Filed under: Accessories, Hardware, Switchers, Odds and ends
Belkin's Switch-to-Mac USB Cable
Peripheral maker Belkin has taken note of the fact that a lot of people are switching to Macs. Their new Switch-to-Mac USB Cable, available in the US now for US$49.99, is designed to streamline the process of moving files from your PC running Windows XP or Vista to your Mac running Tiger or Leopard.
The cable comes with a Migration Assistant that performs a similar function to Apple's Migration Assistant -- it copies music, movies, photos, files, and Internet preferences from the PC to the Mac at USB 2.0 speeds. At the completion of the migration, the software provides a summary of all of the content that has been copied and the location of the files.
Belkin says the Switch-to-Mac USB Cable is on sale in the US now, and it will be available in Canada, Asia, Europe and Australia beginning in February, 2009.
Get a WordPress.com Blog
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Norman said 3:50PM on 11-12-2008
Aehm... am i stupid? :D Why would you buy this for 50 bucks if a normal Ethernet or Firewire Cable can do the same thing for 10 or 20 bucks via OS X's built-in tools?
Reply
Steven Sande said 4:07PM on 11-12-2008
Actually, the Migration Assistant in Mac OS X only moves data from Mac to Mac, NOT from a PC to Mac. Using a Firewire or Ethernet cable would work if you set up an ad hoc network, but you'd still need to know where all of the files and settings are located on the source PC.
TUAWSteve
wako said 3:49PM on 11-12-2008
$50 bucks? for this?
The cable cant be more than $5 bucks, so you are pretty much paying $45 bucks for the software. I rather just splurge out 100 bucks and just buy a external HDD and then just manually move my files over...
lazy bastards...
Reply
Steven Sande said 4:06PM on 11-12-2008
I agree with your solution 100%. Not only can you move the files using the HD, but you then have a Time Machine backup drive for future backups.
TUAWSteve
Chris Watson said 5:06PM on 11-12-2008
Thats how I migrate Windows data (aside from Outlook which basically requires O2M) but in reality do you think even 75% of the switchers out there will have any clue how to do so?
I don't, thats why I think this product (if it works!) will be a huge hit. $50 to take all the trouble and intimidation out of the process is a bargain.
wako said 7:18PM on 11-12-2008
@Chris Watson
Actually if you goto an Apple Store the employee will usually tell you this and tell you how to. If you BUY a Mac from an Apple Store they will help you migrate the files for you as well, via the same process.
tommy k said 5:21PM on 11-12-2008
Doesn't the Apples store offer to do this for free?
Reply
Stephen said 4:04PM on 11-12-2008
@ Norman:
OS X's tools can't migrate from a PC. But I agree, I would just move them manually.
Reply
a ham sandwich said 4:05PM on 11-12-2008
@the two people above me
yes. i agree with both of you. 50 bucks for that's completely ridiculous to anybody who even knows the first thing about computers. but for that average (ooooo dare i say joe 6 pack? no. thats over. no. n/m) guy who decides "hmm. i think ill switch to the mac today" that's exactly what he's looking for. he probably doesnt want to fuss to poke through mac os x for the migration utility. then again, it does prompt you for it, doesnt it?
Reply
Christian said 5:14PM on 11-12-2008
FYI, it's Joe the Plummer.
Even us Canadian know that.
a ham sandwich said 6:03PM on 11-12-2008
apparently you canadians didnt watch enough of the election then, did you? joe the plumber was really late to the game, EH?
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1715282,00.html
Christian said 7:32PM on 11-12-2008
Check it out....I can link articles on the Internets too!!
http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2008/10/15/politics/fromtheroad/entry4525216.shtml
Technology is great huh?
BHendrix said 10:20PM on 11-12-2008
Actually, Christian, 'Joe Six-Pack' was an expression long before Joe The Plummer appeared during the recent presidential campaign, and it was often used by Sarah Palin.
Just an FYI from one Canadian to another... :D
anonymous.bosch said 9:37AM on 11-13-2008
You need to tell your "other" Canadian how to spell... it's plumber. Not plummer.
Even us American folk, know that.
ikkieman said 4:14PM on 11-12-2008
Indeed. Why not use your router as a hub and transfer the files via a network. I myself just made the switch last week and I mostly used my external drive 'cause the bulk of the files was already on there. For the smaller, more forgotten stuff i just used the network. Damn, i L O V E Apple!
Reply
hmcnally said 4:15PM on 11-12-2008
If the Migration Assistant software is any good, it's worth the price of the cable.
Reply
solarpos said 4:27PM on 11-12-2008
If you have an Apple Store in your area, make your purchase there and have an associate migrate your files. You'll save 50 bucks and get a small lesson in file management. But if your a noob and I say that with affection, maybe you're buying a Mac elsewhere or through the INCREDIBLE refurb program online. Then I would understand using this cable.
Tony said 5:15PM on 11-12-2008
Yes, I agree: if you have an Apple Store nearby, just buy your computer there and let them do the migration for you. Otherwise, this cable would make sense for a LOT of people.
Understand this is not targeted at people who know what they're doing. If it were as simply as dragging files and folders to an external drive, this solution would never have existed. But I know from years of tech support that MANY people have no freaking clue where things are stored on their computer. The entire concept of a file system is a mystery to a lot of people. There are actually an alarming number of people who think files/documents are stored "in" the program that created them...not in a directory somewhere on their computer. "How can I send you the file? It's 'in' Word....See, right there...under 'Recent Documents'...there it is..."
Stephen.4 said 4:47PM on 11-12-2008
1. End of the second paragraph:
"...summary of all of the content that has been copies and the location of the files." Should be 'copied' not copies ;).
2. I live in Canada, and i do not need this what so ever, but why is the United States not on the list?
Reply
ft said 5:02PM on 11-12-2008
It's available in the US now. It'll be in Canada and other countries in 2/09.