Newbie macbook cloning question (30 macbooks)

I am a PC network admin for over 10 years and the school i work for made the decision to go all Mac... so.... Hi.
We are starting out with about 30 macbooks in a lab environment. Active Directory. All will be using the same network AD name and password.
I can get them set up fine on my network (glad I crossed that hurddle) but now my question is what the latest, easiest cloning/imaging solution is?
I don't necessarily HAVE to have a solution that can do more than one at a time, but in a year we will roll out a 1 to 1 so having the ability to clone several at once is a plus.
I have read about Bombich's NetRestore and CopyCatX but am not really sure how good or current they are.
My other question is are there any "hardware" solutions? May sound like a dumb question, but like a cart device you can plug all the macbooks in and it clones them? I had heard of something similar for ipad carts but it was just syncing all the apps.
Thanks in advance and I apologize in advance for my newness

There are numerous options for creating bootable clones if you prefer not to use Bombich's NetRestore.
Carbon Copy Cloner
SuperDuper!
The Restore option of Disk Utility
CCC is free to schools and teachers. SuperDuper! is free to use only for full clones. If you want to use other features then you must purchase a license for $25 (I think.)
It is easy enough to set up the base system you want on one computer then create a disc image of that base system and burn it to a dual-layer DVD that can be used to boot and install on all the other computers.
You don't actually need a hardware server as you can run OS X Server on any Mac. Once Lion is released the Server software will become available for $30.00 in addition to the $30.00 for Lion. In your case if the computers were purchased on or after June 6th, then you will have 30 days after the release of Lion to get a redemption coupon for a free copy of Lion. The details will be made available on Apple's website once Lion is released.

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I have a MacBook Pro , Model Identifier MacBook Pro8,2 , MAC OX S 10.7.4. Question 1: Does this model have a PCI Express slot? Question 2: Can I upgrade my USB2 port in this laptop to a USB3 port? Appreciate your help & advice..

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Appreciate your help & advice..

No & no.

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I have a few questions about MacBooks and Parallels Desktop.
1) I understand I need at least 1GB of RAM to run Parallels Desktop but what about the hard drive, is the stock 60GB drive big enough?
2) Related to question 1, even if it was big enough to allow me to install and run Windows would the 60GB drive be enough if I wanted to install a Linux distribution as well?
3) This has nothing to do with Parallels Desktop but thought I'd ask it here anyway, do Apple Stores carry just the stock MacBooks, or do they carry other configurations?
Thanks
Keith

1. Depend on how intensive you use that HD for saving data on both Mac OS and XP. For standard installation on both OS X and XP, the space of 60 Gb is enough.
2. Same answer as no 1. You can install all three on that HD space, but the extra spacce available will be less and less for your data. You can save your data on external or back up on cd/dvd and erase it from the HD to keep the free space.
Remember to leave at least 2 or 3 Gb for virtual memory usage.
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Questions about MacBook pro as a civil engineering student.

Into my final year of Civil Engineering. I will be using softwares like AUTOCAD, PRIMAVERA, etc.. Ive decided to go for a 15" model. I'm confused to go for with or without retina display. With retina offers low storage and 512GB SSD is out of my budget. which one will be the best for me? MacBook Pro normal or MacBook Pro with retina display 256GB flash storage.

Welcome to Apple Support Communities
To be fair, the MacBook Pro with Retina display is for people who needs extreme portability, and I don't recommend it to anyone. All its parts are soldered, and you can't modify anything without voiding the warranty, and repairs are more expensive than with any other portable Mac. Also, battery replacements are more expensive, and it's a Mac with less lifetime because of this.
Go for the non-Retina MacBook Pro, which contains similar hardware but without HDMI port (you have to use a Mini DisplayPort to HDMI adapter), without SSD (but a 750 GB HDD) and it's customizable (you can add RAM and modify the hard drive without voiding the warranty). Also, repairs are cheaper, and you will only note the difference with a MacBook Pro with Retina display in read and write tasks

I have a MacBook Pro , Model Identifier MacBook Pro8,2 , MAC OX S 10.7.4 I noticed that if I open Final Cut Projects created on other/older models MacBook Pro Laptops or MacPro Desktops, the fonts used in the previously created FCP projects, change their

I have a MacBook Pro , Model Identifier MacBook Pro8,2 , MAC OX S 10.7.4
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thanks in advance..

