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

Tue Nov 28, 2006 12:48PM EST

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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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  • 1 Posted by pcm2atsentientdotcom on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:04PM EDT Report Abuse

    Chris, I've got a bargain for you. I can get you USB cables for no more than $45 apiece. Buy me an Eggette and I'll tell you how.

  • 2 Posted by m20jflyer on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:01PM EDT Report Abuse

    How is this solution easier than an ethernet crossover cable? Make it any length you wnnt. No extra software required. Fast tranfer. I guess the downside is you probably have to disconnect from your usual network if you have just one NIC.

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

    pcm: Both Tornado and Laplink require special USB cables with male plugs on each end, a cable which doesn't otherwise exist. In both cases there is hardware loaded with firmware in the middle of the cable to enable the connection between the two...

  • 4 Posted by cnull on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:27PM EDT Report Abuse

    m20jflyer: Quite different (and much easier) than running a crossover cable, because using the Ethernet cable requires setting up networking and share folders on both computers. If you've already got a network and are familiar with setting up shares, then Tornado's not for you. It's really designed more for novices, for machines not on the network, and for one-off transfers (say, for doing a quick backup of a friend's failing PC).

  • 5 Posted by djdennis1962 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:44PM EDT Report Abuse

    So what I think is that using this is like trying to use a floppy drive - takes forever... I think networking is the best way to do anything like this

  • 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?

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