Laplink FileMover review

If you want to move files between two PCs, but you don't have network equipment, you can be left trying to transfer them one CD-full at a time, or - even worse - one floppy disk at a time.

Not only is it slow, but you can't go away and leave it to work on its own. You have to be there the whole time, filling up the disks and actually carrying them over to the other PC, just like they did in the dark ages. Laplink's FileMover is a program that allows you to transfer files between two PCs using a simple serial cable or a USB cable.

The program must first be installed on both the machines you wish to transfer files between. During installation, you'll be asked to choose a user name and password - remember these, as you'll need them whenever you use the software. You can only install FileMover on two computers. If you want to use it elsewhere, you'll need to buy another licence.

When the program is running, the screen is split into two areas. One part displays the folders on the PC you're transferring from, the other shows the files on your target computer. All you need to do is highlight the files you want to transfer by clicking on them once, then drag them to the target PC's window. Next, confirm the user name and password and the transfer will begin.

FileMover comes bundled with a bulky serial cable - a type of connection that most new laptops simply don't have any more. Serial cables aren't designed to move large files. We tried to move 80MB of photos from one PC to another using the serial cable - and managed an average transfer speed of 18Kbits/s. At this rate, it would take about ten hours to transfer the whole lot. A USB cable is far more practical, but the ones on LapLink's Web site cost a hefty £35. A discount card is included in the box, but even when you use this, the cable will cost a whopping £20.

This product might make sense if it came with a USB cable. Then, it would be a relatively quick way to transfer files between two PCs that you didn't want to network permanently. With the serial cable supplied, it's far too slow. You can buy a pair of 10/100Mbits/s network cards and a network cable for a little over 20 quid - and networking isn't even difficult any more; Windows does most of the automatic configuration for you. Using a 10/100 Mbits/s network you could transfer 80MB of files in seconds. For this reason, we can't recommend using FileMover and its bundled serial cable.

Author: Nick Ross