Any tips on switching computers regarding data swappage?

[happle]

im looking at buying a new 15" mbp when the new update comes. i heard it should be dec 11 or jan 12, can anyone confirm or deny this? also does anyone have an idea on what the update will include for the model im looking at?

anyways, im wondering what the best method of swapping my data to the new machine will be? i have many expensive applications that i paid for...such as Reason + Record, Ableton live, Microsoft Office, Pages, etc etc. can these apps simply be copied to my new machine or will i need to install all of them with the discs? also i know you can only install these programs on a couple computers, not sure if this would count as a second computer or what. a couple of my paid apps were downloaded too so im not sure how to go about obtaining those again. also what about free apps, can they just be copied over from hd to hd or will i have to re download everything

iv heard there are programs that will automatically copy over your data for you, any recommendations? also i have been using time machine, will my backup drive setup with time machine be okay for this process? i plan on wiping my current drive before i sell it.

sorry for all the questions but this is the first time i really need to do a swap that matters. every other time i didnt have this many apps or things set up with my computer that i need to transfer.

 

[corsica]

Not sure if I understand your question here, but I think it is: What is the best way to back up my data and applications install them on another machine?
If so, the best way is Time Machine, hands down.
Back up your laptop with Time Machine - use an external hard drive and make sure you have excluded nothing from the backup. Install your OSX on the new laptop with the external hard drive with the Time Machine back up plugged in. After the install it will ask you if you want to transfer the files from your back up disk. Say yes, and all your files/ applications will be transferred.
Does that answer your question?

 

[happle]

Not sure if I understand your question here, but I think it is: What is the best way to back up my data and applications install them on another machine?
If so, the best way is Time Machine, hands down.
Back up your laptop with Time Machine - use an external hard drive and make sure you have excluded nothing from the backup. Install your OSX on the new laptop with the external hard drive with the Time Machine back up plugged in. After the install it will ask you if you want to transfer the files from your back up disk. Say yes, and all your files/ applications will be transferred.
Does that answer your question?

yeah it does but what if the new machine has lion on it and my time machine is leopard. will it just back up the files anyway?

also my question about whether my paid applications will still work is still kind of unanswered. some programs allow you to install them on 3 diff computers. will this mean im on number 2? not sure if that clears up the question or not but yeah.

anyways thanks for the input and sorry for the crappy wording of my posts. i dont spend too much time on this forum anymore and am usually in a rush when posting.

 

[edcoche]

yeah it does but what if the new machine has lion on it and my time machine is leopard. will it just back up the files anyway?

also my question about whether my paid applications will still work is still kind of unanswered. some programs allow you to install them on 3 diff computers. will this mean im on number 2? not sure if that clears up the question or not but yeah.

anyways thanks for the input and sorry for the crappy wording of my posts. i dont spend too much time on this forum anymore and am usually in a rush when posting.

Does anybody know the answer to the question regarding Lion / Leopard convertibility?

Thank you!!

 

[jwksmith]

You will have to look at the individual apps to see if they will run on lion or, if not, is there a patch available. I believe Office 2004 has problems as well as any apps relying on Rosetta for Power PC support. Rosetta is not on Lion.

Other than that, it's pretty straight forward.

 

[ct2k7]

Also, no one but Apple has information about a (potential) product refresh.

 

[dusk007]

i heard it should be dec 11 or jan 12, can anyone confirm or deny this? also does anyone have an idea on what the update will include for the model im looking at?

Where did you hear that. In fact I very much doubt there will be any product launch of MBPs around that time. It is either sooner although not likely or much later like April, May or even later.
The only thing they will update or launch in the meantime is other stuff. There have been rumors of a 15" MBA but nothing about MBPs.
200Mhz faster CPUs in the highend models will show but I doubt anyone can call that an update Intel just sells 200Mhz faster ones for the same price as the current ones, thus it makes sense to switch them out.

 

[Badrottie]

You will have to look at the individual apps to see if they will run on lion or, if not, is there a patch available. I believe Office 2004 has problems as well as any apps relying on Rosetta for Power PC support. Rosetta is not on Lion.

Other than that, it's pretty straight forward.

thank you very much jwksmith I was going to ask because I might upgrade to Lion later when Apple irons out all of bugs....I assume same true for any apps on Rosetta will not work with Snow Leopard?