Finally migrating to iCloud

[jent]

I have a MacBook Air, MacBook, iPad, and iPhone. I currently use Snow Leopard on the Macs and iOS 5 on the iOS devices. I haven't upgraded to Lion because it looks and feels too iOS-like for a desktop operating system and there are quite a few features and interface elements it removed from Snow Leopard. Since MobileMe expires on June 30th, I'll finally be upgrading my main computer, the MacBook Air, to Lion.

The wording on the MobileMe transition page confuses me a bit. I don't plan on using my MacBook much at all, so I don't think I need the syncing capabilities of MobileMe/iCloud on it. If I upgrade my MacBook Air to Lion and officially migrate my MobileMe account to iCloud, can I safely assume the MacBook will work as normal in the future, just without MobileMe/iCloud features? Because the iCloud transition instructions ask you to confirm that all your devices are running Lion and iOS 5, will the fact that I have my MacBook registered as a MobileMe device cause problems if I don't log out of my MobileMe account on the MacBook? Rather than go to the trouble I'd rather just ignore it, assuming that won't cause any problems. Thanks!

 

[tasmac]

RE: Finally migrating to iCloud

Hi jent
I noticed you didn't have a reply to this in last few days so thought I would comment. In answer to your valid queries about migrating multiple Macs and iDevices from OSX10.6 (or iOS5) to the new iCloud service... the answer is basically, "Yes".

I am in the same situation and have held off migrating to iCloud because I manage a small biz with several older Macs and wanted to keep my options open.

In your situation the most important thing to do is to 'upgrade' to iCloud with your MobileMe login (and associated AppleID) by 30 June 2012, in order to maintain that email identity and allow Apple to transfer your emails to their new system and continue it. Other features of the MobileMe service can be activated at your wish, provided the devices or Macs can support them. The features that will be permanently lost are the main online 'content' things such as web-hostng, web photo galleries, iDisk file storage... and the smaller (but great!) features such as Keychain password and Dock display settings sync. [side note: there is a chance that all of these features will return to the newer iCloud soon].

Make sure you have a backup of all your email, contacts and calendar (such as with your primary Mac). In my case I prefer to then disable all the MobileMe services on all other Macs and iDevices just to be safe (Preferences - MobileMe) but this is probably not necessary.

After the switch to iCloud, Macs or iOS devices that have not (or are not able to) use the new service will continue as the same but without ant of the syncing or content services under the previous MobileMe. Email accounts will continue as normal on all devices regardless.

As always, make sure you are backed up, and read Apple's guidelines:
http://www.apple.com/mobileme/transition.html

Regards
Thomas.

 

[jent]

Many thanks for the reply, Thomas. I upgraded to Lion on my MacBook Air last night and then migrated to iCloud since my iOS devices were already on iOS 5.

A few remaining questions:

I have an older MacBook that I barely use and have left on Snow Leopard. If I ever upgrade it to Lion after the June 30th cutoff date, can I just enter my iCloud username and password and have it re-join the cloud? Or could that somehow cause problems?

Also, I had a MobileMe family pack and I helped my parents to both migrate their accounts to iCloud and as I said just personally migrated myself. The MobileMe account settings page listed my brother as still on MobileMe. I don't know if he actively uses MobileMe syncing but as he happily has a MacBook Pro and an iPhone I'm sure he'll remain an Apple user and I want him to enjoy a seamless experience. If he doesn't migrate by June 30th, what happens? What are his options after the end of the month?

Thanks!

 

[tasmac]

jent
Sounds like you are basically done. In answer to your follow-up Qs:

1. Your older MacBook can 'rejoin' your iCloud account at anytime, provided it is running minimum OSX10.7.2. Think of this as just 'adding' another device/mac to your iCloud sync. Same if it is old Mac or new Mac. Importantly, you DON'T need to buy Lion again, just use the same AppleID on the older Mac to upgrade it in the Mac App Store. Boosting the RAM to 4GB is a good idea, otherwise it will work fine.

2. Regarding your Family 5-user account under MobileMe, that will cease to exist next week. All users will be treated separately, there will be no Master/Primary account. Sounds like your parents are fine (make sure they have any Web Galleries or iDisk files still on their Macs, of course!). Your brother must follow the same steps as you have done to maintain his me.com email identity. He should also know that the other features such as syncing Contacts & Calendar will not work after next week until he moves to iCloud. But his email will be fine provided he follows the steps.

Otherwise, all good.
Thomas.