How do you start the process of dedicating one MacBook for work and one for everything else?

[Hieveryone]

I have a 2019 15" base model MacBook Pro and a 2017 12" base model MacBook.

Both are great, but I've decided to dedicate my 15" purely toward career and career advancement.

My 12" will be used primarily for managing my social life and entertainment ventures.

Right now it's all a big mess, with multiple accounts on each device and documents everywhere.

I can never find anything, except for my most important stuff. For example, websites are bookmarked in different accounts on different laptops on different browsers, so if I need to reference something online I don't even know where to begin finding it.

I need help organizing everything.

I was hoping to get some tips on where I could start, if there was an app or something to help.

 

[jeme]

I do something similar with my MacBook and iMac. I cloud seems to keep everything set up, when I set up my iMac I restored it form a back up of my MacBook and that kept everything consistent. Not sure that is right but that is what is working for me, so say, you looked at my desktop on each machine it is the same.

On another note - how does your 12 inch matchbook compare to your MacBook Pro? I was thinking about picking u op a used MacBook Pro. Does the 12" inch MacBook seem slow compared to the 15 inch?

Thanks so much!

 

[iRun26.2]

I would not like having two different computers. I have one computer and I use it for both work and home. I guess I am lucky in that my company lets me chose my own computer for work (though I do pay for the computer myself).

Whenever I get a new computer, I never copy all the old computer’s files and programs over. I reinstall everything from scratch and only copy files when I need them. This way I start fresh. Maybe you should do a full backup and then reformat your hard drive so it’s just like you got a new computer. Then you could plan to be a little more organized this ‘new start’ (or buy a new computer to replace both).

 

[planteater]

Start with developing an upper level hierarchy of areas to which you have data or interest. Such as:

Computer
Finance
Music
Etc

Subdivide into subcategories as necessary or wanted. You may find that some of these upper levels correspond well to personal and business, which would dictate which system they belong to. If not, see if there are logical areas to separate them at a lower level, which would end up having the upper level on each machine, but with lower levels corresponding to either personal or business.

Once these hierarchy details are determined, you may find that they work well for file system, browser links, and note taking such as iCloud Notes.

Working the hierarchy out on paper or drawing on iPad or other will give you the ability to play with it before doing the hard work of moving documents and links into you chosen design.

Backup everything prior to committing or changing things.

 

[ignatius345]

Make it easy on yourself: pony up for enough iCloud storage to accomodate everything, then dump all your files into iCloud Drive. (Google Drive or Dropbox or whatever would also work -- I'm gonna write "iCloud Drive" a lot in this post, but those other options are fine too, as long as they sync reliably and have enough room for your stuff).

Next, make sure you're logged into that same iCloud account on both machines. Now dump all your files from both your machines into the iCloud Drive. Maybe a folder called WORK and a folder called PERSONAL. As the guy above me suggests, maybe plan out your system before you start moving things.

Now let everything sync for however long it takes for the contents to be identical on both machines. This way, all your files will be available on both Macs and even if your filing system isn't perfect, you'll be able to find what you need.

Commit to one primary browser to keep yourself sane. If it's Chrome, sign in to it on the same account on both machines and let it sync up bookmarks and history. If it's Safari, make sure (again) you're signed into the same iCloud account and make sure "iCloud Tabs" is visible in the menu bar. You don't mention whether an iPhone is part of the picture here, but if it is, Safari on MacOS plays very nicely with Safari on your phone.

As far as email, that will probably take care of itself if you sign into the email account on both machines.

 

[Hieveryone]

I do something similar with my MacBook and iMac. I cloud seems to keep everything set up, when I set up my iMac I restored it form a back up of my MacBook and that kept everything consistent. Not sure that is right but that is what is working for me, so say, you looked at my desktop on each machine it is the same.

On another note - how does your 12 inch matchbook compare to your MacBook Pro? I was thinking about picking u op a used MacBook Pro. Does the 12" inch MacBook seem slow compared to the 15 inch?

Thanks so much!

Not at all the 12" MacBook feels as fast as my 15" TBH. No issues at all. I don't use it for anything to intensive though, so maybe that's why.

 

[Fishrrman]

You start moving things around a little at a time, to sort them out and get them where you want.

Just like Johnny Cash:

 

[KPOM]

On another note - how does your 12 inch matchbook compare to your MacBook Pro? I was thinking about picking u op a used MacBook Pro. Does the 12" inch MacBook seem slow compared to the 15 inch?

Thanks so much!

I have a 12” MacBook and 13” Ice Lake MacBook Pro. While the Pro is definitely faster, the 12” is great for basic tasks and is just as snappy for basic browsing, email, budgeting, and light Excel work for me. If you can find a 2017 model those are the best since the CPU received a fairly substantial update that year. You might even find one with a few months of AppleCare left.