If you transfer your consciousness into a machine, are you simply just creating a clone of your personality while you, your original self, remain stuck in your biological body?

A transfer would assume a LAN or wireless transmission of the data. Yes you could use this technique to copy information, but it could be an absolute transfer if so wished (especially by LAN connection); however, this could also be seen as deleting the original by some people.

you could also upload yourself, or a copy of yourself online, at least the electrical data to be stored for later use. Talk about social networking!