My new MacBookPro finally arrived this week. I ordered it very shortly after the updated models were announced to take advantage of the new memory capacity, faster firewire port and larger hard drive (which was the biggest issue I wanted to fix).

Its been an insanely busy week at work and a busy week at home as well. So my new computer sat off in the corner, quietly and in its complete packaging. I didn’t even have time to break the seal and take a look.

Last night I FINALLY had some time to open up the box and start up Apple’s migration assistant. It was at that moment that I realized I should have done this on the first day the computer arrived.

See, despite the fact that this is my 6th Mac (7th if you count the Apple IIc I had a long time ago), I still think of some things in “Windows” terms. In Windows, moving to a new computer means you reinstall software on the new computer (for about 2 days - ’cause inevitably you forget SOMETHING on your list), you move files to a USB drive and then onto the computer, and you spend the next several months realizing stuff you missed (favorites, settings, etc.). Add to that the need to suddenly remember every password from every website you’ve ever been to.

On a Mac, none of that happens. You turn on the new Mac and walk through the Migration Assistant. You grab a firewire cord and hook your new and old Mac together. You turn on the old computer and hold town the “T” key. The Mac assistant then asks 4 questions about which accounts you want to pull over and how much “stuff” in each account you want to keep.

A few hours (and no user intervention) later, its done. Every last file, program, setting, cookie, window attribute, etc. is ALL on your new computer. You simply log into your account and EVERYTHING is where it was and behaves exactly the same.

Now I know what you’re thinking: too good to be true. You’re right, I did have to set the following things manually:

• My screen saver

That took all of 20 seconds.

I’m now blogging on the new computer and I can already tell that the screen is much brighter (LED screen), its quieter (especially the fans and hard drive) and the surface of the touchpad area seems to be improved a bit. There’s also no longer a spot for the iSight “you’re on camera” light, which is odd to me. I’m sure I’ll have more to report in the next week. For now, I’m ready to get stuff done!