We have an old iMac, 21.5 mid 2010, using 10.13.6. I’ve finally convinced my wife to give it up! Before we invest in a laptop, can we migrate all her data, documents, emails, etc to iCloud for safekeeping?
iMac (2017 – 2020)
NO
iCloud is but a conduit to have files in iCloud so that other computers signed into the same Account Account can access those files
To Backup your wife's data , it is best to use Time Machine Backup Utilities
Transfer to a new Mac with Migration Assistan
Emails are a bit more complicated and is 100% dependent on the email account
Email accounts that use the newer and most commonly used Protocol >>> IMAP
The emails are actually On the email account server(s) and once the new computer is setup
Just Add the email account >> Add email accounts in Mail on Mac
Should the email account use the Older and less used Protocol >> POP
That is best left to TM Backup Utilities
No. Get an external USB drive or two and make backups of the computer on those.
Migration Assistant can work from a Time Machine backup, or from a bootable clone backup made with Carbon Copy Cloner or SuperDuper.
After you're satisfied that your data is safe / transferred, do this before getting rid of the old Mac.
What to do before you sell, give away, trade in, or recycle your Mac - Apple Support
migrating data from old imac using 10.13.6
