[RWebb]

How about posting the following add'l info:
- age, brand, model and OpSys of each laptop
- any other computer involved now or in future?
- what ports are on each laptop - both have USB 2.0 right? anything else?
- what sort of files are you going to store? data? music? video?
- will the 2 laptops be suing this drive at the same location or time? never? you're sure it will be never?
- skill set or comfort level working with computers? with networks?

That will let people give you some good, targeted advice.