You might want to take your question to the FCP forum - if you copied all fonts to your Library>Fonts folder and restarted they should be recognized by all applications. I know that this works for Adobe products, anyway.
Clinton

Migration from non-Firewire MacBook to new Retina MacBook

I have just purchased a new Retina MacBook. My current MacBook is the 2008 model without a Firewire port. Since the old MacBook does not have Firewire or Thunderbolt, and the new MacBook does not have Ethernet, I am left with Wi-Fi as the migration alternative. I suspect that this will be a VERY slow procedure.
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Just to add a bit about my experiences with the transfer. It did finally work, but it wasn't easy!
When I finally got the cable (after Fedex lost it for 3 days), the instructions on the Apple site were totally inadequate. They didn't explain that you should turn off wi-fi on the computers, or how to set them up for Ethernet transfer on the Network screen, then get them back on wi-fi when you were done. This was not as easy as it should have been -- or at least not for me!
I finally got the two connected properly and then realized (this was admittedly my fault) that I had not upgraded the Migration Assistant on the old computer. So I had to go back and start from zero again.
I also could not get the window to open to give me a choice of which sub-folders to transfer. So I ended up transferring everything. Not a major issue, but just more time consuming.
However, once finished, everything was pretty much where it belonged, and all my apps were fine. The only one that gave me any problem was Dreamweaver. The transfer did not move DWs configuration files, but I was able to fix that by copying that Configuration folder over to the new computer via wi-fi.
By the way, those instructions that Ogelthorpe linked to, even though they say they are for 10.6, are more complete and explicit than the ones on the Apple site specifically for Mavericks. So thanks very much for the help!

Macbook Pro vs. Macbook

Hey Everybody
I want to upgrade my iBook G4 to a Macbook Pro. I use Final Cut Express and my computer just doesn't cut it anymore. But, my brother just got a 2.2 GHz Macbook, and I started to question my choice. If anyone could give me some advice, that would be great.
I would either buy the $1999 Macbook Pro, or the $1300 Macbook.
I need the 2.2 GHz
I would like more than 1 GB of RAM
I don't want a glossy screen
I like the ambient light sensor
I like the look of the Macbook Pro more
so tell me, is it worth the extra $700?
Thanks

I've also made the switch from a 7 month old MacBook to the 15" MacBook Pro. If you're going to run FCE then you will probably want the Pro for the faster graphics adapter and its dedicated video memory. Video_guy is correct with the details but you also get FW800, ExpressCard slot (handy for eSata cards and cellular wireless cards), and the 15" screen has the LED backlighting. The 15" screen is probably the finest Notebook screen I've ever worked with for image editing after I calibrated it. Please note though that the 17" MBP screen does not have the LED backlighting at this time. I'm also very happy that I moved from the glossy to the matte screen, just seems more accurate to me (YMMV) and I get way less eye strain by losing the reflections from the glossy screen. Again YMMV so to each their own.
I have no regrets paying the extra $$$ to move to the MacBook Pro, it's a phenomenal machine. Will a MacBook suffice? For most people, yes. But again, the MBP is unquestionably the better unit, only you can decide if the points noted above are worth the extra cash. Cheers!
P.S. Only downside to the MBP is that it does not have a user replaceable hard drive like the newer MacBook. At least not easily replaceable. I did upgrade mine to a 250GB drive using instructions I found on a couple of Mac sites but it's not for the faint of heart. If you are not technically inclined then order your MBP with the biggest drive you can afford to save yourself the hassle. Ram is a different story and you can go third party there for cheap compared to Apple. I put 4GB in mine for under a hundred bucks.
Message was edited by: joudbren

HT1270 Used the right memory, both for my iMac and MacBook Pro, iMac worked, MacBook Pro didn't start (warning tone). Any idea?

Used the right memory according to page, both for my iMac and MacBook Pro, iMac worked, MacBook Pro didn't start (warning tone).
Any idea?

I suggest you buy your memory from OWC or DataMem. Both guarantee the memory works or will replace it if it does not, no questions asked, within their 30 day return period. I've used both for over 20 years, and no complaints.

New Macbook vs. Refurbished MacBook?

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So with all those things said, which is the better option for us?
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2.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo - White
13.3-inch glossy widescreen display
1GB memory
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B) A new Macbook from Amazon (they give more detail in their specs- I'll just include it all) for $1224.99:
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Thanks in advance for your help- I'll try to return the favor down the road!

I just made this decision myself several weeks ago and went with the refurb model. For me, the RAM and HD configuration of the new machine didn't matter because the first thing I planned to do with the machine was upgrade to 4GB of RAM and a 320GB HD.
While the new machine is faster and runs cooler it does have slightly less processor cache. I would think any differences in speed would be almost undetectable unless you are running a benchmark program.
Personally, I think the real choice is between the refurb MacBook and the refurb MacBook Pro for $1449.00.
Unfortunately for me, my experience with the refurb hasn't been without problems. The machine that was sent to me was DOA. Between a missing return box shipment and repair turn-around time it was two weeks before I had a working machine. Since the repair it has been perfect.

