MacBook Pro migration

[Pete]

Just taken delivery of a shiny new MacBook Pro as a direct replacement for my PowerBook G4. As the PowerBook is my day-to-day machine which I use for everything including bookeeping, programming, designing, emailing, well... you get the idea, I thought I'd be in for at least 24 hours of re-installing applications, configuring, copying across documents and generally tweaking to get the new machine into a fit state to use for prime-time.

So, I was rather pleased that on starting up the new MacBook, it asked if I was an existing Mac user, and if I'd like to migrate over. So, plugging the old PowerBook in via a Firewire cable, the new MacBook copied everything over for me (obviously putting things in the right place, and updating system settings as appropriate). It took about an hour, unattended; and when the MacBook Pro got to the desktop, it looked just like my old Mac - only faster, and with all the extra features (like built in iSight camera) enabled. 95% of the applications launched and ran without complaint, and the remaining 5% just wanted their serial numbers re-entering - or in the specific case of Quark XPress, re-activating (which it did happily via the Internet).

I have to say, in 20-odd years of using computers, this has to be the smoothest migration I've ever experienced. No mean feat given the processor under the hood of the system is totally different on each machine, and there was approximately 60GB worth of applications and files to move.

Loving this new Mac... and World Of Warcraft runs particularly fast now

Pete

Looks like another ticket in the 'excellent' box for macs!! Porting information has got to be the most boring and frustrating thing any computer user ever faces!!!

[preiffer]

Just a shame they removed the FW800 from the MBP Pete - that hour could have been 30 minutes had it now been transfering at half the speed of the old ones... [:(]

[HighFlyer]

Good stuff Pete!

As I have said a million times over ... why anyone buys a Dell laptop nowadays is beyond me!

Happy MacbookPro-ing - I'm typing from my work one now

Thanks,
Sarah

I've been a mac user for about a year now, and have never looked back. Didn't trust the migration thing and did it manually. Syncing with Dot Mac though makes things a breeze. Your mail and key chain are all transfered :-)

As a side.... Despite getting corporate discount at apple UK, I'll never buy anything big from then again. Go to http://www.apple.com/uk/business and look on the right for refurbished mac's.... 40% I got off my MBP!!!!

[Scrooge]

Now is a nice feature, shame I don't have a Mac to transfer stuff from/to, but still.

Originally posted by Scrooge
shame I don't have a Mac to transfer stuff from/to, but still.

well, you COULD.... you know you want to... [}:)]

[Pete]

Originally posted by preiffer
Just a shame they removed the FW800 from the MBP Pete - that hour could have been 30 minutes had it now been transfering at half the speed of the old ones... [:(]

Nope, they've put it back on the new models - I just don't have a FW800 cable

[preiffer]

Oooh - I didn't notice that little upgrade!

Still no PCMCIA though. [:(]

[mcmbenjamin]

Originally posted by preiffer
Oooh - I didn't notice that little upgrade!

Still no PCMCIA though. [:(]

ExpressCard/34 slot

[Scrooge]

Originally posted by Juliet

Originally posted by Scrooge
shame I don't have a Mac to transfer stuff from/to, but still.

well, you COULD.... you know you want to... [}:)]

[V] We are not going to get that started again Juliet.

Honestly no, but it is still a nice feature.

[mcmbenjamin]

Just stop by the Fashion Show Dave. Here's how

[preiffer]

Didn't we do that several times, Ben? Still never found a wireless mighty mouse [:I]

[mcmbenjamin]

Originally posted by preiffer
Didn't we do that several times, Ben? Still never found a wireless mighty mouse [:I]

We did; all ~1.5 miles of it! I did find a bluetooth Mighty Mouse at the Nashville/Green Hills Apple Store.

BTW - Signed up for both the SF and Las Vegas Marathons. Happy to provide links [}:)]

[Bazz]

Originally posted by HighFlyer
As I have said a million times over ... why anyone buys a Dell laptop nowadays is beyond me!

Hmm [:?]

Well I bought a top end Inspiron 6400 just before Christmas and have been very pleased with it! I could configure the spec from a wide choice of options and it represented good value for money.

I know you MAC users will think I am stuck in the dark ages but having grown up on PCs since they came out it is an environment I am comfortable with. However I will consider a high spec MAC when I change it particularly now that they handle Windows programs with ease.

