Quantum Forest

This post continues documenting the switch from my PC at home to a Mac Mini. After the basic setup of the new computer, it was important to move all the data across platforms. I did a quick web search to find out how to move all the mail from the Windows version of Microsoft’s Outlook Express to Apple’s Mail. Unfortunately, I did not find a straightforward way to do it (PS 2005-12-20: There is a US$25 product called Emailchemy that does the same as Thunderbird below), although I found out at least two ways to move mail from the full version of Microsoft Outlook (see, for example, Entourage cross platform issues).

Outlook Express has its own mail format and very few export options. After having a look at mail formats, I opted for using Mozilla Thunderbird as an intermediate step.

I installed Thunderbird in the windows box, which automatically imported all Outlook Express mail and stored the emails in Unix format at: C:\\Documents and Settings\\your account\\Application Data\\Thunderbird\\Profiles\\Your account\\Mail\\Local Folders. I saved the files contained in that directory in a CD and then put the CD in the Mac.

Then run Mail and go File, Import Mailboxes, Import data from: Other, and then specify the location of the mailboxes to import (in my case the CD in the superdrive). And that was it.

Importing pictures in to iPhoto was extremely easy too. Just File, Add to library and then specify the location of the pictures (CD again). However, I have not been able to find a Picasa importer, so I need to go again over all pictures and retouch them. I would certainly pay for an importer Picasa to iPhoto or, even better, a Picasa version for Mac that were able to directly import everything from the windows version.