I am going to buy a macbook pro for grade 12, and I need to know wheather I should get a macbook pro or a macbook pro retina. If someone could tell me (in a very simple way) which one is,better for me and why, I would be ever so apprreciative.

I am going to buy a macbook pro for grade 12, and I need to know wheather I should get a macbook pro or a macbook pro retina. If someone could tell me (in a very simple way) which one is,better for me and why, I would be ever so apprreciative.

Why do you need a expensive MacBook Pro?
Your attending high school and unless everyone else is rich also your likely going to be a target by the more poorer students for theft or damage to the machine.
You could keep it home, but if you need it for class then your exposed again.
Also at that age your not very careful yet, a MacBook Pro is a expensive and easily damaged machine.
Unless your made of money and so are others at your school, I would recommned a low profile, just does the job cheap Windows PC.
If it dies, gets lost, stolen or damaged because of your inexperince handling senstivie electronics then it's no big deal.
You can buy a Mac later on when your sure you have a need for it, currently there isn't much advantage of owning a Mac compared to a PC, they do just about the same things now, one just looks prettier than the other.
Since 95% of the world uses Windows PC's your going to have to install Windows on the Mac in order to keep your skills up there or be unemployed, so it's a extra headache and expense.
good luck

How do i sync the mail accounts on my macbook pro to my macbook air as well?

how do i sync my mail accounts on my macbook pro to my macbook air as well?

Addressbook synching would be through your iCloud account. It has nothing to do with Safari.

I am having trouble transferring files from an old MacBook (2007) to a MacBook Air over a wireless network. The connection was interrupted and the time was over 24 hours. Is there a better way to do this? I'm using Migration assistant.

I am having trouble transferring files from an old MacBook (2007) to a MacBook Air over a wireless network. The connection was interrupted and the time was over 24 hours. Is there a better way to do this? I'm using Migration assistant. The lack of an ethernet port on MacBook air does not help.

William ..
Alternative data transfer methods suggested here > OS X: How to migrate data from another Mac using Mavericks

I tried transferring my iphoto library from my old macbook onto my new macbook pro (via external hard drive), but when i open the new iphoto, it seems to have transferred ALL images ever used on my old macbook. so i tried to just del

i tried transferring my iphoto library from my old macbook onto my new macbook pro (via external hard drive), but when i open the new iphoto, it seems to have transferred ALL images ever used on my old macbook. so i tried to just delete all those images so i could try a different approach to transferring, but the new iphoto won't let me do anything and every time i try to delete anything it crashes (since the image amount is so high). please help!!
MacBook Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2), iphoto '11, version 9.4.2

To move an iPhoto Library to a new machine:
Link the two Macs together: there are several ways to do this: Wireless Network,Firewire Target Disk Mode, Ethernet, or even just copy the Library to an external HD and then on to the new machine...
But however you do choose to link the two machines...
Simply copy the iPhoto Library from the Pictures Folder on the old Machine to the Pictures Folder on the new Machine.
Then launch iPhoto. That's it.
This moves photos, events, albums, books, keywords, slideshows and everything else.

I tried transferring my iphoto library from my old macbook onto my new macbook pro, but when i open the new iphoto, it seems to have transferred ALL images ever used on my old macbook. now iphoto won't let me do anything to fix!!

i tried transferring my iphoto library from my old macbook onto my new macbook pro (via external hard drive), but when i open the new iphoto, it seems to have transferred ALL images ever used on my old macbook. so i tried to just delete all those images so i could try a different approach to transferring, but the new iphoto won't let me do anything and every time i try to delete anything it crashes (since the image amount is so high). please help!!

See http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1229?viewlocale=en_US - I doubt that it will solve your problem, though. You may want to post on the iPhoto forum - that's where all of the iPhoto experts hang out.
Good luck,
Clinton

I just upgraded from my 2008 MacBook to a new Macbook Pro. How do I get my time capsule to work on my new MacBook? I did data migration, but the time capsule did not pick it up. Any ideas?

I just upgraded from my 2008 MacBook to a new Macbook Pro. How do I get my time capsule to work on my new MacBook? I did data migration, but the time capsule did not pick it up. Any ideas?

If you migrated all the info from time machine to your new MBP. The TM will usually ask to connect to the old backups.. sorry I am not sure is this what you want to do.. Personally I think you start a fresh backup.
BTW Time Capsule does not do anything.. it is a dumb hard disk in a box.. it is TM that does everything.
Look at B5 and B6 here about connecting to your backup.
http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.html

Newbie macbook cloning question (30 macbooks)

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