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a few Q's before going all to Mac/iOS

CoronaOrange

CoronaOrange

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Sep 28, 2017
14
1
Lifelong Window User contemplating going all in to Mac/iOS devices.
Already switched from Windows Phone to iPhone + Apple TV, but I still have my Windows Laptop.

What my MacOS/iOS device needs to do:
  • back up photos and "words" docs to an external back up system (manually or automatic)
  • Hold 40GB+ photos/videos/"word" docs files.
  • Photo tagging/sorting (folders) and editing (only very basic stuff like I can do on my iPhone)
  • Hold 2TB+ of Movies/TV Shows from iTunes, so I can stream locally to Apple TV (not downloading each time)
  • mirror the device screen on my (Apple) TV
  • (optional) Keyboard (size same/similar akin to the 13' Macbooks)
  • mouse/trackpad compatible
Setup Q's
Should I go with an Macbook or iPad with Keyboard?
Is an external hard disk inevitable with what I want to do with my iTunes library > Apple TV?
Does the keyboard size same/similar akin to the 13' Macbooks rule out the iPad Mini for example?

Software/App Q's
the device needs to run a Safari web browser alternative like Firefox including Add Ons like Adblock etc.

Any Set Up Recommendations and transfer tips (transferring/converting Photos and word office docs) are more than welcome.
 
  • Time Machine can do this, there are other options as well. MEGA is an online back-up platform that I use for my documents. You can use iCloud Photo Library or Google Photos.
  • Just by a Mac with enough harddrive space 256+ GB
  • I think the Photos app will do just enough for your needs.
  • iTunes does the job normally.
  • Is a built-in feature.
  • You can use any Bluetooth keyboard or wired keyboard through USB ports.
  • You can use any Bluetooth mouse/trackpad or use a wired one

Go with a MacBook. an iPad is still not a computer.
I think iTunes has streaming capabilities to just stream. Can't the Apple TV just stream your shows though? You don't need a Mac to do it.
In my opinion an iPad is ruled out for your needs.

Safari has some good adblockers (AdGuard, ABP+,...), on Mac you can just download any browser that has a Mac version (Firefox, Chrome, Vivaldi, ....)

To migrate anything use this: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204087. It's a built-in application on Mac OS.
 
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Mac-lover3 said:
  • Time Machine can do this, there are other options as well. MEGA is an online back-up platform that I use for my documents. You can use iCloud Photo Library or Google Photos.
  • Just by a Mac with enough harddrive space 256+ GB
  • I think the Photos app will do just enough for your needs.
  • iTunes does the job normally.
  • Is a built-in feature.
  • You can use any Bluetooth keyboard or wired keyboard through USB ports.
  • You can use any Bluetooth mouse/trackpad or use a wired one
Go with a MacBook. an iPad is still not a computer.
I think iTunes has streaming capabilities to just stream. Can't the Apple TV just stream your shows though? You don't need a Mac to do it.
In my opinion an iPad is ruled out for your needs.

Safari has some good adblockers (AdGuard, ABP+,...), on Mac you can just download any browser that has a Mac version (Firefox, Chrome, Vivaldi, ....)

To migrate anything use this: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204087. It's a built-in application on Mac OS.
Click to expand...



The only things I'll add to this are:

1. Go for a refurb. You get all the warranty coverage of a new machine with a nice discount. For example, this machine seems to fit your needs well, and is 20% off: https://www.apple.com/shop/product/...-Intel-Core-i5-with-Retina-Display-Space-Gray

2. Go with Safari. The alternatives (Firefox, and especially Chrome) are inferior: not as fast, worse on battery life, and aren't as integrated as well. Safari renders just about every webpage well, and is standards compliant. You can easily add extensions (add-ons) to the browser.
 
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Photos and Word Doc's (and anything in your Documents folder) can automatically be backed up to iCloud. You can also back up to an external HD with Time Machine or with an app like CCC or SuperDuper.

With the Photos app on a Mac, you don't really manage the photos in folders like you would on a PC. But tagging, editing, managing etc is easy and straight forward.

If your iTunes library is that big, you likely do want to run that off an external HD.

Your Mac and iPhone can be mirrored to the AppleTV without problem.

As far as I know, you can use any USB or BT keyboard, mouse, track pad that you want with your Mac.

Safari is great but you can certainly run Chrome or FF.

As far as transferring, you can use Migration Assistant but there really isn't anything to convert. Just drag the files to your Mac and open them right up.
 
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In my experience people have different comfort levels about what they keep on their system/NAS/cloud. But keeping 40GB libraries on your laptop is not a big deal. Just get the right size drive, with some headroom.
 
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Another Vote for MacBook over the iPad (both is even better) - My preference would be an internal 500g SSD drive plus an external portable drive.

