Using Time Machine or Migration Assistant for Transferring Info From and Old Mac to a New One

I use Time Machine often (and have used it since it was introduced). I also upgrade my Mac hardware fairly often (about every 18 months). Each time I move to a new machine, I use Migration Assistant (and not Time Machine). I have never had an issue.

So I suggest you do not need Time Machine specifically for the purpose of changing computers. However, you really do need to keep backups just because hardware does fail, and without a backup, you are subject to losing everything you have on your computer.

I should add that using Time Machine is painless.

Use Time Machine to back up or restore your Mac - Apple Support

All you have to do is supply some media to hold the backup. Personally I use a Time Capsule which not only provides the media, but also provides my WiFi router.

Yes, there is a set up process. It's all described in the "Set Up Time Machine ..." section of the article I attached above.

Use Time Machine to back up or restore your Mac - Apple Support

Time Capsule comes with either a 2TB or 3TB storage media (along with a WiFi router). So Time Capsule serves as the place where your Time Machine backups can be stored.

Here is a product description from the (U.S.) Apple Store:

http://www.apple.com/shop/product/ME177LL/A/airport-time-capsule-2tb?fnode=2869f 8d684e35db2e2ed49b4cc699f52633fe1e6dccc8…

Apple Ashley wrote:

Okay, so please tell me if I'm understanding correctly: so for using time machine I can get the time capsule, connect it to time machine, which is connected to my computer and anything I back up in time machine goes to the capsule?

This is correct. But again I do not recommend doing this using your MacBook Air ... assuming you are considering backing up the MacBook Air solely for the purpose of migrating to a new MacBook Pro. This migration can be done using Migration Assistant directly from the MacBook Air to the Pro.

Apple Ashley wrote:

And then when using migration assistant when I get a new mac, when I choose which source of files to send to the new computer, I have the option of my old computer, my macintosh HD drive, or time machine, do I choose time machine and by doing so all the information stored on the capsule with go to the new computer?

Assuming you are on the verge of making a MacBook Pro purchase, you might as well not go through the Time Machine intermediate step. (If you are not getting this MacBook Pro very soon, then you should consider quickly purchasing a Time Capsule and starting your Time Machine with the MacBook Air so you will have backups in case of a catastrophic failure.)

Regardless of when you purchase your MacBook Pro (very soon or not so soon), I recommend you use Migration Assistant to restore from the MacBook Air directly and not the Time Machine backup.

Also be advised the first time you perform a Time Machine backup, it will do a full system backup which may take a very long time (hours). Subsequent backups are incremental and take much less time (except when performing a major OS X update).

Glad this helped!

Regarding your question:

You say "Since I don't have all my information backed up ...". This is true, and means if your MacBook Air were to fail right now, you would likely lose everything on your computer.

But then your question goes on to ask about the possibility of losing information on your MacBook Pro. So my suggestion there is that as soon as your MacBook Pro is set up, your first task is to set up Time Machine to start backing up the MacBook Pro. If you have purchased a Time Capsule, that is where the Time Machine backup would be placed. Once that backup is made, your MacBook Air's information is obsolete and can (and should) be discarded so you can sell or give away that machine without letting anyone else see your personal information.

Here is what you should do to your MacBook Air once the MacBook Pro and Time Capsule are in place:

What to do before selling or giving away your Mac - Apple Support

Correct. Time Machine is set up on one Mac at a time. So you would presumably set up Time Machine on your new MacBook Pro and never set it up on your MacBook Air.

Yes, the setup process is quite easy. Again, that first backup will take a long time (hours).

The router does come with a Time Capsule. If you already have a router, there are several options:

• Keep that router, and save your money, and do not pay for an additional router that you will not use. Instead, purchase some high-capacity disk drive (at least 2TB) to use as your Time Machine backup container.
• Dispose of the old router (sell it, give it away) and convert to using Apple's router. It is a very capable and smart product that is also easy to set up.