Using 2 Macs

[EvanAgee]

Hello all,

I currently have a PowerMac G5 that I use for work, so I have lots of files that I need to access. I just purchased a MacBook Pro and I'm trying to find the best way to access these work-related files from both my PowerMac and MacBook Pro. My initial thought was to use an external hard drive and just move it back and forth depending on which computer I'm using. However, it would also be nice if there was a way to share most, if not all of the files on my PowerMac with my MacBook Pro (e.g. music, photos, software settings, etc).

So what's the best way to do this?

 

[LeviG]

if the powermac is on all the time, set up file sharing on it. If its not and you have a network (with wireless probably easier for macbook pro) you could get a nas and use that as a central store.

 

[EvanAgee]

The PowerMac is usually on all of the time, but I have no experience with file sharing. I'm looking at the settings now, but do you have any tips as to how I should set things up?

 

[drumforfun19]

The PowerMac is usually on all of the time, but I have no experience with file sharing. I'm looking at the settings now, but do you have any tips as to how I should set things up?

I would think about perhaps setting up a network drive or just go with the external drive. Most work places have servers that allow you to store your work on network hard drives and then access those via the internet.

 

[EvanAgee]

I'm actually working from home and I think for the times that I am at home the file sharing will be just fine. However, what options do I have for the times when I'm working away from my home network? Is there a way to connect to my PowerMac remotely and access those files? I'm assuming it would be far too slow, so I'll probably just go with the external drive.

 

[dukebound85]

I'm actually working from home and I think for the times that I am at home the file sharing will be just fine. However, what options do I have for the times when I'm working away from my home network? Is there a way to connect to my PowerMac remotely and access those files? I'm assuming it would be far too slow, so I'll probably just go with the external drive.

well heres what i would do. go to system pref and set up file sharing on say the power mac. then on your mbp on the finder toolbar go to go or something and connect to server. this will let you access your powermac as if it were an the computer itself.

if you are not on the network, this may work as well but im not sure. you can always try to ftp to your computer via terminal if your comfortable but once again as far as setting it up when not on same network im not sure how to do it.

hope that helps...somewhat lol



haha theres always gotomypc.com but i know there is a free alternative like chicken of the vnc. i dont know enough about that though to go into detail

 

[deadpixels]

yes, you can use chicken of the vnc and osxvnc. you'll have to install on both computers, it's not too difficult to setup.

 

[dannewell15]

iDisk?

What about getting a .Mac account with an iDisk. I think you can share files between two with that? just a suggestion.

 

[brandon6684]

I do the file sharing thing with my MacBook and iMac, but some sort of better syncing would be nice.

 

[drumforfun19]

I'm sure you could remote into your desktop from your macbook via some software.

 

[dukebound85]

I'm sure you could remote into your desktop from your macbook via some software.

terminal works if ok with unix, or chicken of the vnc, or apple remote desktop, or simply configuring one as a server so it pops up as another extension in your computer

 

[EvanAgee]

Thanks for the input all, I greatly appreciate it.

I believe that I'm going to go with a combination of file sharing and an external hard drive. VNC or Remote Desktop won't work for me because I want to run the apps on my notebook, not on the PowerMac. I just want to have access to all of the files on the PM. FileSharing should give me this. And for any files that I'll need to access when I'm not near my home network I'll use an external hard drive and both of the computers can share it, depending on which one I'm using at the time.

Have a question about File Sharing. Will I be able to setup an alias (symbolic link) on my MBP that tells iPhoto and iTunes to look for my music and photo libraries on the PM via file sharing?