USB Port To USB Port?

[Will Rickards WT]

Can you connect two computers directly via the USB port?
I want to move some files between a desktop and a laptop.
I have a cable that would connect on both ends (it is an extension cable for a usb card reader).
I just don't want to hook them up and blow both usb ports out or something.

 

[Mercutio]

You need a special USB A-A data transfer cable. You can get one from callcct.com for $10.

 

[blakerwry]

not just any A<->A cable?

 

[Mercutio]

Nope. Straight A-A violates some of the "rules" of USB. If you look at a data transfer cable, there's a little junction box in the middle of the cable that does the switching to make each side think that the thing on the other side is a mass storage device.

 

[blakerwry]

that's what I thought

 

[Computer Generated Baby]

Nope. Straight A-A violates some of the "rules" of USB. If you look at a data transfer cable, there's a little junction box in the middle of the cable that does the switching to make each side think that the thing on the other side is a mass storage device.

USB doesn't allow peer-level controller-less transfers, which is something Firewire can do. However, I thought there was -- a little while back -- a movement to add this capability to USB and it would show up first with "wireless" USB, then trickle down to copper USB at some point (USB 2.x).

The little "line lump" in that cable is just a bus-powered transceiver.