posted 01-06-2003 11:58 AM            

I'm really really frustrated with this issue. I bought an XP Home edition PC to use for viewing my websites as I develop them. And, now I want to use the PC as my backup system for files on the Mac. That is, to use it's CD burner to backup files from my Mac.

I've seen and read about a variety of solutions to connecting the Mac and PC which would allow me to can transfer files from one to the another - given that they are each connected to the Internet behind a cable router. This is what I have whittled from the list/categories of solutions I have found thus far:

* (1) * PC MacLAN (software which I downloaded, installed and tested. It does work nicely. I was able to transfer a Mac folder to the Desktop on the PC within ten minutes of its installation. It does work nicely!)

* (2) * FTP Clients, both Mac and PC-based, to:
*** (2a) *** FTP files from one computer to an internet host server, retrieving them from that internet host server - which sounds feasible and most likely doable at little-to-no cost!
*** (2b) *** FTP files directly from one computer (the PC or Mac) back and forth, to and from the other (the Mac or PC). And, having the data transfer be taking place along, through and between ONLY the two computers and the router ... effectively, data never going beyond the router - smply being transferred computer-to-computer

* (3) * Hardware connection using a USB cable (with some sort of hardware switch midway between the cable's ends) for the direct (computer-thru-wire-to-computer) transfer of files ... I did not see any write-ups on this process/hardware which mentioned anything about drivers needed nor how the transfer process worked.

* (4) * Upgrading to Mac OXS X Jaguar, which is purportedly fairly stable and has h/w and s/w to easily connect with the PC's XP ... thus 'VOILA!" ... problem solved!

What suggestion(s) do you have for me to connect my Mac (OS 9.2.2 PPC G3 Beige 233mhz) to my PC (XP Home edition, 1.?Ghz, 3 months new) - *Given I want to have the method and cost be (high) quality and (moderately) cheap!

Thanks to you all, in advance.