New iMac: setup and external storage etc

i made switch windows pc new imac since still in box thought take time think how want set before opening , starting dump files onto new machine. i'd have efficient setup , right start!

current (pc) set this:

have 1 500gb internal drive. using windows 7 have 4 user accounts: me, wife, , 1 each kids parental controls. duplicate setup, , understand os x lion can this.

messy part: under account have bunch of docs (word, excel files, pdf's, etc, let's call stuff "data"), couple thousand songs, bunch of pics , movies. email etc too. when log account have documents folder data files. have itunes folder , in bunch of music. ripped cd's, itunes store, amazon mp3 store. when open itunes have library of music avail on machine. oh, have ipad 2 , when plug in, syncs library , apps , movies etc. open thunderbird , email. far good.

when wife logs in has "my documents" folder data. opens thunderbird , gets email, not mine. more mess though: doesn't half music like, , doesn't want see it. when opens itunes gets library fewer songs available, , i'm moderately sure songs *copies* of what's in music folder. anyway, point music in folder (i not consistent in how added music library). has ipad 1 syncs library, fraction of apps have. has own pictures (different mine - copy pics camera "space" wouldn't know it, , wouldn't see them).

kids accounts relatively "clean" - accounts parental controls web browsing (online kids games) etc. except daughter has ipod shuffle (2gb) , small library of songs. *think* library points files hey might copies.

*dont* want end ton of duplicate files on new machine *know* have on windows machine. eats space.

want have 1 place of pictures go, , of music files go, , every time there new pics or music, goes there. want wife have "smaller" music library me (she plain doesn't want "clutter" of seeing music , having sort through check it/uncheck put on ipad - she's clutter-free freak digital files). photos want use 1 iphoto library if goes in there , tags phots keyword or event or adds new pics, see things when open iphoto (i don't know how use iphoto manage pics, imac till in box). want have data under login , data under mine, etc. in short, there things want shared between 2 of us, , things don't, without duplicate files eating space on 500gb internal hard drive.

additionally considering 500gb external drive, , rather using straight storage, using time machine backup of whole system. looking @ firewire800 drive better performance.

i'd right first time, don't know enough how os x works/sets user accounts, and/or best, efficient way set new imac go. don't know if should set 4 accounts first, add data/music/pics manually, or use "migration assistant" (i have read bit using don't know how works, or if want).

perhaps print out email , pay apple one-to-one service, thought i'd check here first! sorry such long post - hoping i'm not 1 has wanted make switch , start off on right path! , it's lot easier learn other peoples experience figure out on own!

ps: don't know if matters much, hav iphone sync itunes, , i'm concerned losing configuration/apps/music/movies on both ipad , iphone when make switch. thoughts? should concerned? how do correctly?

 

ok

 

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