Keeping Contacts & Apps when syncing iPhone with new computer

Question

I just got a new netbook with Windows 7 Starter. I would like to transition from using my current work laptop to the netbook as the manager of my iPhone. When I try to sync my iPhone with the new computer it says that my iPhone's library is linked to another computer. It appears that all of my contacts and apps will be erased if I sync these items on the netbook.
Does anyone know a way that I can keep this information without erasing? I already erased my music content from the iPhone. I foresee a real problem since this netbook doesn't have Outlook and all my contact information is in that format. I also don't want to have my apps all wiped out. Thanks for the help.

Answer 1

iTunes content can be synced or manually managed with an iTunes library on a single computer, and photos can be transferred to the iPhone via the iTunes sync process from a single computer only. When transferring iTunes content and photos from another computer, all iTunes content and photos transferred from a different computer will be erased from your iPhone first.
No other content is touched or erased when doing so including iPhone contacts especially if you don't select to sync contacts with a supported application on a new computer.
iTunes includes an option to transfer iTunes content that was purchased/downloaded from the iTunes store, but this is for iTunes content that was purchased/downloaded from the iTunes store only. With your iPhone connected and without syncing, at the iTunes menu bar go to File and select Transfer Purchases From - the name of your iPhone. If you haven't activated the new computer with your iTunes account with iTunes, you should do so before doing this.
With Windows, contacts can be synced with Outlook 2003 or 2007 along with calendar events, or with Windows Contacts for syncing contacts only.
If you don't have Outlook 2003 or 2007 available on the new computer, you will have Windows Contacts available. Before syncing contacts with Windows Contacts, enter one contact in Windows Contacts. Make the contact up if needed, which can be deleted later. This will provide a merge prompt with the first sync with Windows Contacts, which you want to select.
There is no Outlook format or Apple address book format with contacts. You can sync contacts with Outlook 2003 or 2007 or with Windows Contacts on a PC, and sync contacts with Apple's address book on a Mac.
Contact, calendar events, and Safari bookmarks can be synced with the supported applications on multiple computers. With two Windows computers, with two Macs, or with a Windows computer and a Mac.