Transition from Motorola to Intel machine

Any issues to be aware of?

[anax]

I'm a very small-time Mac webmaster, using a desktop eMac for the last four years, mainly with basic tools like BBEdit, PhotoShop Elements, and Fetch. I'm starting to feel constrained by the desktop machine, and think I may have to get a laptop (although it will be a considerable expense).

As I understand it, the new Intel-based MacBook series is supposed to be able to run all the standard Mac software without any upgrade. Is that the experience other people have had? If I have to buy new software, I probably won't go with a MacBook, but if it's just a matter of copying from one machine to the next I'll probably do it.

[islandlizard]

All of it will run.

Software that does not have an Intel native version will run using a layer called Rosetta, which will slow it down slightly, but will very likely be much faster than your existing eMac, so you'll still be very very happy.

Photoshop Elements will require Rosetta, but BBEdit is a Universal Binary (meaning it is native on either chip) and though I'm not sure about Fetch, you can look at Transmit from Panic software, which I replaced Fetch with a few years back and could never go back - its Universal too!

Transferring from old to new is ridiculously easy if you have a firewire cable - Apple has a 'Migration' tool which will do it all for you - it will be on the MacBook and involves rebooting the eMac while holding the 'T' key, plugging the two together and clicking "OK" on the MacBook - everything in your 'Home" folder (documents, photos, desktop, etc) and all your applications, email and preferences are automatically copied over and put in the right place.

Go for it - the MacBooks are fast, slick and will serve your needs for years to come!

[anax]

That's exactly what I wanted to know -- thanks very much. (Apple should put you on payroll.) The migration tool is a big selling point -- I was really dreading the thought of having to figure out how to copy preferences, reenter all profiles and settings, etc. Looks like I'll place an order today.

[whoisgregg]

Intensive programs like Photoshop that have to run under Rosetta may actually be slower than your current machine when performing some operations. It's not an equal effect on performance across the entire application. For example, the entire app may feel faster but when you go to do that gaussian blur you may notice a slowdown.

Also, some 3D games that run under Rosetta may experience odd visual glitches. So, I suspect 3D apps of any type may have similar issues.