I use firefox as the main browser - don't really like safari and do like the options and plugins that are available with firefox. On the downside safari does sync better with iPhone and iPad but I still prefer and use Firefox

I use a media external drive for movies and music and other videos etc. you could also keep photos on an external drive or keep on the laptop drive ( i keep photos on the laptop - easy to back up the library to the media drive)

Get VLC for playing movies on laptop to the apple TV - (for non iTunes movies and videos).

Sounds like you use office on windows - so get the mac version of Office with outlook for a better email client than apple mail.
 
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Sounds like any device will do what you want (I prefer a lapto though myself to an iPad if any sort of real computing is being performed rather than media consumption).

Your 2TB for media sounds like an external storage solution is definitely needed, I would look into networked attached storage my self as you can get large amounts of storage and access them from any of your devices anywhere.
 
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While I do use Safari on occasion, I use Opera, a derivative of Chromium, as Chrome is. It's not that I dislike Safari (I don't- it's very good) but for me, I need to be able to sync across multiple platforms- Mac, Linux, and Windows. I can do that with Opera, but not with Safari.

An external hard drive is a necessity with your storage needs.
 
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Thank you each and everyone for your answers and tips. They have been very helpful.
I'll probably go for a macbook of some kind, as well as an external HD
 
Over the holidays my TV quit for good and as I have a game console and Apple TV I will get a new one.

All this got me thinking, why instead of a Mac or a MacBook not go with the TV as my all in one screen and use input devices like a keyboard or my iPhone there.

Cue the Airport Time Capsule and if required a iMac Mini.
Both are older products with an unclear future, but would suffice for all my things it want them to do I think.

The Airport Time Capsule would be the backup/main local storage of my iTunes, photos and a handful of files + a router. if necessary the iMac Mini my computer.

Anyone has a similar setup or had one before or any recommendations?

Also, very important:
My iTunes Movie/TV collection and Photos are about 2TB+, much bigger than my iPhone storage.

Can I download all that content to the Airport Time Capsule (3TB) just with my iPhone as a intermediary or is a MacBook/Mac of some sorts required where I download those files first to there and then move it over as a backup?
 
CoronaOrange said:
Lifelong Window User contemplating going all in to Mac/iOS devices.
Already switched from Windows Phone to iPhone + Apple TV, but I still have my Windows Laptop.

What my MacOS/iOS device needs to do:
  • back up photos and "words" docs to an external back up system (manually or automatic)
  • Hold 40GB+ photos/videos/"word" docs files.
  • Photo tagging/sorting (folders) and editing (only very basic stuff like I can do on my iPhone)
  • Hold 2TB+ of Movies/TV Shows from iTunes, so I can stream locally to Apple TV (not downloading each time)
  • mirror the device screen on my (Apple) TV
  • (optional) Keyboard (size same/similar akin to the 13' Macbooks)
  • mouse/trackpad compatible
Setup Q's
Should I go with an Macbook or iPad with Keyboard?
Is an external hard disk inevitable with what I want to do with my iTunes library > Apple TV?
Does the keyboard size same/similar akin to the 13' Macbooks rule out the iPad Mini for example?

Software/App Q's
the device needs to run a Safari web browser alternative like Firefox including Add-Ons like Adblock etc.

Any Set Up Recommendations and transfer tips (transferring/converting Photos and word office docs) are more than welcome.
Click to expand...

1. no problem, with iCloud ... its there to sync between all Apple devices, including Apple TV with for photos (using same AppleID)
2. iCloud storage upgardes are "cheap".. (i mean really cheap) compared to other cloud services for the same quota..
3. AppleTV doesn't have hard drive now, so everything is stored in the cloud anyway (purchases, rentals, music etc..) Although u can use Home sharing with is local to share from any Mac or Windows running iTunes to Apple TV.. (You just need a 2TB iTunes library). Not sure if that's gonna be quick to open.
4. Mirroring is available on iOS/MacOS.
5. Probably same size.
6. if you mean can you use a standard PC mouse via USB, then yes.

Always get an external, their chear, and useful for all your stuff as a backup in case disaster strikes. and no problem with software either.. Firefox, Safari, uBlock Origin, Ad blockers etc most developers make compatible add-ons for Firefox..

Time Machine is good, but they need to always stay connected for permanent backup vs an external drive u can plug in, backup, and unplug at will.... For example, you don't need to backup everything you don't care about like apps or other files you may not mind loosing... That's your own preference.

CoronaOrange said:
Also, very important:
My iTunes Movie/TV collection and Photos are about 2TB+, much bigger than my iPhone storage.

Can I download all that content to the Airport Time Capsule (3TB) just with my iPhone as a intermediary or is a MacBook/Mac of some sorts required where I download those files first to there and then move it over as a backup?
Click to expand...

https://support.apple.com/en-au/HT201250
https://www.apple.com/au/shop/quest...o-backup-my-ipad-and-iphone/QTAH72F44CPYDXK4J

You need a Mac because iPhone does have TM (this is needed)
 
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