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    Ordered a Mac... questions (partitions, directories, mp3 and jpg storage)

    Discussion in 'Apple and Mac OS X' started by hoolyproductions, May 6, 2007.

  1. hoolyproductions

    hoolyproductions Notebook Evangelist

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    Hi I ordered Macbook Pro last week after months of trying to decide what laptop to upgrade too. Am well excited :D

    I have some questions though that I couldn't find the answer to in the excellent sticky thread.

    My main use for a laptop is for photography and music. I have many Gb's of pictures (RAW and jpeg) and mp3s, already on an external hard drive with a logical file structure

    1) If I import my data onto the Macbook, do I have to put the music where iTunes wants to put the music and the pics where iPhoto wants to put the photos? Or can I put them where I want and tell those apps where they are?

    2) Along similar lines, I normally keep my documents on a separate partition so that I don't have to put it all on again every time I re-install the OS. Is this also standard practice for Mac, or is it unnecessary.

    3) Also along similar lines (OS and apps recovery, data back up)... at the moment I use Acronis TI to ghost my C drive so I can reinstall all apps and settings in about half an hour. Is there something equivalent for Mac? Or is this not an issue?

    Many thanks for any and all help and further reading suggestions :)
     
    hoolyproductions, May 6, 2007
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  2. M@lew

    M@lew Notebook Evangelist

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    1) You can put them wherever and tell itunes and iPhoto where they are.

    2) Er...probably the same.

    3) SuperDuper. There are a few others too, but SuperDuper is what I use.
     
    M@lew, May 6, 2007
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  3. cashmonee

    cashmonee Notebook Virtuoso NBR Reviewer

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    You can manage your own file structure or tell itune and iphoto to do it. So if you want to put them where you want, go ahead.

    OS X is not like Windows. There is no need for a separate data partition, it's already separated. Also, OS X has an archive and install option which will backup all of your data and settings, reinstall the OS and then replace your data and settings.

    I use SuperDuper! to image my drive. Excellent program.
     
    cashmonee, May 6, 2007
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  4. hoolyproductions

    hoolyproductions Notebook Evangelist

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    Okay, nice one!

    I can't wait to check it out, should arrive Wed or Thur next week...

    I'll check out Super Duper. Incidentally, if OS X has an archive and install option which will backup all of your data and settings, reinstall the OS and then replace your data and settings, why do you need Super Duper? :)
     
    hoolyproductions, May 6, 2007
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  5. dagamer34

    dagamer34 Notebook Evangelist NBR Reviewer

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    Because hard drives themselves can fail too.
     
    dagamer34, May 6, 2007
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  6. hoolyproductions

    hoolyproductions Notebook Evangelist

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    of course... switching from pc to mac seems to have turned me into a dumb ass :)
     
    hoolyproductions, May 6, 2007
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