How can I transfer information directly from one laptop to another ?

I need to transfer data (documents, photos, music etc etc) from one laptop with an increasingly dodgy hard drive, onto a new lap top.

Am I able to connect the 2 laptops directly and simply transfer such information ?

I don;t want to do it piece-meal via a memory stick.How can I transfer information directly from one laptop to another ?i would invest in an external hard drive and get into the habit of backing up while your transferring?How can I transfer information directly from one laptop to another ?both machines will have a network card. Simply connect the 2 with a cat5 crossover cable, configure the network settings, map the drives and off you go. EASY