1.How or what software or hardware can I use to transfer my address book, my web favorites, and My Document files?
Really 3 questions in 1.
For internet favorites, you can usually export internet favorites from internet browsers. This creates a single file that you can then import into other browsers such as Safari and Firefox.
For address book, it depends where you have stored them but your safest best is to do an export again and import at the other end. You might be limited to having to export each contact as a .VCF file and then importing each one in again. If you use outlook, you can export contacts as a text file.
To copy your documents over, you can do a straight copy, but you can also use a program called Move2Mac. This might help you transfer files and settings but it won't do everything for you. As for email, this can be a bit hit and miss depending on the program you used. Microsoft doesn't make it easy and they don't even provide compatibiltiy between some outlook programs.
2.On the Mac what is the best way to do backups? Backup software if so what do you suggests? Should I look into .Mac? I am going to be using an external hard drive fire wire. How well 800 fire wire works?
Since you are thinking of doing video, everyone who is in video production will tell you that storing your files should be done on an external firewire 800 drive to be really effective. As for backup, their are some excellent backup solutions such as onetouch backup where you just press a button and it backs up. I use .mac to backup my preferences and to access my internet favorites/address book/email(even pop mail) and to share photos. It's no good for large backups though because you can only go to 2GB of storage.
I will be using and external serial raid Hard Drive for my video files. I also will be purchasing Microsoft office for Mac.
Is this a question? You can't do without office really. Their are other solutions but non are going to do it as well as Word and Excel. Office also comes with Entourage which is the Mac version of Outlook. It is very good and has lots of features, but Mail that comes with Mac OS X is quicker and has a smaller footprint. I also found that Entourage tended to slow my computer down with it's DB server in the background and also didn't work with spotlight.
3. Firefox or Safari RSS for Web Browse?
All these apps will take you a while to get used to and it might be easier for you to go straight with Entourage and Firefox as they will probably feel more familiar. But the OS versions of Mail and Safari are quicker and generally function in a more mac way, such as drag and drop, keyboard shortcuts, information display etc... Also, some websites refuse to work with Safari and so a quick opening of Firefox is sometimes necessary. Always keep firefox handy in these cases.
4. Outlook or Mail or other to handle e-mail?
Recently moved over to Mail myself after using Entourage for about 9 months. They both have their + and - points. Remember as a tip, if you use Mail, set in preferences to 'allways send windows friendly attachments'.
5. IPhoto or Photo shop Elements?
Depends what you want to do. iPhoto is great for most peoples picture needs. My camera is great so I hardly ever need to touch up pics and the iPhoto picture editting does the job for me all in one place. Photo shop elements is meant to have more features if that is what you need for your editing.
6. How much memory to add? I was thinking 2gig.
For video editing, add what you can afford. For Hi-Def and for transition effects etc... you want as much as you can get. Most people say min 1.5GB for video so 2GB is a great start.
7. I do not have the super drive is there a upgrade for the Mac?
Yep. If you are using a powermac laptop, you should get an upgrade by Apple or other authorised dealer. Check their website for drives that you can get. Ofcourse you could go the cheaper option and get an external drive.
