<p>After being jealous of how much Mac users love their computers, I think I’m finally ready to buy one, and make the permanent switch from Wiindows. </p>
<p>Can anyone say how difficult it will be to buy a new laptop, and move all of the data in all files off my Windows laptop, and then scrub the laptop so that no files, etc. can be recovered from it? </p>
<p>I’m guessing that the process is probably something like (1) buy the Mac; (2) back up all the files, etc. to an external drive; (3) import the files to the Mac from the external drive. Does that sound right? And I’m guessing I’ll be able to transport my entire Word, Excel, Outlook, other files to Apple’s comparable software…</p>
<p>Hopefully it’s something that I can do by myself…</p>
<p>One way to do it: set up a gmail account; email everything you want to yourself. Then login to gmail from your new computer and download it. Don’t get rid of your old windows machine and keep it as a backup. The resale value on an old laptop is not that great.</p>
<p>But, dmd, I have over 15,000 emails in my outlook file alone - there’s over 1,000 unread in my inbox - some day I’ll read them, I guess - hundreds of documents in Word, Excel, etc., plus some stand alone software…isn’t there some way to automate it all? </p>
<p>I do have a gmail account already though :)</p>
<p>um…why in the WORLD do you have 15000 emails I would delete anything not from anyone you know that is over a month old…egad…no offence, bt bet you have missed some important stuff</p>
<p>I would put those documents on a disc with a really nice label, and put in a drawer the likelyhood you will need one is miniscule</p>
<p>or suck it up, print them out and file away</p>
<p>think about your documents, how many do you NEED</p>
<p>Yes it will be as easy as that for image files, movie files (except avi), Word and Excel and Powerpoint and the other Microsoft Office apps. BUT I am not sure about importing the OUTLOOK.PST file. I’d do a little searching on the internet to see how to convert.</p>
<p>The MAC version of MS-Office uses a program called Entourage, which is just a fancier Outlook and there are lots of conversion options available in the program. I just don’t know if a PST file is one of the options. </p>
<p>Otherwise, I have never had a compatibility problem unless I was using an esoteric font on one machine that wasn’t on another.</p>
<p>If you do run into a problem, GOOGLE is a great friend (as well as all the technical forums on the apple - and other - sites).</p>
<p>Sometimes there are special prices on buying MS-Office at the same time you buy the MAC. But I don’t think that’s happening right now… check several mac sellers on line. I have bought machines from apple directly (have a college student? get great educational discounts on hardware and software), and also from the local apple store and from on-line resellers, all without a problem. For educational discounts, you must buy directly from apple.com.</p>
<p>DO buy Microsoft Office.</p>
<p>And I also recommend the AppleCare warranty, as well, especially if you have a local apple authorized repair center. If anything goes wrong, it gets taken care of with no question.</p>
<p>I suggest backing up your old computer on a CD-R, and then downloading the most important files and folders onto the Mac. </p>
<p>I consider old email files to be the same as old clothing in the closet – if you haven’t used/worn it recently, get rid of it. Of course, it doesn’t mean that you actually will get rid of it if you have your inbox backed up on a CD. It just means that you won’t be cluttering your new computer with it.</p>
<p>I just got a MacBook myself – and I love it. I didn’t have any adjustment problems because I’ve always used Macs except as laptops (my last laptop was a Windows machine.) My daughter, however, bought a Mac for the first time to take to college, and she had no problem except for some software incompatibility. She had to get new versions of MS Office (the education package isn’t too expensive) and Photoshop.</p>
<p>CGM lol this is my computer that I use to do my work. It’s not unusual for me to refer back to email that is several months old or even over a year old, etc. Same with files. </p>
<p>Digmedia, thanks for that. To confirm what you said, I can buy a Microsoft Office license and just load it right onto the Mac, right? And I need this even though Mac has Entourage? Is that because Outlook/Windows doesn’t talk to Entourage? D can get me a student discount, so that will work…</p>
<p>Momwaitingfornew, the CD sounds like a plan, that should work perfectly.</p>
<p>latetoschool, Entourage isn’t packaged with the Mac itself, but is packaged in the Mac version of Microsoft office. I paid about $100 for Office this summer with the student discount. I have no idea what Entourage does, though, as I don’t use it.</p>
<p>It’s really easy. You go to a good Mac store (probably in a city), buy the computer, and they’ll do all the transfer for you. You pick the computer up the next day. :)</p>
<p>^^What corranged said. They transferred all my stuff no problem when I made “The Switch” as so many people call it. And they set up a program that allows me to access my college, AOL, yahoo, and .Mac e-mail accounts from the same program simply called “Mail”. Works wonders. i don’t use Entourage although i’ve been told its like an upgraded Outlook. I love having all my e-mail in one place but still sorted by account.</p>
<p>The stability and lack of malware coded for Mac OSX is refreshing, but the extra cost and the lack of upgradeable parts is a deal breaker for me. You sure you want to make the switch?</p>
<p>“i don’t use Entourage although i’ve been told its like an upgraded Outlook.”</p>
<p>I use Thunderbird - downloaded for free at mozilla.com - and it transferred all my Netscape Mail files and settings without a hitch. </p>
<p>I forgot that when I started up my newest Mac, it asked if I wanted to import files and settings from another computer. Although I said “no” because I want to keep my two machines separate, the Mac will download everything from one machine onto another. </p>
<p>If you are in an area without an Apple store nearby and order online instead, the Mac should breeze through the process. That’s the great thing about the Mac - it doesn’t require any special knowledge to use.</p>
<p>I will follow this thread closely as I also will be the proud owner of a Macbook on my “big” birthday coming up next month! My kids are so jealous as we have been a PC family forever. I convienced them both with their last laptop purchases that they did not want a Mac, mainly because I knew nothing about Macs. I am the one that “fixes” everyones computers when there is a problem-this means I am the one on the phone with Dell or looking at forums online to find a fix to the problem. I do worry that it will take me some time to figure out the Mac, but I am sure I am not too old to make the switch, at least for a few more weeks anyway :-)</p>
<p>It will take you no time at all to learn the Mac, Snowball. Yes, it will take time to learn about all the features, but it’s an out-of-the-box type of computer. You turn it on, and you start to use it. As simple as that. In fact, you don’t even have to <em>know</em> what the computer can do to use it.</p>
<p>I think it’s really funny about the features they’ve been highlighting for the new Windows upgrade Vista. Sounds an awful lot like what Apple has been doing for years…and it sounds like a whole lot of trouble to upgrade. I notice the Mac/Windows difference every time I install new software. In the manual, there’s always about 3-4 pages of step by step directions of how to install for Windows. Then there’s a paragraph for the Mac–Step 1: Install CD. Step 2: Drag to your applications folder. Step 3: Click. Macs are magic and you’re going to love it.</p>