[HighFlyer]

Barry,

Not at all, Richard likes Dell and we have half a dozen of them at home. Dell machines are cheap, they are customisable, the support is pretty reasonable and i admit that they keep a fantastic library of drivers which is a godsend if you are upgrading or changing your system. They are just so damn ugly when you compare them to Macs - you gotta give me that?

I grew up with Macs, then switched to PCs in 1994. I was a latecomer to the PC revolution but I still know far more about PCs than I do Macs, probably because I havent had to learn on the job with Macs as i have done with PCs when they go wrong.

PCs seem a good choice for many users, but Macs are so simple and easy to use, and with Boot Camp and Parallels ability to run Windows/Linux on them, it is well worth considering switching.

I'll bring my baby Macbook on Saturday to tempt you ...

Thanks,
Sarah

[Bazz]

Originally posted by HighFlyer
I'll bring my baby Macbook on Saturday to tempt you ...

Naughty Sarah [V]

I mustn't spend any more of Birkin's Hermes fund [:I]

I must say that having a familiarity with the technology is somewhat comforting particularly as PCs do go wrong so often. Only yesterday I had to swop out a defunct DVD drive in one of my office PCs and upgrade the ram in one of my RIPs - the covers seem to be off more than on most days

[mcmbenjamin]

Barry: I could pick you up a MAcBook on the way to the airport today if you want.

[HighFlyer]

I think Birkin would quite like a shiny white Macbook - and a nice Knomo bag to go with it

Thanks,
Sarah

[mitchja]

The only thing the puts me off a MacBook is the price. OK they are dropping now but not at the same rate as PC lap-tops.

Very happy with my new HP Pavilion DV2130EA lap-top here.

No PCMCIA on PC lap-tops now it seems. It's Express Card slot now (even though there's no expansion cards around just let, later this year apparently). Mine also has an Expansion Port 3 socket on it as well (what ever that is)

Regards

[mcmbenjamin]

Originally posted by HighFlyer
I think Birkin would quite like a shiny white Macbook - and a nice Knomo bag to go with it

Thanks,
Sarah

Just PM what you want Barry. I drive right past Tyson's Corner on my way to the airport this afternoon. Happy to pop in I KNOW Birkin wants one.

[HighFlyer]

I was actually going to say, what do you use the PCMCIA slots for nowadays? I haven't used one for ages now, i think the last PCMCIA cards i had were for USB2.0 and SD.

Yes Macbooks are a little bit more expensive than a Windows laptop, although if you compare like for like spec wise with some of the main players, there often isnt too much in it. Also, you do get a certain amount of software preloaded on Macbooks (ok, some necessary, some not) that kind of adds value. The only thing i really needed to add to mine was an Office suite, although you get a trial version of MS Office for Mac pre-installed too.

I will say that i'd like a few more USB 2.0 ports on the Mac range though, two is not enough for the MacbookPro, and one of mine doesn't work since i got rice pudding in it one day - dont ask!

Thanks,
Sarah

[mitchja]

It's no big deal not having PCMCIA these days as wireless NIC's are more often built in now anyway. That was the only PCMCIA card I used on my old lap-top.

Bluetooth would be the only other thing I would like on my lap-top as an extra (OK I could buy a USB dongle but I dont like things sticking out the side of my lap-top). Apparently they are going to be doing Bluetooth Express cards later this year. Although that would then mean I wouldnt have anywhere to store my remote control as it slots into the express card slot when not in use.

Regards

[Bazz]

Ben, thanks, it was my birthday on the 19th but I won't object to a late prezzie

Sarah, FOUR USB2 ports on my Dell. two at the back so virtually rice pudding proof

James, for a nominal extra fee Dell offers built-in Bluetooth and very well it works too.

It also comes with an ExpressCard Slot, a 5-in-1 Media Memory Card Reader, a Firewire port and S-Video output.

My Mac is the only computer I've made money on! I brought a Mac Mini July 04 and sold it in March 05 to get an iMac. Put it on eBay at £1 and it went for £50 more than I bought it for.

Currently got a 20" iMac and a White Macbook, but thinking of eBaying both of them and getting a refurb MBP as I find myself on the laptop more than the desktop now.

Great bits of kit, almost managed to convert my folks now but my work collegues are another thing!