Help me move into a new Mac!
November 11, 2011 12:07 PM Subscribe
Being neither satisfied with a laptop nor a desktop I have decided to ditch my iMac, get a refurb Macbook Pro with a Henge dock and I have some questions regarding the new Macbook, the migration, and what to do with the iMac:
1) I just purchased Lion for the iMac. Does the refurb Macbook Pro come with Lion, will my license transfer, or do I just need to buy it again?
2) I trust there's a way to migrate my files and settings to the new computer. What is it? Is there a process that will move my 3rd party software as well?
3) How do I prep the iMac (OS Lion) for sale (security and privacy)?
4) What is the best way to sell the iMac? I live in Springfield, MO so I don't have the largest local market, yet eBay makes me skittish. What would be a fair asking price (2008 model, mint packaging, 21", RAM maxed to 4G)? I hope to get 600-700. Is this reasonable?
1) I just purchased Lion for the iMac. Does the refurb Macbook Pro come with Lion, will my license transfer, or do I just need to buy it again?
2) I trust there's a way to migrate my files and settings to the new computer. What is it? Is there a process that will move my 3rd party software as well?
3) How do I prep the iMac (OS Lion) for sale (security and privacy)?
4) What is the best way to sell the iMac? I live in Springfield, MO so I don't have the largest local market, yet eBay makes me skittish. What would be a fair asking price (2008 model, mint packaging, 21", RAM maxed to 4G)? I hope to get 600-700. Is this reasonable?
3. Just delete everything in your user account.
I wouldn't consider this very secure or private. I prefer a 7-pass erase. Takes a few hours, but worth it for peace of mind.
As for selling, I've had good luck with Gazelle. You'll get less than you would in private sale, but the convenience factor is high. You can look up your model on Gazelle to see how much they'd give you.
posted by dayintoday at 12:43 PM on November 11, 2011 [2 favorites]
I wouldn't consider this very secure or private. I prefer a 7-pass erase. Takes a few hours, but worth it for peace of mind.
As for selling, I've had good luck with Gazelle. You'll get less than you would in private sale, but the convenience factor is high. You can look up your model on Gazelle to see how much they'd give you.
posted by dayintoday at 12:43 PM on November 11, 2011 [2 favorites]
A few additions:
1. If the new computer doesn't come with Lion already, you just need to load up the Mac App Store, log in, go to your purchases, and re-download and install.
2. You want Migration Assistant. You don't need an external hard drive. Either get both machines on the same Airport network or connect them with a Ethernet cable (faster).
3. You should format the hard drive. Create a bootable USB drive, boot from it, go into Disk Utility, and format the hard drive. There are various overwrite N-times options depending on how much time you want to spend on it. (I would at least zero everything out once.)
posted by supercres at 12:43 PM on November 11, 2011
1. If the new computer doesn't come with Lion already, you just need to load up the Mac App Store, log in, go to your purchases, and re-download and install.
2. You want Migration Assistant. You don't need an external hard drive. Either get both machines on the same Airport network or connect them with a Ethernet cable (faster).
3. You should format the hard drive. Create a bootable USB drive, boot from it, go into Disk Utility, and format the hard drive. There are various overwrite N-times options depending on how much time you want to spend on it. (I would at least zero everything out once.)
posted by supercres at 12:43 PM on November 11, 2011
2. You want Migration Assistant. You don't need an external hard drive. Either get both machines on the same Airport network or connect them with a Ethernet cable (faster).
On one hand, this is absolutely true. On the other, Time Machine is a great thing, and if you're not using it - or something third-party and similarly automated - to do your backups, you should, immediately. The ease of doing computer transfers is just a bonus (while browsing the web on my old laptop, I set up my new one - the one I'm using right now - and in about an hour it was ready to go with all 150 GB of my Stuff.)
posted by Tomorrowful at 12:51 PM on November 11, 2011
On one hand, this is absolutely true. On the other, Time Machine is a great thing, and if you're not using it - or something third-party and similarly automated - to do your backups, you should, immediately. The ease of doing computer transfers is just a bonus (while browsing the web on my old laptop, I set up my new one - the one I'm using right now - and in about an hour it was ready to go with all 150 GB of my Stuff.)
posted by Tomorrowful at 12:51 PM on November 11, 2011
fyi if you've been considering an external monitor - note that Apple is about to discontinue the LED Cinema display that is compatible with pre 2011 macs, and they stupidly do not make a known guaranteed-to-work adapater that would let you use their new Thunderbolt displays with the pre-2011 macs.
Or to put it another way - if you are getting a refurb Macbook, you will likely need a used/refurb external display (if you want an Apple display, that is).
posted by bitterkitten at 3:04 PM on November 11, 2011
Or to put it another way - if you are getting a refurb Macbook, you will likely need a used/refurb external display (if you want an Apple display, that is).
posted by bitterkitten at 3:04 PM on November 11, 2011
I used to have a Henge dock. I would not recommend it. It's more hassle than it's worth. It stopped working so many times, and I'd have to take out all the ports, fiddle with them, and then put them back in.
You're better off with a USB hub. It's only a few things to plug in. I'd take a look at the BookArc that TwelveSouth makes as an alternative. I think I might grab one of those to replace the Henge dock. (Sorry Henge, I gave you a try)
posted by iamscott at 3:23 PM on November 11, 2011
You're better off with a USB hub. It's only a few things to plug in. I'd take a look at the BookArc that TwelveSouth makes as an alternative. I think I might grab one of those to replace the Henge dock. (Sorry Henge, I gave you a try)
posted by iamscott at 3:23 PM on November 11, 2011
FWIW I use the Henge dock with my macbook 13" and it works excellently for me. The BookArc isn't really a dock it's just a vertical stand for your macbook - you still have to plug and unplug everything each time you use it.
posted by Poet_Lariat at 3:39 PM on November 11, 2011
posted by Poet_Lariat at 3:39 PM on November 11, 2011
Response by poster: I plan on going on the cheap initially for a monitor so Cinema display is out (perhaps even HDMI into a Tv :/ ).
I'm surprised to see such polarization on the Henge dock. Could it be that it works better for smaller form factor MacBooks? I imagine mine will be docked the majority of the time.
posted by sourwookie at 5:10 PM on November 11, 2011
I'm surprised to see such polarization on the Henge dock. Could it be that it works better for smaller form factor MacBooks? I imagine mine will be docked the majority of the time.
posted by sourwookie at 5:10 PM on November 11, 2011
Just say no to the overpriced BookArc. Nothing is more fantastic than using a Ikea FANTASTIK napkin holder as a macbook stand. I'm using one right now, and I've never had a problem with it. Save $50, and I think it actually looks better, too.
posted by dis_integration at 7:27 AM on November 12, 2011
posted by dis_integration at 7:27 AM on November 12, 2011
I think the Henge dock is a bad idea, but that's because I worry about heat affecting the screen. Why not get a Rain Design mStand, and enjoy the use of both monitors? Do you have a shortage of desk space?
posted by oceanjesse at 8:57 AM on November 12, 2011
posted by oceanjesse at 8:57 AM on November 12, 2011
« Older is it just this yoga studio, or is Bikram not for... | A question about how to get a job where people... Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
2. Time Machine is how you migrate, and it will move everything. Get an external hard drive for that if you don't have one.
3. Just delete everything in your user account.
4. Craigslist is probably the way to sell it in your regional markets if you don't want to do ebay. Local is best, but you would probably have to know somebody who wants it. I would guess you could get no more than 600 for it.
posted by michaelh at 12:30 PM on November 11, 2011