Transferring data to new mac

[bluemonkey]

I am selling my G4 ibook and buying a new macbook. I also have a 250GB external drive. I know I can transfer files from one to the other, but what about all my apps? Is there any easier way than installing the creative suite and microsoft office from the original discs? Since I've already installed them and activated them on the ibook, could that transfer over seamlessly to the new macbook?

Also, what of my itunes account? Is it as simple as deauthorizing the ibook, authorizing the macbook and dumping the old itunes library into the new macbook?

Any other advice would be very well received.

 

[eyebeaz]

I am pretty sure you would have to re-install those two apps with the installation discs. As for your iTunes account.. so long as you don't have 5 machines authorized it shouldn't be a big deal but this is form the apple website:

To deauthorize a computer

1. Open iTunes.
2. From the Store menu, choose Deauthorize Computer (In earlier versions of iTunes access this from the Advanced menu).
3. Select "Deauthorize Computer for Apple Account" and enter your Apple ID and password.

 

[Sherman Homan]

Just use Disk Utility to copy your internal drive over to the external. It will copy everything. As eyebeaz showed you will need authorize/deauthorize iTunes. When you plug the external into the new Mac, use the Migration Assistant to haul everything over again. Some apps, like Creative Suite and Quark will need you to reauthorize, but you would have to do that if you reinstalled anyway. Make sure you check for updates that are Universal (like Quark 7.2) so that you limit the number of programs stuck in Rosetta.
Vaporize your existence on the G4 by running the System installer, reformat, zero all data, install, update.

 

[bluemonkey]

Update: When I first booted up the new macbook, the setup guide promted me to connect the two laptops via firewire cable, then proceeded to move ALL the data to the macbook. I didn't have to reauthorize any software, and all of my network/keychain/itunes configurations transferred seamlessly. So far, it worked perfectly. Sorry for all the adverbs.