NoSocks Loc: quonochontaug, rhode island

I was a Windows guy for decades using a desktop or a laptop, but never both simultaneously. I finally went Mac about six years ago and never looked back. I'm about to supplement my iMac with a Mac Book Pro that I will use for my real estate business and also for my photography since my wife has commandeered the den and the iMac for her own and I can never get on the thing. It's a mess anyway because I'm still not as familiar with the Mac structure as I'd like to be. What is the protocol for installing software that I already own like Photoshop Elements, Microsoft Office for Mac, Aperture. And, assuming I can network the two, can I import a few pictures at a time to the Mac Book to work on and then begin a new file system/hierarchy on the new machine? The iMac is connected to an external 1T hard drive and I think there are two or three copies of every image I've taken on it. I'm going to need the ghost of Steve Jobs to come straighten the thing out for me.

DennisK Loc: Pickle City,Illinois

Although I've never tried it,I would assume that you can just plug the external into the MBP and it should be able to read it since it was formatted with OSX.
As for the personally owned software,unless it's a one computer only type deal,I would just try installing them on the MBP and see what happens.I don't see how that would screw up.

Dlevon Loc: New Jersey

You said it, DennisK!

rick-o

If your HDD is formatted FAT32 both windows and mac can read it.... flash drives are an easy way to transfer files between computers...or you can load all you picture etc files onto the HDD and do it that way. AS for the programs, either they will load or they wont, the OS will spit them out if they wont work......and keep shootin'.

UtahBob Loc: Southern NJ

Since you have Aperture, you can create a new library on the MBP. When you go to import photos from the external HDD, just make sure you have the "do not import duplicates" checkbox selected and also "store them in the aperture library" that way they'll copy over to the new machine (or store them somewhere else where they only will be referenced). You might have to go directory by directory on the external drive when you do the import otherwise it might take a while as it checks for duplicates. Make sure that it is doing the duplicate checking properly especially if you don't have unique file names present which can sometimes happen depending on the camera so you want to look at thumbnails in addition to the file names. Don't delete any photos on the external you have now until you've got the new aperture library backed up properly. Drives are cheap now so you probably can let that drive sit for other use for a bit until you are comfortable that you've captured everything.

To make sure you look at every directory, I'll often create a new directory on the existing drive that I'll call "checked" or "exported" and after import, I'll move the files over to that "checked" directory. That way, if you come back to it a week later you don't have to wonder where you left off. You can also create a new directory called "duplicates" and use that for obvious duplicates - where you don't even check them with Aperture.

You could also import everything and then sort out the duplicates manually. You could do that in iphoto also. This multiple copy on a drive or multiple drive craziness is rather common so you are not alone in your quest to organize. Aperture will let you do that if you understand it well and use it for all it provides.

I have about 8 externals going back a decade that I need to clean up and will use this type of procedure except with Lightroom. In the process, I'm going to help my quest by using the delete key often - lot of out of focus shots, etc. in the directories.

SweetPatoodies Loc: Greater Cincinnati

"What is the protocol for installing software that I already own like Photoshop Elements, Microsoft Office for Mac, Aperture. And, assuming I can network the two, can I import a few pictures at a time to the Mac Book to work on and then begin a new file system/hierarchy on the new machine? The iMac is connected to an external 1T hard drive and I think there are two or three copies of every image I've taken on it."

I'm new the UHH, but have been a Mac user for almost 20 years... I won't proclaim myself to be an expert because there is still a lot I don't know, but I have been through several generations of Macs. Currently I have a MacBook Pro that's about 3 years old, and back at Christmas got a new iMac. I've found when you go through the set up of the new computer, you have the option of connecting the 2 Macs using a Firewire Cable, then it's easy to move the old computer contents to the new one. You can also connect the two with an ethernet cable to drag and drop files, even the software programs... whether they will work on the new computer depends on the compatibility of the software with the OSX version on the new computer).

Re the protocol of the software (whether you can use on 2 computers or not depends on the security of the software). Adobe programs will let you load the programs on 2 computers, so you can have a program like Elements on both your laptop and desktop... whether they will continue to function on the new computer depends on the compatibility of the operating system. You mentioned your iMac was 6 years old... have you updated the operating system or is it an older version. If your Photoshop Elements version is compatible with your desktop OSX and they are both older, it is likely it won't work on the laptop if the laptop is running the newest version of OSX. This will be something you'll need to research separately.

Programs like MS Office for Mac can be loaded on both computers, but if the computers are networked, you will only be able to have the software open on one computer at a time. My husband and I have this issue, and if one of us needs to use Word or Excel, we just ask the other to close the program on their computer.

Hope this helps a little bit.

SweetPatoodies Loc: Greater Cincinnati

I was just browsing my computer and if you go to your Applications folder, then Utilities, the program to move the files from one computer to the other when you are setting up a new computer is called "Migration Assistant". This is a standard utilities program on the Mac.

sbesaw Loc: Boston

Most software, like the ones you name and most others, allow for installation on two machines for personal use. I have Elements, PS, LR5, NIK, OnOne, Topaz, CaptureOne, NX2, Photomatix, Portrait professional, etc running on an iMac and MacBook Pro under one license.

NoSocks Loc: quonochontaug, rhode island

To everyone, thanks for all your help and words of encouragement. I'm still getting comfortable with the new machine. Think I'll download some stuff I have on my camera directly to the MBP and see how it all flies.

Thanks again!!

DennisK Loc: Pickle City,Illinois

Well you'll need some type photo viewing/downloading software compatible with Mac. I have NikonViewNX 2. On second thought, you can probably view them in Finder.

RichieC Loc: Adirondacks

License for most software is good for two machines. They may not allow simultaneous operation- easy to fix if you need it to run that way, turn off Wi-fi on your laptop. If you have Wi-Fi on both machines or a wi-fi enabled internet hub- ( of course if you hard wire them- but is a pain on the laptop) networking will be a breeze. Operating Systems will NOT be a problem. I have a computer running System 9 ( It runs an old but great & expensive scanner), several in various levels of OS X, and it ALL networks fine with each other. Mac are made for this.

You go to "System Preferences > Sharing" and decide what you want to share on each computer...

To link up to the other computer, you got to "Finder > Go > Connect to Server" and you'll see the name of the other computer in the list that pops up. You'll have to set up a login and password for each. It can be set to connect automatically when both on, if you wish it to - you only do all this once. The other computer will show up on your desktop like a mounted drive. You open it and all the files/folders/drives you set to share will be accessible.

Funny thing- you do this once and never again- frankly I forget exactly how- but it is intuitive. If you say "Man it would be nice if it worked like..." and most likely it can- this IMHO is the major difference between platforms. The other major difference is that you can do all this yourself- no calling the cavalry. You may have 6 month's free support on the new laptop- they will walk you through this if needed- or you hate figuring out stuff.


When you get done- it will be so easy, you think you missed something.

Have fun stormin' the castle!

brccli1 Loc: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Number of things: 1-As long as you personally own the computers, most software allow more than one download. I was able to download Microsoft Office for Mac onto my MacBook at no extra charge. 2-Since I-Photo uses the cloud for storage, you can have access to the photos downloaded to the MacBook via the IMac. There is a process for linking the two computers that also works for the calendar and contacts etc. Hope this helps.

Paul

NoSocks Loc: quonochontaug, rhode island

Thanks very much for this, but I may have to call the cavalry anyway. The other computer is not showing up on my network.