Don't want to loose iPhone data when plugin to new pc

I have seen heard others and done myself the following. Data loss by just plugging in my iPod or iPhone and while trying to follow the most logical of paths through the questions data has been lost when trying to sync up.
I have family photos taken with my iPhone that has been set up to run on my now old pc laptop. Im 90 % converted as I went for a MacBook air this time.
So I'm just wondering if things have moved on and if I can just plug my iPhone into my MacBook air now.
I would like to do this for charging but now want to have the MBA as my main machine.

What is the step that wipes the data ?
Thanks it's good to be here.

I see you charge for the forum I hope that means you are troll free.

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