Easy Data Transfer Between PCs -- With No Extra Software!

Tue Nov 28, 2006 12:48PM EST

See Comments (36)

Last Gadget Standing WINNER

When Data Drive Thru submitted its Tornado data transfer gizmo for our CES Last Gadget Standing competition, I was skeptical. Its claim: Plug in a custom USB cable to two computers and you can transfer data between the two PCs without installing extra software.

Now I've used network-based sync tools many times as well as LapLink, but all of those require a little overhead. So I put the Tornado to the test.

Sure enough, you just extend the two USB cables and plug each into a PC. On one computer, the Tornado transfer system popped up on screen in a few seconds. On the other, my machine required a reboot. I plugged the Tornado cable back into it, and the transfer system popped up immediately.

Transferring files is really quite simple. The Tornado client is a lot like having two Windows Explorer windows open at once. One PC appears at the top of the screen, the other PC at the bottom. You can browse each PC completely, then just drag and drop files from one computer to another, and you can do file copies either way. Transfers are extremely quick, thanks to the USB 2.0 interface. (I'm used to doing these kind of transfers over Wi-Fi, which is dog slow in comparison.)

With the exception of that one reboot, I had zero trouble with the product. My only real complaint is the length of the cable: At about five feet long, it can be surprisingly tricky to position two computers that close together and wrangle a USB cable connection to each. An extra foot would have actually made a huge difference.

At $60, it seems like the Tornado is a little on the pricey side, but not obscenely so. Then again, considering LapLink Gold costs $130 on its web site (and a USB cable is an extra $50), it's comparatively a bargain. I like it!

Comments on Easy Data Transfer Between PCs -- With No Extra Software!

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  • 6 Posted by jp_1740 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:42PM EDT Report Abuse

    quite handy and gratifying to the not-so-computer-savvy user. innovative product i'd say, but if you're a real techie, you'd be picking up a $5 crossover cable, or better yet, make one yourself.

  • 7 Posted by newjodhpur on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:36PM EDT Report Abuse

    Use of cross cable between pair of PCs is a cheap and good solution for transferring data. Vinod Sahani

  • 8 Posted by clinthughesmba on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:27PM EDT Report Abuse

    Very is to use. No software to load like with Laplink - just plug it in and it works. Maybe the real techies know how to use the crossover network cable and configure the two PCs - but my 84 year old mother in law doesn't know how! She can use The Tornado because all she has to do is plug it in and drag and drop.

  • 9 Posted by tw_redmond on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:25PM EDT Report Abuse

    Finally! A product for the technically impaired. No hassles, no networking knowledge needed; just plug it in and go. A Great Product that speeds up what used to be a long (and sometimes nervewracking)process.

  • 10 Posted by gunthergabelwilliams on Wed Dec 27, 2006 6:51PM EST Report Abuse

    I tried the Tornado and I love it! I am a video editor and sometimes need to move huge video files from one editing machine to another and with the Tornado it's fast and easy. It's amazing how quickly the Tornado moves 100 gig files. It saves me lots of time and as we all know, time is money. I think the Tornado is great for businesses as well as individuals. All I can say is -What took so long for someone to come up with the Tornao?

  • 11 Posted by marshapetriesue on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:09PM EDT Report Abuse

    The Tornado is very easy to use and I am NOT a techie at all! The size makes it wonderful for traveling which I do every week! Get it! MPSue

  • 12 Posted by bradalesi on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:12PM EDT Report Abuse

    this is The product for anyone purchasing a new computer & wanting to transfer important files from the old to the new machine. The Tornado is so fast, ridiculously easy to use, and fills a major need. it saved me time & frustration, for which i am grateful.

  • 13 Posted by richardfmason on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:40PM EDT Report Abuse

    If you have the time to spend configuring your network connection instead of just plugging in and getting the job done OR if for you time is not money - then stick with your cat5. If instead you want to get back to more important tasks use the Tornado. I've use the tornado and I'm technical enough to configure crossover. That doesn't mean I want to waste my time configuring network connections.

  • 14 Posted by howardpedigo on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:21PM EDT Report Abuse

    I bought it. It is simple, cost effective and it works!

  • 15 Posted by grskill65 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:13PM EDT Report Abuse

    Yes I bought one Toronado for my business as I sell Computers and WOW what a great product. Now I can sell a new computer and transfer all of there hard drive stuff from there old computer to there new computer like a breeze even my client could do it no training required or software. I came back and bought 4 more Fantastic Gary The Computer Guy Oklahoma City

  • 16 Posted by kpderksen on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:53PM EDT Report Abuse

    Chris (or anyone): For most files like Word and Excel it would seem easy enough... because I can pull up the files under "My Computer". However, is there some type of trick to transfer my e-mails (Inbox, Drafts, etc...) to the second computer? It is Outlook that always gives me headaches when making a back-up (or simply transferring to a new computer). Word, Excel and PP are easy. Any advice? As you can tell I am a novice. Thanks.

  • 17 Posted by clinthughesmba on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:27PM EDT Report Abuse

    On www.TheTornado.com they have a "finding files" tutorial - http://www.thetornado.com/site/findingfiles.shtml Here they walk you through tranferring your Outlook files.

  • 18 Posted by grjenkins on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:13PM EDT Report Abuse

    Awesome solution for transferring files and settings from old laptop to new one. Could have really used this device on my last job. Bandwidth would be great too. Wonder if it works with Win98 machines?

  • 19 Posted by dec1061 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:40PM EDT Report Abuse

    Have had something like this for several years. Compusa used to sell it. Only difference was it required installing software from a CD on both computers first. I used to use it to transfer data and applications from my laptop to desktops in remote locations. Cost about 20 bucks i believe. I stopped using it a after i got my 1 gig flash drive.

  • 20 Posted by ntbelle@verizon.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:42PM EDT Report Abuse

    Glad to hear the great comments on my friend's new gadget. I have been watching and listening to this "tornadic" progression for over a year now. As a matter of fact, just ran him to the airport to head to Las Vegas yesterday morning. This gadget is really a good bang for the buck. Easy to use! Love it!

  • 21 Posted by robertsclint on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:45PM EDT Report Abuse

    The same device from a different mfg, Move It On Over has been out for quite some time. This is no new news! My only wish is that I could tag it to pull up in a specific file directory (or maybe both computers go to the desktop.)

  • 22 Posted by consultjeff1976 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:29PM EDT Report Abuse

    when & where will can I purchase this? thank you Jeff Bachtle

  • 23 Posted by ok_rebad on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:44PM EDT Report Abuse

    sounds like a great device...question....now that the 2 PCs are talking to each other, seeing each other's hard drive - can you also see the other PC's printer?....and drop documents onto it? Would be nice and easier to just print something first when you don't have a printer connected to your PC and your PC is not on the network - like a laptop possible...where do I buy one?....Christopher D

  • 24 Posted by lawman04 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:57PM EDT Report Abuse

    FYI, you can get a 15ft male to male USB 2.0 wire from monoprice for $2.98. http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=103&cp_id=10303&cs_id=1030303&p_id=2099&seq=1&format=2&style=

  • 25 Posted by bla4u2000 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:08PM EDT Report Abuse

    easy data transfer between 2 PC's. Uhmm.. definition PC; does this imply that it also easily transfers data between a Windows based machine and an Apple OS X machine? Jan Bart.

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