Can I use my son's Mac to sync my new 3g iPad

[Robin4]

I realize I cannot use my PowerBook G4, I didn't think that Leopard would be so expensive. I am planning to buy a new Mac in a few months.

I want to sync my iPad using my son's laptop. I am confused about how to sync from my iTunes account in his computer. How can I do that?

I suppose my calendar and photos may also be a problem. Geez, can someone explain it to me in simple terms? I sync my iPhone without any problems in my computer, I don't know why I can't seem to get the concept.

 

[skubish]

you just plug it into the computer to sync

However if you don't already have all your contacts, photos, calendar, songs, etc on your son's computer it won't do much good.

You can only sync with 1 computer. So if you try to sync with your son's computer iTunes will wipe out what's on the iPad.

 

[Robin4]

Thanks. That makes sense.

I suppose I can save my songs into a couple of play lists, save them in his computer and then choose them to sync.

Can I also save my iPad's applications (which I've bought ahead of time) and sync them? He has only a few apps for his iPhone.

 

[Dr Kevorkian94]

first sign in into ur itunes account on ur sons computer. then use home sharing on bolth computers to get ur music,videos and apps to ur sons computer. that takes care of the media. the photos u can copy them to a a flash drive(memory stick) and then copy them to a album in iphoto (make ur own like "dads photos"). for email that sets up on the ipad itself. im NOT SURE but if u want to have all ur data for the apps but idk if u restore on us sons computer if u can restore from a back up (u might be able to but idk if u can access the restore file and copy it to ur sons computer.

 

[kes601]

Before doing the Home Sharing, close out of iTunes on your son's computer and hold down on Option while opening iTunes (do this before you click it in the dock), it will bring up a dialog box that allows you to either create a new library or select a different library. You will want to create a new library. Once you've done that, you authorize the computer under your iTunes account and then you can do the home sharing.

Then, when your son wants back into his library, you close iTunes and repeat the above except he will select his existing library instead of creating a new one.

If you do as others suggested and authorize yourself in his library then you will run into problems w/both of your apps, songs, etc being mixed in one library. Could be confusing.

 

[no3tic888]

Why don't you make a new user account for yourself and then sync the iPad. All of your stuff would be separate from your son's including your iTunes account.

 

[Robin4]

Wow, great tips. I am very grateful.

I'll open this page and follow each step as soon as I am ready to get started. Thanks a lot.

 

[Capt T]

Why don't you make a new user account for yourself and then sync the iPad. All of your stuff would be separate from your son's including your iTunes account.

+1

Also just hook up your computer as a drive to your sons computer. Then have it access from your drive all your info so you don't use up his drive space.

 

[Scottsdale]

This is a huge problem with the iPad. And frankly, I believe Apple really screwed up with this issue/process.

Like Steve always says if the user thinks about X then we did Y really wrong!

If the user has to have a PC or Mac to use/setup/maintain/etc the iPad then Apple really screwed up the concept and requirements of the iPad user!

People should be able to just use their iPad. One should be able to setup their iPad without connecting it to a computer. Now if they wish to connect it to a computer and swap/transfer information and files that's great, but it shouldn't be a requirement.

Many people are going to want to just use their iPad. They don't want to have to download stuff to the computer and transfer it over, and Apple is projecting this as the way for people to use their iPad just as they do their iPhone.

I believe Apple should move away from this strategy with future models of the iPhone OS products. I would also like to see a WiFi backup to a remote drive connected to an AEBS or Time Capsule, or even have a USB hard drive available, and backup all information from my iPad and iPhone right there. It should wirelessly backup all changes daily. I am not just talking contacts or scheduling but the entirety of the iPad backing up. Then if my iPad is stolen, or if it breaks, I just connect my new iPad and it wirelessly transfers the whole thing back. Completely eliminate the purpose of a computer connecting to the iPad. One last thing, why doesn't the iPad allow wireless backup to a Mac? Why do I have to physically connect the damn thing every time? It is a major flaw in the whole point of an iPad...

I suspect with iPhone OS 4 things will get better, but I want to eliminate the NEED to have my Mac to connect to my iPad. If I want to swap the information over from my contacts or schedule, I should just setup a connection on the iPad and it should always do it wirelessly without connecting the iPad to computer. I know MobileMe does this, but the point is the iPad should never have to be connected to the computer for anything especially for something as simple as turning the iPad on the first time or managing contacts and scheduling.

 

[kultschar]

Just dont let your son see the iPad otherwise you might end up buying another one for the family

 

[bowlerman625]

This is a huge problem with the iPad. And frankly, I believe Apple really screwed up with this issue/process.

Like Steve always says if the user thinks about X then we did Y really wrong!

If the user has to have a PC or Mac to use/setup/maintain/etc the iPad then Apple really screwed up the concept and requirements of the iPad user!

People should be able to just use their iPad. One should be able to setup their iPad without connecting it to a computer. Now if they wish to connect it to a computer and swap/transfer information and files that's great, but it shouldn't be a requirement.

Many people are going to want to just use their iPad. They don't want to have to download stuff to the computer and transfer it over, and Apple is projecting this as the way for people to use their iPad just as they do their iPhone.

I believe Apple should move away from this strategy with future models of the iPhone OS products. I would also like to see a WiFi backup to a remote drive connected to an AEBS or Time Capsule, or even have a USB hard drive available, and backup all information from my iPad and iPhone right there. It should wirelessly backup all changes daily. I am not just talking contacts or scheduling but the entirety of the iPad backing up. Then if my iPad is stolen, or if it breaks, I just connect my new iPad and it wirelessly transfers the whole thing back. Completely eliminate the purpose of a computer connecting to the iPad. One last thing, why doesn't the iPad allow wireless backup to a Mac? Why do I have to physically connect the damn thing every time? It is a major flaw in the whole point of an iPad...

I suspect with iPhone OS 4 things will get better, but I want to eliminate the NEED to have my Mac to connect to my iPad. If I want to swap the information over from my contacts or schedule, I should just setup a connection on the iPad and it should always do it wirelessly without connecting the iPad to computer. I know MobileMe does this, but the point is the iPad should never have to be connected to the computer for anything especially for something as simple as turning the iPad on the first time or managing contacts and scheduling.

Excellent thoughts.......I'd love to see this as well. Hopefully they will move to this over time.