Hi,

After much consideration, I will be switching to Mac [or having both Mac & PC at a go]; either Mac Mini or MacBook [most probably MacBook for the portability].

I have some questions to check and hope you could assist me, thanks in advance.

1. Import or transfer of email messages
Currently I am using Outlook 2003 for email, contacts & calendar. Will I be able to transfer or export them to Mac?
Do I need any third party software to do that?

2. Treo680 & O2 XDA IIs
I am using both the devices. Any way that I can sync them with a Mac?
Need the contact, calendar to be sync......

3. Connecting to Windows Small Business Server
Currently running on XP Pro, requires login so can access the Exchange server & file server. Any advice on this so that I can continue to access the Exchange & files in the server?

4. Battery Life
How long do you think that MacBook can "tahan" working outside office without power supply?

5. Network Printer
Can I connect to the network printer & do the regular printing?

6. My colleagues are XP Pro users with Office 2003
Files that I have done in either iWork or Neo Office, when I send to them; can they open, view & edit & then send back to me?

7. Hardware
I am using external keyboard & mouse [Microsoft hardware] for my existing laptop. Does MacBook allows the similar connection as well?

8. Outlook 2003 to Mac
What mail software can I use in Mac?

battery life , can tahan 4 hours plus with minimal backlite(1level)
printer - yes .
iWork - yes , but u need to export them in .doc format
hardware - yes , external keyboard and also mouse .
outlook - not too sure , i dont use it .

[/COLOR][/COLOR]

Thanks guys.

---

Added on December 5, 2007, 9:57 amJust saw this FAQ from Apple.



Ehm.....


This post has been edited by visioncatz: Dec 5 2007, 09:57 AM

There are 3rd party software that does that, like O2M (http://www.littlemachines.com/).

I can't remember how I did it back then, but it involves exporting Outlook to a format that Apple Mail can understand. I will try and refresh my memory, if it's in there somewhere.

TS, your questions have been answered. You can check this out for more:
How to Move to Mac

There is a direct transfer files by using LAN cable, which I have never try it before.

1. Import or transfer of email messages
Currently I am using Outlook 2003 for email, contacts & calendar. Will I be able to transfer or export them to Mac?
Do I need any third party software to do that?

Transferring outlook data i am not that sure...

but there is some small guides around the net if you try to look for it...

here is one...
http://www.oreillynet.com/cs/user/view/cs_msg/9928

as for contacts you can export it to vcard or other tab or comma delimited text file to import into mail or entourage...

2. Treo680 & O2 XDA IIs
I am using both the devices. Any way that I can sync them with a Mac?
Need the contact, calendar to be sync......

as for this... there should be some utilities released for macintosh especially with big manufacturers like palm...

3. Connecting to Windows Small Business Server
Currently running on XP Pro, requires login so can access the Exchange server & file server. Any advice on this so that I can continue to access the Exchange & files in the server?

do you mean file server? you can connect to windows file server via smb service, you should be able to find your server under it's domain in network.. if not, just use command + k then key in "smb://<server ip>" and it should pop up and ask you for authentication...you can even use an applescript to make your connection if you are lazy enough...

as for exchange server... entourage should be able to support..

4. Battery Life
How long do you think that MacBook can "tahan" working outside office without power supply?

depends on the load... 2 hours should be no problem under mid to heavy load...

5. Network Printer
Can I connect to the network printer & do the regular printing?

yes... you have lots of choices... if your printer supports appletalk it will be fine, if not your mac still supports IP printing through LPD or HP JetDirect... as some members say... driver will be the problem...

6. My colleagues are XP Pro users with Office 2003
Files that I have done in either iWork or Neo Office, when I send to them; can they open, view & edit & then send back to me?

i think most spreadsheet, word document should be fine... maybe an impatibility could be found on office 2007, but microsoft release a XML document converter for mac in beta stage... powerpoint will most probably the one giving you problems especially with linked video or audio files...

7. Hardware
I am using external keyboard & mouse [Microsoft hardware] for my existing laptop. Does MacBook allows the similar connection as well?

as long as it is usb... pc keyboards will have 2 reversed keys which is the window and ALT key...and you'll be missing the right-click key as well and the F13 to F16 keys and mute, volume up and down and eject keys.. i think that is all...

8. Outlook 2003 to Mac
What mail software can I use in Mac?


entourage, mail for starters...

This post has been edited by butthead: Dec 10 2007, 04:29 PM