Getting stuff off one laptop onto another?

[topsi]

Hi I understand there is a gismo to get info from one computer (now broken) onto another. Could anyone enlighten me please?
I know PC world can do it for £30 but is there a cheeper alternative?
Many thanks

How badly broken is the other computer?

If its disk is removable you can buy a box to put it in that will let it be read on other computers.

Chances are you want something like this: www.amazon.co.uk/DUAL-SATA-eSATA-Docking-Station/dp/B003DUAPDQ/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1319648466&sr=8-5

You'll need to prise the hard drive out of the old laptop, it's usually under a panel on the back next to a symbol that looks like this. Then just plug it into the dock, wire it in via USB, and voilà.

Make sure you boot the new computer up and get it to an idle state before plugging another HDD into it though.