I'm getting a mini-notebook, but some hardware, that I want on it, requires software putting on, via a CD Rom. Is it possible to connect it to another computer, so that I can transfer the software, or will I need to buy an external DVD drive?
yes you can connect it to another computer and use it's CD drive,
If you have broadband internet with a router that allows you to connect more than one computer at a time then you already have the gear to do it. to share the drive just right click on it in my computer and select sharing and security and then put a tick in the share this folder and click ok
Then as long as all other network settings are correct you should be able to access the cd drive via the network (I bet it won't be that simple though :))
The other option is to copy the contents of the CD onto a USB memory stick and install from that.
Hm, I think that the second route will be the easiest. I'm not sure that it wil be any cheaper than buying an external DVD drive, though. It depends how big the set-up programmes are, doesn't it? My largest memory stick is 4GB.
Thanks for the advice.