Need new Mac,how to transfer old???
 

My family has been happily sharing a G4 with OSX 10.3.9 for the last few years,but the time has come to invest in a second machine.
I'm looking at a Mac mini,just for affordability sake (unless someone can convince me that there's something more suitable for our needs-read on.I am going to have to get another monitor,so that might affect the issue.).I'm assuming it'll ship with the latest OS,and be faster than the G4.But there's various things I need to know:-
My partner only really uses web browsers (Safari) and word processing software(Word,Mail etc),she's content with that and doesn't want to change. My son and I use a great deal more-music (I'm a pro musician),movies,photos,games,all kinds of software,and my share of the Gbs in use is way ahead of my partner.
Q1-Would she be better off with the G4 or the Mini?

Q2-OK I'm a comparative layman with regard to computer knowhow,and obviously we are going to need to transfer files from one computer to the other.I already have a separate HD attached to the G4,which will become mine of necessity.Is it as straightforward as copying everything I need onto the separate HD and adding that to my computer (whichever it is?).Can I do this with Apps that I've paid for,etc? Or do I have to rebuy/reinstall them on a new computer?

Q3 At the moment we have a single USB ADSL internet connection.What is the best thing to do to get connection for two machines? (NB we live in a remote part of the countryside with barely 0.5 Gb coming down the broadband wire,which isn't going to get updated)

Q4 Can you burn CDs/DVDs on a Mac Mini?

A2- /Applications/Utilities/Migration Assistant.app will transfer your applications and users from one machine to the next. This requires FireWire. I'm not sure if it's recommended that both machine be updated to the same OS version first since a new machine will have Tiger and your current one is running Panther. Perhaps OS X knows how to deal with such incongruity.

A3-Your ASDL does not have an Ethernet out? If it does you will need a router so you can have an internal network address for your computers and the one IP address supplied by your provider.

A4-The $599 model only has a Combo Drive which will play CDs and DVDs, burn CDs, but not DVDs. The $799 model has a SuperDrive that will play and burn both CDs and DVDs.

(Macmini at Apple Store)

You may want to check out the Refurbished section of the Apple Store. Right now they have the exact $799 Mac mini with SuperDrive for $699. It has the same warranty as the full cost version.

Personally, I'd go for a Refurbished iMac than the Mac mini. You get quite a bit more for your buck. The Mac mini may be Apple's cheapest desktop but you are paying extra for the diminutive size. And since you will have to get another monitor you are already at the iMac prices (assuming you get a comparable display).

OS X does know what to and what not to migrate. I used it before. Very easy to use. Just follow the Assistant.

As for the apps, you may need to install/register a few of them again. They often place hidden files around your Mac to identify if it has been registered or not. You could try to just register again by entering the serial or whatever. If you ever have a problem, I guess you could contact the software company.

Thanks guys.I'm in the UK and our Apple refurbish Store doesn't have any Minis at the moment... so I may go down the iMac road;)
Next question-can I hook up both Macs to the same printer? We have an AIO printer/copier/scanner.

Real Easy
 

When you get your new machine from apple, all you do is connect the old machine to the new machine via ethernet cable, and answer the command, "do you want to transfer the files', and shassamm it happens! absolutly no work!

Is there going to be any problem transferring files from PowerMac to Intel?
Is an 'ethernet cable' the same as Firewire? Not sure which port to put an ethernet cable in my G4...

The Migration Assistant should have no problems migrating from PPC to Intel. And I'd use FireWire instead of ethernet.

Here's a few grainy photos:
Ethernet plug:
http://i9.tinypic.com/6ba55dv_th.jpg

Ethernet port:
http://i7.tinypic.com/67nqy4i_th.jpg

Firewire plug:
http://i11.tinypic.com/5x6o3sy_th.jpg

Firewire port (sideways, forgot to rotate):
http://i13.tinypic.com/4qiffx0_th.jpg

Thanks,ThreeDee

Can anyone answer my Q about printer,namely can I hook up both Macs to one printer/copier/scanner-which only has one port (the Macs will be 20' apart in separate rooms!)

Yes.
 

Yes.

Look in System Preferences/Sharing.

Consider future needs and perhaps put the printer on a print server (many cheap ones work well, but I have not shopped recently) so any machine, including a Windows or Linux machine of a visitor to the house, can access via the LAN with Bonjour, IP, Rendezvous, &c.

Yes is the word to remember, even without a print server.

I have a printer hooked up to a print server (the one built into the older Airport Extreme). It works well and I can print from any computer. There is one thing to remember when using a print server: Many printing utilities will not work in this situation unless the printer is directly connected to a computer.

Unless the printer is network capable you may not be able to do things like check ink levels or do head cleanings etc.

OK what's a 'print server' and how does one go about setting that up?
Does it work for all kinds of printers?
NB the UK Apple store is offering lots of money off printers if you buy a Mac before end of July,so we may just get a second one.

Am I right in thinking that Airport Extreme/Express will take care of my need for a wireless router,ie it will provide ADSL connection for both Macs,as well as functioning as a print server?

The DSL modem provides the connection. A router like the Airport allows you to use more than one computer with that connection. Airport should have no trouble sharing a printer.

I can't find 'Migration Assistant' under Apps/Utilities...is it something not available with 10.3.9? Is there another way of migrating stuff? I do have an ethernet port on the back of the G4-it looks just like a UK telephone connection,so do I just need a telephone-telephone connector?

It should be there. View as list, sort by name, and begin typying: Mig...

Even if Migration Assistant is not there on your old Mac with 10.3.9, it will be on the new Mac, and will be a choice on the first couple of screens when you first turn on your new Mac (Do you have files to transfer from another Mac?) - and just follow the directions on the next couple of screens - very simple, you just have to wait for the old Mac to respond to the transfer commands. You will need a 6-pin to 6-pin FireWire cable to make that work.

I tried that-definitely nothing of that name on my G4.There IS Setup Assistant,which looks like the same kind of thing.
OK so presumably the NEW host computer has the Migration assistant and controls the transfer.

Yes, the new computer should have it, and it should be the one doing the transfer.

I THINK you can also use an Ethernet cable, but I also think it's gonna be pretty slow. I recommend using FireWire.

That would be inaccurate, the Migration Assistant at the new user setup cannot use an ethernet cable, only FireWire will work.