New MacBook
 

Just got a new MacBook and I need to get stuff from an old Dell to the new Apple as well as sync an iphone that was synced through itunes on the old computer. Any guidance on the easiest way to accomplish these two tasks. I would have had the store do it but bought the new computer for my wife and the store is two hours away so unlikely we will return in the next week or so.

Is it as simple as just hooking up the hard drive and moving the files over to the MacBook? Most important content are pictures.

I do have a hard drive that was used to back up the Dell for all the file content.

Check out this link

If you just want to hook up the computer you can - network them (string an Ethernet cable between them) - then on the mac hit cmd + K (or finder menu bar at the top of the screen, Go > Connect to server) and type in smb:\\ip.of.windows.machine

hit connect and it should ask you for authentication. Type in your account on your windows box password and it will then mount the drive or the share on your desktop.

Oh - to get your music over - first on the PC side - Open iTunes’ preferences (Edit -> Preferences) and click the Advanced tab. Check both Keep iTunes Media Folder Organized and Copy Files To iTunes Media Folder When Adding To Library. Next, choose File -> Library -> Organize Library. Check Consolidate Files, then click OK.

Launch iTunes once on the Mac - shut it down - and then move the music folder (probably named My Music\iTunes) from the PC over to the MUSIC folder on the Mac - next launch iTunes again and it should see all the music.

Don't forget to de-activate your old computer at iTunes...

Thanks folks, great information. That will be very helpful.

I just need to get all her pictures over to the Apple. Doing a backup on the Dell now.

iPhoto can be aggrivating to get everything transferred over to, but once it is done it is definitely worth it.