Moving from Windows to Apple - what about old doc/emails etc on old laptop?

[MaggieW]

We are considering moivng from our ageing Dell to an Apple laptop. I have a lot of documents on the old machine, plus many emails, which I need to refer to, stored there, so how do we access them via the new Apple please? TIA.

What's your email client on the old machine? Outlook, Thunderbird or something else? You need to find out what formats it can export and what formats the Mac mail client can import.

My limited experience helping with my aunt's Mac suggests that the standard software install wasn't very good with Word documents. After I installed OpenOffice it was fine.

Most stuff Apple do is not compatible with the rest of the world and they usually don't let you install anything which would make stuff compatible. Is there a particular reason for switching?

Can I offer some advice. Google the question and you will be surprised at the number of sites and youtube vids showing how its done. If you have Microsoft Office documents, they will not work on the mac.

just don't.

I moved from windows to apple and wish I hadn't.

Did you know you can install Windows onto Macs? I would save everything on to drives then save them onto your Macbook when you install Windows, if you choose to (my guess - I've never done this - someone at the Apple store will clarify).

Your Macbook will change your life for the better!

Thanks all - interesting reading. Currently use Outlook for email.

Technically you should be fine.

However, it depends on what is in the files. If you have slideshows with various transitions, these transitions will not work. Any animation made using windows movie maker probably will not run.

Although at the moment, Apple supports Microsoft, this is set to end this year. Apple have their own version of office called iWork, which, imo, is simpler to use, never mind cheaper than office.

Other files such as music and pictures will transfer over with ease.

If you decide to get a mac, there is also something called a migration assistant. This simply lets you move your files from your pc to your mac... However, back up first. You can do the migration with wires, or through your wireless network.

Back up your documents anyway, regardless of what you are going to do. Can do this very simply using dropbox.

Your emails should still be available. I have several different accounts and use them all without problems on the ios.

Out of interest, as Southeastdweller said, you can run widows on a Mac, I do and use Parallels. I had to buy Windows 7 and Office, but it all works ok.