Avoid USB 1?

[buildingacomputer]

I find some HP and Compag laptops on sale for about $800 after rebates. AMD XP 2500 Mobile, 256MB DDR, CDRW, etc. But all have USB 1. On my desktop I have mouse and printer connected to USB. I don't know if USB 1 or 2 makes any difference on mouse and printer performance.

What other uses are there for USB port? I have not owned a laptop before. I just don;t know how difficult (or impossible) it is to upgrade USB 1 to USB 2 on a laptop. Thanks.

 

[biostud]

It doesn't matter if it's USB1.1 or USB2.0 for those stuff, only when you need to transfer files (or other large data transfers) USB2.0 comes in handy.

 

[Fritoz]

/agree

As soon as you start transfering files from a 2.0 enabled digicam, or external drive... you'll never want to go back. If you can find a deal that you can bear, go with 2.0.

 

[DeeKnow]

the only way to upgrade to USB2 on a laptop would be to buy a PCMCIA card adapter for USB2

 

[frankgomez75]

yea, if its a good deal, just get it, a usb 2.0 pcmcia card is like $17-30 depening on where u shop, look on amazon, newegg or ebay for some good deals. I have 1.1 but no big deal until you transfer huge files, but I just jack into my network anyways when transferring huge files.

 

[buildingacomputer]

Thanks for the suggestions. I have a followup question. How do you transfer files through network jack? Or can you lead me to an online document for further reading? Thanks.

 

[ShellGuy]

Building,
The easyest way to do that would be with a hub or router and map the drives on each computer.

Will

 

[DeeKnow]

or.... just get a crossover cable (5 bucks max) plug a comp on each end and off you go...no hubs or nothing

 

[buildingacomputer]

Originally posted by: DeeKnow
or.... just get a crossover cable (5 bucks max) plug a comp on each end and off you go...no hubs or nothing

Could you break it down to a step by step process? Or a link on internet for further reading myself? I have a problem at work. My old computer has test data in the hard disk. But the floppy drive is bad. It is a compact computer and hard to swap out the floppy. I can read the data on acreen but cannot output the data in an electronic format. No USB port. I bought a parallel port external CD writer to go around the bad floppy drive but the installation program comes on a floppy disk. Doh!

I desperately need a way to output the test data (and all future test data) electronically. Fortunately, it has a network jack on the back. Please help. It is a Windows 98 machine.

 

[DaWhim]

firewire is another option

 

[alexruiz]

The Compaqs and HP that he is talking about have firewire..... USB 2.0 comes handy, but not indispensable. In fact, if you really are serious about external storage, you wouldn't be using USB 2.0 in the first place... Firewire is the answer! And a cardbus card can be bought cheap is you really find the need for it later.

Alex