Thanks for Sharing: LapLink's PCsync

Richard Baguley

Getting in sync is a common problem: You buy a new machine and need to copy all files from your old PC. Or a business trip forces you to copy multiple files from your desktop to a laptop. That's where PCsync comes in. This software transfers files from one machine to another via cables or over the Internet.

The $55 package from LapLink.com--which also makes LapLink, the popular high-end remote-control and file-transfer program--includes two cables for connecting one notebook's USB or serial port to another's (the software costs $50 if you download it from LapLink, but cables are not included). LapLink says PCsync can achieve speeds of 5 mbps for USB and 500 kbps for serial. In my tests of shipping software, the USB connection took about 5 minutes to transfer a 90MB directory between two laptop machines. That translates to about 18MB per minute (approximately 45 times faster than an infrared connection's transfer speed). PCsync can also selectively copy files that have changed since the last transfer, thanks to its SmartXchange feature. And a single mouse click lets you transfer all the files from one PC to another.

The system allows you to share files over the Internet with anybody who has a copy of PCsync (and the right password).

It's relatively easy to transfer files between a pair of networked PCs using software built into Windows, so if you just want to do that, this product isn't for you. But if one of the machines isn't networked (or if you want to synchronize files over the Internet), PCsync provides a good, fast way to copy files--with some useful extra features.

Buying Information

PCsync Copies files fast; easy to use. Probably unnecessary if you have access to a network. Enables people without networks to transfer files to a new PC or synchronize data on a laptop. Street price: $55 with cables; $50 download from LapLink.com LapLink.com 800/343-8080 http://www.laplink.com