What is the easiest way to move LARGE files from a PC to a Powerbook

[chiggachu]

I've been AIM file transferring large files (around 1GB) to my friend over our campus network, but it's taking a really long time (about 1MB/sec)

I have a PC, he has an Apple Powerbook.

What is the fastest and easiest way to move these files? I was looking for a solution that would utilize the IO that already exists on our machines (USB2.0, firewire, ethernet).

 

[V00D00]

If you have gigabit ethernet, that would be the best.

USB 1.1 - 12mbits
Firewire - 400mbits
USB 2.0 fullspeed - 12mbits
USB 2.0 highspeed - 480mbits
Gigabit ethernet - 1000mbits

I'm not sure how you can share files between a mac and a pc over usb, so I guess ethernet would be your best bet. Just google for "file sharing between pc and mac" or something similar.

You'll need a crossover cable if you don't have a hub or a switch.

 

[corkyg]

Originally posted by: V00D00
If you have gigabit ethernet, that would be the best.

USB 1.1 - 12mbits
Firewire - 400mbits
USB 2.0 fullspeed - 12mbits
USB 2.0 highspeed - 480mbits
Gigabit ethernet - 1000mbits

I'm not sure how you can share files between a mac and a pc over usb, so I guess ethernet would be your best bet. Just google for "file sharing between pc and mac" or something similar.

You'll need a crossover cable if you don't have a hub or a switch.

:thumbsup:

 

[chiggachu]

thanks, this is helpful. Now I just need to find a crossover cable and futz with it

 

[chiggachu]

found one quickly:

http://cgi.ebay.com/RJ45-LAN-Crossover-...34QQcategoryZ64034QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Now I can just use my existing cable

 

[chcarnage]

I'm not 100% sure but depending on the hardware it's going to work even with an uncrossed cable. Am I wrong?

 

[V00D00]

Yes, some... some, hardware can do that. I don't think mac's have that capability. I don't know anything about macs though.

Usually if you do have hardware that supports using a straight through cable to connect two PCs you need that same type of card in both PCs.

Those crossover adapters are handy when you need them. I've been wanting to get one. Maybe I'll be stealing that one from you.. hehe..

 

[arcenite]

P-P-P-P-P-P-Powerbook

 

[obeseotron]

Best throughput would be with an ftp and a gigabit crossover cable.

 

[chiggachu]

how would I do this using FTP?

 

[duragezic]

By the time you got anything else setup or a cable delivered to you, wouldn't the 1GB transfer be done anyway? 1MB/sec isn't too bad.

External hard drive (USB 2.0/Firewire) would be plenty fast. Even for ~5GB files, the external drive around our house is definitely the fastest for transferring large files between our PCs (especially with some on wireless .b connects).

 

[bob4432]

Originally posted by: chiggachu
how would I do this using FTP?

just setup ftp server on either machine and then move the files, for pc ftp software filezilla ftp server is good, as is serv-u, both are easy to setup and free

 

[chiggachu]

thanks, I'll give those ftp apps a try.

This isn't for transferring one 1GB file. This is for multiple transfers I see happening in the future

 

[Icepick]

Originally posted by: bob4432

Originally posted by: chiggachu
how would I do this using FTP?

just setup ftp server on either machine and then move the files, for pc ftp software filezilla ftp server is good, as is serv-u, both are easy to setup and free

A file transfer using filezilla over a direct 100Mbps Ethernet connection is by far the fastest method to transfer large files. Once you have it set up it will be easy to make several small file transfers in the future.

 

[camara120]

Firewire Target Disk Mode might work.

The link describes hooking up a Mac to a powerbook with a firewire cable and rebooting the powerbook while holding down the 'T' key. It says this allows the powerbook to act like an external firewire hard drive.

Im not sure if that also works when going from a Powerbook to a PC, but it doesnt hurt to try...

 

[dchakrab]

I second the filezilla recommendation...using filezilla actually solved an FTP large file timeout problem I was having with website uploads. It also lets you queue files and manage your queue easily, so you can set a large number files for transfer and just let it run while you're out at class or whatever.

If you're close enough to each other, crossover cable would be much faster than campus network, especially if you can get your hands on some gigabit ethernet cards. Otherwise, USB 2.0 or Firewire (or Firewire 800) might be a good option as well, and faster than 100Mbs ethernet crossovers. But even a regular crossover cable is going to be faster than using the campus network.

Good luck...I remember the days when we had to move ...er... large video files back and forth on a campus computer network.

D.