New mac with old apps?

Question

Hey I'm planning to get new macbook air soon and I was wondering, I got mini mac now where I got loads of apps with addons Is it possible for me to transfer some of the apps which I got on my mac mini to macbook without instaling them ?

Answer 1

You can use a backup such as Time Machine, to help migrate to a new computer.
•OS X: How to migrate data from another Mac using Mavericks
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5872
Toward the bottom of this ^ article you can see a toggle triangle that opens more
info about using migration assistant with a time machine, or other backup HDD.
It says, "Time Machine or other disk migration." The rest may be helpful, too.
The support article below is similar to this Mavericks one. I likely could find
other online articles with additional details, as some are cited here in ASC
discussions by some of the long-time high number volunteers. I have bookmark
links to places I've been over the past 15 years, some still work. So I may have
to look through the sites to see if any are applicable to this discussion.
(A few articles may suggest upgrading the OS X in the older computer, but
I would avoid anything but a minor step to the system in your old computer
because an upgrade to an old one may be a very bad idea. It can be awful.)
There are other articles in Support, some are more specific and others try to
cover a wider range of general purpose when possible. Things change, so an
older article may help to some extent, depending on the old OS X vintage;
should any question relate to the Mini's current OS X or what the applications
are that you may need to have similar ones of, to use documents or other files
you made in the older system & mini, in a new system in a MB/Air.
In some instances there may be a reference to a 'setup assistant' and some
of that is similar to the migration assistant; except one can be used before
you've personalized the new mac, and have it import stuff on initial boot up
of the new computer. I'd tend to wait and do that later, to see what really
can be done with the new computer, and use migration assistant later.
An older article similar to the one linked above, also mentions using setup assist.
•OS X: How to migrate from another mac using Mt Lion or earlier:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4889?viewlocale=en_US
If you have an Apple Store with Genius bar, you could ask to see if they can
help you set up the new Mac, if you take your old one & backup hard drive
or time machine device in. Some can do that. However be sure that your old
Mini still has all its stuff since you may need to use it for the older applications
should some newer ones not be to your liking; or as a backup computer, if
you were planning on keeping it around. What Mini model series is it?
The Help viewer in your computer, should be able to supply you with more
information, and depending on the version OS X and its Help viewer, it
may draw information from the Support database servers online. I use a
google search or other, on occasion, & get Support articles that way, too.
Hopefully the new MacBook Air works out for you. I'd considered a MB/Pro
due to generally higher specs available, but don't really need Retina display.
So I get 'pre-buyers remorse' instead of being a compulsive buyer...
Good luck!
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