New Macbook - New HDD - old OS?? And what about Lion??

I'm upgrading my 2009 Macbook Pro to the new 2011 model -

I'm immediately swapping out the stock 320GB HDD for a 500GB SSD hybrid, but I'm wondering if there's an easy way to copy my OS and all my files from my current hard drive to the new one, or whether it'd just be easier for me to re-install everything and start again.

Also, on a related note, I know that Lion is going to be released soon, and I should be buying my new machine within the window for a free upgrade - do you think that I should wait til it's released to swap my stuff over? Will it require another complete reinstall??

 

Ooh - great point!! Thanks for the links/suggestions!

 

Hmm yeah, I may be stuck with a reinstall as it seems my new MBP doesnt wanna boot from my old SSD whether internally or via USB.... It just hangs on the grey apple logo???

Any ideas?

 

10.6.7 - same as on the new MacBook... If I boot from CD i can see the hard drive in disk utility; verifies fine too.... Can't understand why it wouldn't work?!

 

My only theory is that although the new mac and old mac should theoretically be running the exact same OS version, there must be tiny differences that are stopping it from booting - so looks like I'm gonna have to go with a fresh install and then copy old settings via migration assistant....

Oh well!

 

I actualt kinda solved it a different way - I installed from the new OS X discs over the top of my old OS and when I booted it was the new OS but still with all my old files, settings and apps.... Weird huh?!