"Step 4: Configure your MacBook with Setup Assistant.
The first time you turn on your MacBook, Setup Assistant starts. Setup Assistant helps you enter your Internet and email information and set up a user account on your MacBook. If you already have a Mac, Setup Assistant can help you automatically transfer files, applications, and other information from your previous Mac using an Ethernet or a wireless connection."
That solves that initial set-up.
Nothing in the manual about Target Disk Mode I notice; joy.
The Setup Assistant that comes with the new aluminum MacBooks allows the Setup Assistant to transfer your files via Wi-Fi or Ethernet. (According to the new manual.)
MacWorld:
Migration and Target Disk Mode
The new MacBook, like the MacBook Air, lacks a FireWire port entirely. What >this means is that the old laptop data-transfer standby known as Target Disk >Mode—enabled by holding down the T key upon startup, allowing your laptop’s >hard drive to appear as an external hard drive when plugged in to another >computer—is gone. And there’s no USB equivalent of Target Disk Mode. What this >means is, if you’re using Apple’s Migration Assistant to move your data to the >new MacBook, you’ll have to transfer your data over the network from your other computer. (The fastest solution: attach via an Ethernet cable and do it direct at full speed.)
-MacWorld
That answers that then. That is annoying. Having Target Disk Mode has always been handy, especially when dealing with computer problems (mine or other peoples). My one and only FW drive recently died (and has USB on it as well if I ever fix it) so...I can't really justify spending £400 just for Firewire really, I shall just have to deal with the slight inconvenience. I returned my Black MacBook in March (twice) as it made strange clicking/poppoing noises from the speakers, so I've been waiting for an update, here's hoping the new ones won't disappoint.
I was thinking the same at first.
But there are other ways to tranfer account(s), applications or just about anything from a disk to an other. Via USB and an adapter for the sata drive at first. Speed lost by the way... But there is also an other way yet to discover via ethernet and the Migration Assistant that may reveal an other new way to do.
Really? I've been using Mac's exclusively for 8 years. Not as long as some others perhaps,.. but I was planning on buying a new camera anyway, I'll just have to look for one that uses USB. Other than that, I never use firewire. I will be buying one of these. Firewire is on it's way out, and is of no use to me.
So count that as at least one seasoned Mac user that will walking away, with a new Macbook.
Corelogik wrote:
Really? I've been using Mac's exclusively for 8 years. Not as long as some others perhaps,.. but I was planning on buying a new camera anyway, I'll just have to look for one that uses USB. Other than that, I never use firewire. I will be buying one of these. Firewire is on it's way out, and is of no use to me.
So count that as at least one seasoned Mac user that will walking away, with a new Macbook.
I guess it depends on your seasoning. Transferring large video file via USB is pretty much a joke. The speed of firewire 400/800 is like comparing a 71 VW to a 08 Ferrari.
I shoot some pretty big files back and forth via FW 400 and 800 and its JUST fast.
USB... Stinks.
I also backup my entire video and photo libraries nightly via the same interfaces.
I agree the presence of FW can be a distinct advantage. My 4.5 yr old iBook had some wake-up problems recently which required rescue of the journal by starting it up in target disk mode and attaching it to another iBook to run Disk Warrior to recover the file structure. I would have been a dead fish in the water without firewire. You can't rely on wireless or even ethernet transfer working under those conditions. OK it's normally a near end of life issue, but it's a decider for me. I guess Apple knows that and want me to pay $400 more. I guess it is money well spent, but I would have liked the smaller form factor of the macbook.
I don't see too many issues with not having Firewire/TDM on the new Macbooks...
If you're wanting Firewire so that you can connect a camcorder, then a new Macbook is probably not the computer for you anyway. If you're a high end user (aka - Final Cut user) then you probably should be using a Macbook Pro which does have Firewire. If you're an educational user, you're probably in the market for the cheapest model Macbook in which case you should get the White Macbook.
If you're using Firewire so that you can rescue data from a broken new Macbook, then the hard disks are very easily removed from these and put into either another new Macbook/Macbook Pro, or into an external SATA 2.5" case with whatever interface(s) you might want.
If you're using it simply as a one off to migrate data from another computer, then you can use the migration assistant over a network.
The ONLY issues I really see are:
1) Migrating over a network is slower though if both Macs had gigabit, then in theory, a crossover network cable is quicker than FW400
2) The Migration assistant when run from the finder lacks the ability to migrate from an attached USB drive, only a FW drive. This is annoying if you say put the HD from the old Mac into an external case with USB for example
3) The Migration assistant from what I can see can only import data from an old Mac over the network if it is running Leopard. I can't see anywhere that the Tiger Migration assistant allows migrating over a network... maybe it does?
You have to remember that Apple isn't going to be able to support all technologies forever... If given a choice, I'd rate the new Macbooks (and old Macbooks) ease of HD removal a far more important aspect from a troubleshooting perspective than say having a Mac with a FW port and a difficult to remove HD (remember iBooks anyone?)
I would like Apple to either release a downloadable Tiger compatible Migration Assistant to fill the void as per no 3 above. I would have also liked Apple to have put 3 USB ports on the Macbook rather than just the two as I like to have an external keyboard, mouse, time machine backup disk, ipod/iphone. I like to leave the second port on the keyboard for incidental use - digital camera, pendrive, printer etc etc.
Waiting even longer for Migration Assistant to transfer your ever increasing amount of data. (Think about 100Mbit/s Ethernet, gives you 10MB/s of transfer speed at the very best, not everybody has GBit Ethernet which would still be slower, and probably your old Mac doesn't have GBit as well…) Don't even think about migrating via WiFi unless you have a month of time to transfer your data.
No way to support a bunch of these machines in a business or educational environment.
This means, no company with a sane mind will buy these, no university will buy these and no seasoned Mac user with FireWire peripherals will buy these. Only millions of PS Users not knowing better will… and I'm afraid that Apple will lose FW on the MacBook Pro next…
Best regards
Pepi
Lack of firewire almost made me not buy the new MacBook....but I went ahead anyway. It should receive it in the next hour or two, and I will be transferring my old files the old-fashioned way: I will attach an external USB drive (to which I cloned my old laptop -- now sold) and copy the needed files manually.
