From Mac Mini to Macbook Pro: A very special edition of Special Snowflake
June 21, 2010 5:52 AM Subscribe
Advice needed about migrating from one Macintosh to another in slightly different situation
There's going to be shiny new Macbook Pro at some point in the new few weeks for someone. The person who will be using it is currently using a PowerPC Mac Mini. Naturally, they'd like transfer all of their apps, music, documents etc to the Macbook Pro when it arrives.
The problem is that the Macbrook Pro and the Mac Mini will be about 1,600 miles apart (the person is on a long vacation). Soooo, should the Macbook Pro be shipped to the person who will be using it, so their currently computerless self has something to use, or should the Macbook Pro be shipped to me, so I can update with their old stuff, and then ship it to them?
If they choose the former, i.e. to get the Macbook Pro sent to them directly and they start using (adding documents, software, iTunes purchases), will it be difficult to merge the two computers via Migration Assistant when the computers will be in the same room, say in about six week?
The Mac Mini is a PowerPC machine, running 10.4.11, and of course the Macbook Pro will have the 10.6 on it.
There's going to be shiny new Macbook Pro at some point in the new few weeks for someone. The person who will be using it is currently using a PowerPC Mac Mini. Naturally, they'd like transfer all of their apps, music, documents etc to the Macbook Pro when it arrives.
The problem is that the Macbrook Pro and the Mac Mini will be about 1,600 miles apart (the person is on a long vacation). Soooo, should the Macbook Pro be shipped to the person who will be using it, so their currently computerless self has something to use, or should the Macbook Pro be shipped to me, so I can update with their old stuff, and then ship it to them?
If they choose the former, i.e. to get the Macbook Pro sent to them directly and they start using (adding documents, software, iTunes purchases), will it be difficult to merge the two computers via Migration Assistant when the computers will be in the same room, say in about six week?
The Mac Mini is a PowerPC machine, running 10.4.11, and of course the Macbook Pro will have the 10.6 on it.
I'd let Migration Assistant move everything during the fresh-out-of-the-box startup/setup rather than deal with integrating things later. They can wait a few extra days.
posted by D.C. at 7:02 AM on June 21, 2010
posted by D.C. at 7:02 AM on June 21, 2010
Clone the mini onto a 2.5" portable hard drive with SuperDuper! and mail the hard drive to them so they can merge it with Migration Assistant. They can then hold onto that hard drive and use it for ongoing backups.
posted by thejoshu at 7:56 AM on June 21, 2010
posted by thejoshu at 7:56 AM on June 21, 2010
Response by poster: Hmmm, the portable drive solution is a interesting one and produces less work for moi. Is there any particular drive you'd recommend?
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 8:03 AM on June 21, 2010
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 8:03 AM on June 21, 2010
I don't think cloning the drive will work, as the PowerPC 10.4.11 probably won't boot a new MBP. I don't know that first-hand, but a G4 iBook couldn't boot from a legit Apple OSX install disc for an Intel machine. I think it's too far of a jump.
posted by fishpatrol at 1:34 PM on June 22, 2010
posted by fishpatrol at 1:34 PM on June 22, 2010
Response by poster: The cloning wouldn't be for booting, but rather for the MBP to clone the user settings, docs etc from.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 3:10 PM on June 22, 2010
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 3:10 PM on June 22, 2010
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posted by wkearney99 at 6:01 AM on June 21, 2010