CD-RW drive or USB Flash Drive???

[BigBankHank]

I have two computers in the home. One computer has the internet, but doesn't have a CD-RW drive and the other one doesn't have the internet and is the one that I do all the video editing on.

I would like to use some of the programs that are suggested on here, such as the freeware or the demos, but I can't get the downloads from one computer to the other.

Would it be better to get an external CD-RW drive and burn the programs onto discs that would hold 700 MB or would a USB flash drive that holds 128 or 256 MB be sufficient to transfer most of the video programs that are talked about on the board?

Thanks in advance for any answers given and thanks to the participants and creator of this board. I usually lurk, but I always learn.

[Gees]

My opinion? They both have their advantages. I use each at different times. If you can't have both, why not look up each program you're interested in and check their sizes?

You may need to make a few trips w/ usb stick, but besides that, they're pretty hassle free.

Only you will know which programs you want to try for and which will be too large for a stick-type device.

I'm sure at some point a CD writer will be a wise investment anyway.

I have the same situation with 3 PCs - 2 upstairs w/o online access. I use a stick for quick & small, CD for large. I have 3 sticks at the moment - one doubles as an MP3 player. :c)

[bugster]

Why not simply network them together?

A couple of NIC's and a length of cable shouldn't cost much more than your proposed solutions, even a couple of wireless 802.11b adapters should be within most peoples budgets. Other possibilities for networking 2 Pc's together include firewire, if you have it on both PC's, and even USB can be used for connecting 2 PC's together. A lot more flexible than CDRW or USB memory sticks!

[vitualis]

I fully agree... Time to invest in some network cards... and if your PCs aren't in convenient locations for cables, then wireless is highly recommended.

Regards.

[BigBankHank]

Thanks for the replies and suggestions. The only potential problem with networking is that the computer with the internet is a company computer and I am not sure if I want to or should network the computer with anything of mine. I don't want them to think that I want any of their top secrets.

[bugster]

Thanks for the replies and suggestions. The only potential problem with networking is that the computer with the internet is a company computer and I am not sure if I want to or should network the computer with anything of mine. I don't want them to think that I want any of their top secrets.

If they are both in your home, USB connected wireless adaptors should get round that problem. Anyway, a CDRW or USB memory stick have the same "security" issues.