Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!usc!sdd.hp.com!decwrl!sgi!shinobu!odin!odin.corp.sgi.com!portuesi From: portuesi@tweezers.esd.sgi.com (Michael Portuesi) Newsgroups: comp.sys.laptops Subject: Re: lap to mac connectivity Message-ID: Date: 16 Aug 90 09:11:52 GMT References: <12006@netcom.UUCP> Sender: news@odin.corp.sgi.com (Net News) Reply-To: portuesi@sgi.com (Michael Portuesi) Distribution: comp Organization: Silicon Graphics, Inc., Mtn. View, CA Lines: 81 In-Reply-To: martin@netcom.UUCP's message of 15 Aug 90 04:41:21 GMT >>>>> On 15 Aug 90 04:41:21 GMT, martin@netcom.UUCP (Martin Hall) said: > I have a Mac SE (pre-FDHD) with accelerator, etc. > I have a PC clone with Hard disk and 5.25" floppy. > I just got a Toshiba T1200XE with 20 meg HD and 3.5" floppy. I have a > 2400 baud modem built-in. This sounds similar to my setup. I have a T1000XE, 20 meg HD, no floppy, no modem. I have a Mac IIcx at home > I have a pretty good system for getting files between the PC clone and > the Mac. But I would like it to be better. For me, the IIcx has the FDHD drive, which means that it can read MS-DOS disks directly. Right now, to move stuff from my Toshiba onto the Mac, I use Laplink PC to transfer the files to a PC compatible with a floppy drive, then use Apple File Exchange to read the MS-DOS files on the Macintosh. > The question what is the best way for me to transfer files between these > machines. Transfering to the PC clone is not as important as > Mac<-->laptop transfers. > I am new to this; but some possibilities as I see it: > Get the FDHD upgrade so that I can read PC floppies (~$400-~$500) > PLI Turbo floppy for the Mac. > Lap link Mac > Lap link (PC) > Any other ideas? Any recommendations? LapLink PC will not help you transfer files from your laptop to a Mac. It only does PC <-> PC transfers. So you would have to transfer your files via LapLink PC to your desktop PC, then transfer them to your Mac. I should note that the version of LapLink PC built into my T1000XE works quite nicely. I bought a copy of LapLink Mac via mail-order, and ended up returning it for a refund. LapLink Mac does Mac <-> Mac and Mac <-> PC transfers. I returned it because the file translators that came with the product were pretty lame, and the program had a few serious usability faults. Still, if you want to just transfer files without doing too much file conversion, and you don't want to spend a lot of money, this might be the best choice. For Mac->laptop transfers, I am considering building a DB-9 <-> Mini DIN8 cable and using Kermit (cheap, slow), or buying the Toshiba external 3.5" 1.44 MB drive so I can read/write disks directly (expensive, fast). I still have a copy of the letter I wrote to Traveling Software after I purchased LapLink Mac. I'll dig it up from the archives and post it (along with their response) tomorrow. I don't know what the PLI Turbo floppy is, so I won't comment. The FDHD upgrade would be the fastest and most convenient transfer method, especially if you sprang the extra $100 or so it would take to install a 3.5" drive in your desktop PC. Then all three of your machines could read and write the same media in the same format. > I also am interested in Laptop<-->Sun (SPARCStation) connectivity. I have a Silicon Graphics 4D/20 workstation at work. I transfer files via a serial cable from the back of the machine to my Toshiba, using Kermit. The SPARCStation has a 3.5" drive on the side that should be able to handle MS-DOS disks; you could benefit very much from finding some software for the SPARCStation that can read and write MS-DOS disks. I would expect Sun to ship some software of this sort with the machine, but you should probably ask someone who works for Sun if you want to know for sure. --M -- __ \/ Michael Portuesi Silicon Graphics, Inc. portuesi@sgi.com "man, this is weak."