April 28th, 2007
The Tornado: PC to PC Data Transfer Device
By Martin Regtien
Contributing Writer, RealTechNews
Every once in awhile a gadget lands on your desk and hangs around, kicking up a storm.
The aptly named The Tornado (but not for its destructive capabilities!), is an incredibly useful device for transferring data from one PC to the other.
We have just finished a big Vista migration in which this device played a major role.
Let me show you how life in the fast lane has now become a lot easier with hurricane-like transfer speeds and a pretty (inter)face.
It’s a simple device, but not simplistic.
For this jaded, grumpy old geek, (after all, I’m of the same vintage as the venerable Walt Mossberg) it’s an ideal tool to suck up my precious data from equally old computer gear into the virgin spaces of my gleaming Vista machine.
I have decided to give this Tornado Transfer Tool the highest rating on our DigitalReviews Network: The Editor’s Award. Read why.
jb says:
Seems to me this does nothing that you couldn’t easily do between two computers connected on a home-network.
Waste of fluff and money,
April 30th, 2007 at 7:22 am
degustibus says:
I’m with jb.
I do my file transfers the oldfashioned way–peer to peer networking. At twice USB 2 speeds!! Anyone with two computers should be networked. I’ve wiped more vintage off my chops than you and Mossberg(who he?).
The Toronado might be useful for nonnetworked computers, but even there I make do with USB drives.
How odd is it that there’s no link to The Tornado site in this blog entry and in the review…. nor mention of the $59.95 price.
Useful, but hardly and Editor’s Choice.
April 30th, 2007 at 4:21 pm
Kevin Peck says:
If you transfer between two computers at the same location all the time then, yes, the network makes sense. But if you are out and about and need to transfer between two laptops at a business or in a meeting this is an excellent way to do it.
I think more items like this will come out and if the price drops to $20 it would a great thing to keep in a laptop bag for emergency data transfer.
May 1st, 2007 at 5:52 am
Martin says:
guys
read the review carefully, not just the conclusion… it does mention price and does indicate who would best benefit from a device like this. OF COURSE, peer-to-peer is best if people know how to set it up etc. All that was mentioned too…
Sigh…
May 1st, 2007 at 2:00 pm
Tori says:
So I have a question then, for a person like me who’s looking to do a ONE TIME transfer from PC to PC - what is the best way for me to do that?
January 24th, 2008 at 7:31 am
Marion says:
Tornado!? maybe great if you life in the USA, but for us lesser mortals in other parts of the world…..the facility to order does not compute. Looks for ’state’ to be filled in at the address link, will not accept Irish counties, 0000 or being left blank. Given that the country of choice is available through a drop down menu this is surprising. Emails to the company just end up in the great black hole of the non-delivered, meanwhile the ‘old computer’ is having the last laugh as I have to step over the thing to get to the new one!
However, while Tornado.com believe that no one outside the USA needs the facility the data transfer would appear to offer???? will review the beast if ever I get my hands on one.
March 15th, 2008 at 5:46 am