PC to Mac switch
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- mg33
Yeah, it's me again with a question about buying a Mac. I'm counting down the days to the end of the month to buy a Macbook Pro and have some overall hardware related questions. I know it's alot but thanks in advance for any answers. Just want to do this right from the start.
1) USB Hub
Ideally I'd like to plug a printer, scanner, digital camera cable, mouse, keyboard and an external hard drive into a single USB hub.
Will I be able to then plug the Mac into the hub and have all those devices recognized? I'll also probably have an Audio/MIDI external box that will connect by USB.** Also, let's say I'm in another room just using the laptop and need to print or scan something. Is it possible to have a connection to these devices through a wireless connection?
2) Fonts
Naturally I'm concerned about my PC fonts transferring to a Mac, including some that were purchased. Are there programs that transfer fonts and/or what font type is usable on both? Am I going to have to track a ton of these down again?3) Installing XP
What is the absolutely best, easiest, most trouble-free way of installing XP on it? I'd not thought about it at first, but doing so could free up one or two PC's sitting under my desk.4) Moving files from old PC
Ideally all of my files like artwork, web sites, mp3s, recorded music, etc. will be moved to an external drive (Currently on a NTFS formatted 160 GB internal drive. What's the best way to do this - simply format a new external for Fat32, move all the files manually, then plug it into the Mac when getting that set up ?5) External drives & Backups
I plan on having at least one external drive so I don't have to keep everything on the laptop. I'll be doing much more music recording so that will eat up some space as well. Probably will get a 500 GB drive and start with that.But, as far as backing all this up on hardware, what is the common best practice for this - backing up laptop files AND an external drive to another external drive?
6) Old PC hard drives
I'll take out old PC drives when I stop using them, but how can I still access them? Is there an external way of connecting to IDE drives?7) PC Disposal
Know of a good shooting range in the Chicago area where I can rent an AK-47 to blow these PCs apart? Honest to God, I still have my first computer from, *gasps, 1998 sitting beside my feet - a Compaq Presario 350 Mhz. It still works and has probably only been turned off a total of 50 days in the entire time I have had it. It's not my main computer, but still has Office software and old college files on it that I've just never done anything with.Anyhow, I know that's a lot but you'd help me tremendously by providing some feedback. Thanks so much!
- menos0
ok this is a lot of stuff but here is something to start you off.
1. yes you can use that hub. you can also use a printer in wireless mode, i think. search on apple site or online. you might need to have the airport express though.
2. you can try this for changing your pc fonts to mac fonts. i know there are a few other around. again, google font converters.
http://www.fontlab.com/font-conv…3. basecamp i've heard works pretty well and smoothly. comes with the new macs.
- bca0
1. yes **yes
2. transtype
3. parallel desktop ie
4. not sure, i think just plug it in
5. RAID1
6. yes, google it
7. PC it's not that bad...your's is just a little bit old. you will love your mac!
- menos0
4. from what i know mac can only READ ntfs and READ/WRITE fat32.
maybe this can helphttp://www.daniweb.com/forums/th…
http://www.kernelthread.com/mac/…5. get a firewire you can because of transfer rates. however usb2 is probably better to share between pc and mac. many people have two drives to back up. back up the back up. also consider burning dvds for you important and final files so they don't take up unnecessary space.
6. there are plenty of enclosures for IDE drives. have alook here for example
- joyride0
1: No idea, should work like a pc I would guess
2: a few around, http://www.asy.com/ trial will give you 30 days or something, if you uninstall and reinstall after 30 you get a new 30
3: Depends on how you want to work in both: http://www.mactech.com/articles/…
4:See #5 below
5: Get an external enclosure, one that connects IDE and SATA:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Pr…
6: See #5 above
7: you could keep your music and printer connected to one of these, and let that be a sort of media center/backup drive, etc.All good questions, good luck and I'll see you in line at the apple store! =)
- line? more like around the block still in waiting to get a few steps closer to the entrance! hehemenos
- menos0
for #5 there are plenty of threads around here regarding this. use the filter. the most recent one:
http://www.qbn.com/topics/538882…
- joyride0
for backup, use time machine, which comes with leopard and uses an external drive.
EXT. Drive question- if you format an ext. drive with a partition, and put it in an enclosure... that works right?
if it does, create a partition the same size as your mbp HD and use that with time machine.- i don't see why partitioning will affect the way an enclosure works. so i think you'll be fine doing that.menos
- mrbee28280
#7 dear Jesus..... you're moving from roller skates to a Ferrari.
- mg330
Thanks so much for your replies, keep them coming.
Another question:
8) Non Apple mouse
I have a Logitech wired mouse that I love, I'll be able to use this, right? Possible to enable right click, right?
- welded0
Right click and scroll wheels work out of the box for any mouse - no enabling required. Any special function buttons will probably require drivers, however.
- Jaline0
For (3), use VMWare Fusion. You can run it at the same time as the Mac OS and it's quite fast:
http://www.vmware.com/products/f…
- rafalski0
2. Bear in mind that most font licenses don't allow you to tamper with font files. Most TTF and OTF will work right away, it's Type1 you'll have problems with.