New iMac, combining several old computers/users

[RBilRamZ]

Hey everybody, I sure could use your wealth of knowledge.

My wife and I finally bought our first computer together, a beautiful 20” iMac. I am currently using a first-generation aluminum PowerBook, and she is using a G4 iBook. My question revolves around the best idea to combine our stuff together on the new computer.

Here is our ideal situation:

We want to each have our own sign in name, so that we can each have our own email set-ups, contacts, internet bookmarks etc. However, we want to share iTunes libraries and iPhoto pictures. We don’t need to share playlists or albums, but its ok if we do. Is there a way to get our iTunes set up, so that is looks for both of our music in the same location (and places purchased/imported music there for both of us to use)?

Also, what is the best way to move both of our information over to the new computer? I originally tried using Migration Assistant, but that brought all of our old sign in names and set-up with it. We really want to start from scratch, but bring our old files over. Is there a way to do this using Target Disk mode?

Lastly, since I already tried to do the above with Migration Assistant, there are all these un-wanted user names and info on my new iMac. Is there an easy way to delete all of it, or what I be better off reinstalling OSX and starting from scratch?

Thanks for all your help!

 

[netnothing]

Hey everybody, I sure could use your wealth of knowledge.

My wife and I finally bought our first computer together, a beautiful 20” iMac. I am currently using a first-generation aluminum PowerBook, and she is using a G4 iBook. My question revolves around the best idea to combine our stuff together on the new computer.

Here is our ideal situation:

We want to each have our own sign in name, so that we can each have our own email set-ups, contacts, internet bookmarks etc. However, we want to share iTunes libraries and iPhoto pictures. We don’t need to share playlists or albums, but its ok if we do. Is there a way to get our iTunes set up, so that is looks for both of our music in the same location (and places purchased/imported music there for both of us to use)?

Also, what is the best way to move both of our information over to the new computer? I originally tried using Migration Assistant, but that brought all of our old sign in names and set-up with it. We really want to start from scratch, but bring our old files over. Is there a way to do this using Target Disk mode?

Lastly, since I already tried to do the above with Migration Assistant, there are all these un-wanted user names and info on my new iMac. Is there an easy way to delete all of it, or what I be better off reinstalling OSX and starting from scratch?

Thanks for all your help!

For the accounts that were brought over, you should just be able to go into the Accounts preference pane and remove them.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Mac/10.5/en/8163.html

Are all the machines on the same network? If so, you can enable file sharing on the old Macs and connect to them with the new iMac, and manually copy files over.

If they are not on the network, then yeah, I'd look into target disk mode rather than emailing or burning cds.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=58583

And then here's Apples doc on sharing iTunes libraries:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1203

I've never done it, so can't offer any pros/cons.

-Kevin