Yay! I just ordered my new iBook, upgraded the HD to 80 GB and that was that.  I’ve agreed to sell my emac to a friend for $900 along w/ my ederol keyboard and reason software which i rarely use anymore, along with some other perks that my infringe on copyright law so no details there. 
I’ve been on the ledge with this decision for months know and I’m glad and excited that it finally materialized!  Well I guess now I just have to wait for delivery, but the countdown has officially begun.
Is it fairly simple to transfer my files from one mac to another?  If anyone wants to save me the legwork and let me know how to go about this that would be appreciated.

Thanks for your help!

Don’t all new Macs have that new Migration Assitant that walks you through a transfer? Anyway, the simplest, fastest way to transfer files from Mac to Mac is called Firewire disk mode and requires a $10 Firewire cable. Here’s the how to from the Mac help docs:
You can transfer files easily from one Mac to another. If you’re transferring all your files from an older Mac to a new one, the easiest way to transfer files is to connect the two computers using a FireWire cable and use the Migration Assistant, located in the /Applications/Utilities folder. The Migration Assistant can automatically transfer your files and important settings to your new computer.

If you need to transfer a selection of files from another computer, you have several options. You can transfer documents, pictures, or music for use with your Mac OS X applications into the appropriate folder in your Mac OS X home folder. For example, copy documents into your Documents folder, music into your Music folder, and so on.

There are many ways to transfer files from one Mac to another Mac:

Send an email: Attach a file to an email message and send it to the other computer.
Copy files over a network.
Burn the files on a recordable CD and insert the CD in the other computer.
Use an external disk: You can use a Zip drive, portable USB or FireWire hard disk, or even a floppy disk if you purchase a USB floppy drive.
To transfer files to a Mac OS X computer using an external hard drive or CD:
Create a folder on your external disk to hold your files for transfer to a Mac, or insert a blank CD in your optical drive and follow the instructions on screen to prepare a CD for disc burning.
Select the files you want to transfer and copy them to your external disk or CD. To burn your disc, choose File > Burn Disc.
Connect your hard disk to the Mac OS X computer, or insert your transfer CD.
Open a folder on your external hard disk or CD.
Choose Edit > Select All to select all your documents.
Choose Edit > Copy to copy the files.
Choose Go > Home to go to your Home folder.
Open the appropriate folder in your home folder.
Choose Edit > Paste to transfer the documents.
Repeat steps 4 through 9 until you’ve transferred all your files.

To transfer files using FireWire:
Shut down the first computer and leave the second computer on.
Connect the two computers using a 6-pin to 6-pin FireWire cable. (If both computers have higher-speed FireWire 800 ports in addition to the standard FireWire 400 ports, you can use a 9-pin to 9-pin cable with the FireWire 800 ports to transfer data at higher speeds.)
Open System Preferences, click the Startup Disk, and click Target Disk Mode. (Or, start up the first computer while holding down the T key.) A disk icon for the first computer appears on the desktop on the second computer. Drag files to and from the disk to transfer them.
When you finish, eject the first computer’s disk by dragging its icon to the Trash. (While you drag, the Trash icon changes to an Eject icon.)
Push the power button on the first computer to shut it down and disconnect the FireWire cable.
If the computer to which you connect your computer is running Mac OS 9, it must have FireWire version 2.3.3 or later installed. Use Apple System Profiler (located in /Applications/Utilities) to check the version of FireWire installed. If it has an older version, get an update at the Apple FireWire website at http://www.apple.com/firewire.

Bambi Hambi - 29 July 2005 02:03 AM

make sure you get an external Firewire drive (not USB). On the Mac you can boot off the Firewire drive even if your internal drive is dead (don’t ask how I know; it wasn’t pretty).

I thought that as well, but you can also boot off a USB drive.

Came in handy for cloning Tiger to an iMac G3 350.

Still, firewire is faster to work with a HD than USB 2 on a Mac.

Brett,
thanks for your post, it’ll definitely come in handy in a couple of weeks.  And that’s why one of apple’s greatest benefits is its community, it never ceases to amazes me how someone always steps up in times of need.

Panoctopi - 29 July 2005 06:34 PM

Brett,
thanks for your post, it’ll definitely come in handy in a couple of weeks.  And that’s why one of apple’s greatest benefits is its community, it never ceases to amazes me how someone always steps up in times of need.

actually, I’m only here to enter the free iPod contest. 
no, you’re welcome. we help each other out because someone probably helped us when we were nervous about switching or needed a question answered etc. and now we’re grateful they did.

Congratulations on your decision, Panoctopi!  I like the 12” form factor.  I have a loaner 12” iBook.  It is very easy to take places, around the house or on the road.  On the other hand, I think you may miss your eMac.  It is a good machine and I feel it is easier on the eyes and the wrist for longer term use.

For me, I have been anxiously waiting (hoping) for a 12” PowerBook with a backlit keyboard. I love that keyboard. I would also love a FW 800 port on the 12” since I do have external FW 800 drives.  If those two things are added, I’ll order one fast!  (Actually, I’ll settle for the backlit keyboard!)

But, laptops do not replace desktops for me.  It is nearing time to upgrade my PowerMac. I don’t care as much about waiting for Intel, naturally it’s the...money.  Probably over 6 grand for the PowerMac (with a new display) - and adding a PowerBook laptop onto that isn’t really helping either.  And since my current Macs refuse to die, it’s hard to justify getting them right now, though I’m working on it!

Hg Wells - 05 August 2005 07:32 PM

For me, I have been anxiously waiting (hoping) for a 12” PowerBook with a backlit keyboard. I love that keyboard. I would also love a FW 800 port on the 12” since I do have external FW 800 drives.  If those two things are added, I’ll order one fast!  (Actually, I’ll settle for the backlit keyboard!)

Yes, yes, and yes.  I’m in the market for one in the next couple of months.  I’d also *love* to see a CF slot, not a full size slot, just a Type I/II CF slot.  I’d jump all over it.

Marc