A question and my thanks

Nile

First of all, I would like to say a big THANK YOU to the people on MSE who have helped me with my decision to buy a laptop. Now that I've got a laptop,:j I'm still asking for (and getting) help. I don't know how I would cope without Martin's site.;)

Without the help of JPS, Grahawk, Fran, Judi and Vanoonoo.........I'd still be dithering over what to buy. It really is a daunting prospect for a technophobe like Nile.;)

My question is, which disks do you recommend I buy? I want to be able to save files (MS Word/Excel type) to a disk and transfer them from a desktop to laptop and vice versa. I'm happy to pay for a well known quality brand, not looking for cheap and nasty. I would prefer the re-writeable type too.

Thank you

Nile (the technophobe)

Betty_Boop

Nile why not get yourself a little USB flash device?
Far more reliable than floppies and pretty cheap too starting at around £6
Just plug it into your USB port and it'll appear as another drive. It's hot swappable (meaning you dont have to turn your machine on/off to unplug it)
I couldn't be without mine!


http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?rb=6888117262&action=c2hvd3N1YmNhdGVnb3J5X3BhZ2U=&subcat_uid=405

Debt_Free_Chick

Maxtor one touch like this one

http://reviews.zdnet.co.uk/hardware/storage/0,39024060,39166400,00.htm

This will enable you to use the drive as a backup, too. Partition it so it looks like 2 disks. Call one "Backup" and the other, anything you like. It comes with bundled backup software (Dantz Retrspect) which you can set to automatically back up your stuff, overnight, every night.

Curry_Queen

Available here much cheaper

bridiej

Betty_Boop wrote:

Nile why not get yourself a little USB flash device?
Far more reliable than floppies and pretty cheap too starting at around £6
Just plug it into your USB port and it'll appear as another drive. It's hot swappable (meaning you dont have to turn your machine on/off to unplug it)
I couldn't be without mine!

Yes, much easier than using disks!!!!

shrek101

I agree the usb pen drives sounds the way to backup unelss you require a lot.

Aria are doing a 1gb pen drive for £38

http://www.aria.co.uk/specials.asp

Hintza

Another more expensive option could be an external hard drive??

If I had a laptop I think I would consider that. Keep all your files, music, video etc and just move from one machine to the other. Will also save you problems later when you want to replace a computer.

But for ease of moving stuff the USB dongle is the way to go.

Curry_Queen

Hintza wrote:

Another more expensive option could be an external hard drive??

That's what the Maxtor One Touch is, already mentioned above

Nasnowt

Nile, the USB thing is very easy. Even I can do it (although it took me 3 goes to buy the right thing :rolleyes: )

Debt_Free_Chick

And just to clarify, the Maxtor One-Touch External Drive is a USB drive - so connecting it to different PCs is exactly the same as connecting a USB Pen Drive.

The main advantages, as I see it, for the Maxtor are: space - it's a "proper" drive. It can be partitioned like a "proper drive". It comes with free, but excellent, backup software.

The disadvantage over the USB pen drive is cost - but then, in this case, I really do believe you are getting what you pay for.

My backup has saved me twice since New Year and enabled me to rebuild step-son's PC. Worth considering ...

Nile

WOW, you guys are all so helpful.

I didn't even know what a USB flash thingy was until I read your posts.:rolleyes:

Anyway, I went along to PC World and asked for their advice and bought the smallest/cheapest (2.0) stick. It's tiny, only measures 75mm x 20mm.

I've successfully transferred files from desktop to laptop.......woohoo.

You are all wonderful. Thank You.

Nile (no longer a complete technophobe):j