2004-07-01 08:34pm

IIRC, Dell has actually offered a USB cable with a programme for that specific purpose for some time.

Plekhanov · Post by **Plekhanov** » 2004-07-01 09:52pm

Vendetta wrote:Connecting PCs by ethernet is a shitload cheaper than any USB solution you care to mention.

Much cheaper + easier to set up, faster and more reliable.

My uncle got one of those usb network kits because he’d run out of slots on his (microaxt) mother board and it was a complete pain in the arse, we had no end of trouble with drivers and reliability. In the end he took it back, ditched his tv-card and installed good old Ethernet instead which was far cheaper.

Why not go for a network? As long as the pcs are reasonably close together it’s really cheap (you don’t need a hub just get a crossover 100base cable), easy and you can not only share files and your printer over it but play games as well.

Pu-239 · Post by **Pu-239** » 2004-07-01 11:21pm

Plekhanov wrote:
Vendetta wrote:Connecting PCs by ethernet is a shitload cheaper than any USB solution you care to mention.
Much cheaper + easier to set up, faster and more reliable.

My uncle got one of those usb network kits because he’d run out of slots on his (microaxt) mother board and it was a complete pain in the arse, we had no end of trouble with drivers and reliability. In the end he took it back, ditched his tv-card and installed good old Ethernet instead which was far cheaper.

Why not go for a network? As long as the pcs are reasonably close together it’s really cheap (you don’t need a hub just get a crossover 100base cable), easy and you can not only share files and your printer over it but play games as well.

Even better, make your own cable- though I made my own crossover without a crimper, with a screwdriver, and get only 11Mb/s, probably due to low quality. Slightly cheaper- cable is still expensive- 40$ for a 100ft spool- probably cheaper online.