Transferring files versus Migrating from my MB to my new MBP

[Surely]

So my brand new MBP is arriving on Wednesday.

I'm debating whether I should:

1. keep the computer fresh and manually transfer over all of my music, photos, movies, files, applications, etc, or,
2. do the migration assistant thing and transfer all of my settings along with everything else over at the same time.

I know that doing option 1 will involve more work and be more tedious, but I'm thinking it's about time to start off with a fresh machine, as I've been migrating everything over since my first iBook in 2001.

Is there really any benefit in going with option 1? Will I really notice any performance difference on the new MBP between option 1 and 2?

 

[Surely]

Another question: If I go with option 1, that means that all of my Time Machine backups will be useless, because I would be starting fresh on the new machine with a new Account. Is this correct?

 

[iLog.Genius]

Another question: If I go with option 1, that means that all of my Time Machine backups will be useless, because I would be starting fresh on the new machine with a new Account. Is this correct?

I believe so. We all know how picky Time Machine is so there's a good chance that you will lose those backups.

I would go with option one. I'm sure there will be people in here that will say otherwise but there usually something that happens when I migrate over. I now manually transfer over important documents and other data and leave preference files and start new on the new Mac.

 

[Surely]

I believe so. We all know how picky Time Machine is so there's a good chance that you will lose those backups.

I would go with option one. I'm sure there will be people in here that will say otherwise but there usually something that happens when I migrate over. I now manually transfer over important documents and other data and leave preference files and start new on the new Mac.

Thanks for the input.

I think I'm leaning towards option 1.

What happens to my iPhone? Will I lose all of my settings and data once I sync it to the new iTunes library? What happens to the progress on games, for example? Will I be able to transfer a backup of my iPhone to iTunes along with all of my music?

 

[crackmyback]

I thought it was possible to start off on a new notebook using your time-machine backups. You might just save yourself a lot of work if you look into it and if it works.

 

[Surely]

I thought it was possible to start off on a new notebook using your time-machine backups. You might just save yourself a lot of work if you look into it and if it works.

I don't see how manually transferring files from my Time Machine HD would be any different than manually transferring files from my MacBook.

I don't want to migrate over my settings etc. I want to start this machine off with a fresh OS.

Thanks.

/Are you a chiropractor?

 

[Jason Beck]

I started using the migrationg xfer... but decided it would be faster to just copy over what I needed.
I did the same thing you are doing.
MB to MBP.

 

[davidlv]

Horrific

I did the migration when I first got my Macbook Pro, that started a horrible experience much too convoluted to go into here. Suffice it say I strongly advise a clean install of everything plus copying over your data files and bookmarks etc. In your case, both Intel machines, you do not even have to worry about the PPC-Intel differences like I did, so the "house moving" should be easier.
Good luck (but always have a cloned copy of your files inaddition to the Time Machine backup).

 

[Surely]

Well, I've been doing the manual transfer thing.

So far, so good.

I'll update here when I'm all finished.....

I'm typing this on my new MBP.......

 

[Surely]

Well, so far the transfer process is going well.

I've transferred over everything from iTunes, Safari bookmarks, iPhoto and Address Book, as well as most of my documents.

The next phase, which is tomorrow's project, will involve transferring over all of my Applications. I have a question regarding this: Do I just drag over the applications themselves, or do I need to also drag over the applications' corresponding stuff from Application Support (or from anywhere else)?

Unfortunately, the problem I had with iTunes and App Updates is happening again on my MBP's iTunes. I'm guessing it's because of something from when I transferred this stuff:
User>Music>iTunes
User>Library>iTunes
User>Library>Application Support>MobileSync

I guess I'll be calling Apple or will make an appointment at the Genius bar to see if they can offer any insight. It's pretty annoying. Luckily, I can update the apps on my iPhone, I just can't do it in iTunes. So far, no one around here has been able to provide a fix (or perhaps someone who knows how to fix it hasn't seen the thread yet). If anyone can help with that.........