14 DAY TRIAL // Belkin is proud to announce a new product for Mac users, which allows them to make the switch easier than ever before, the company says. Symbolically dubbed Switch-to-Mac Cable, Belkin's new offering provides a way for PC/laptop owners to move their files and settings onto a Mac, without losing precious data, and time.
“Unlike existing products where you have to drag and drop specific files you want to transfer, the Switch-to-Mac Cable – with its easy-to-use Migration Assistant – automatically moves your music, movies, photos, files, and Internet preferences, making the transition from PC to Mac as seamless as possible,” says the company.
Statistics have shown that, after a decade of stagnation, Macintosh unit sales have almost tripled in the past three years, Belkin says, citing a 2008 Needham report. Needham adds that the most significant barrier to switching from PC to Mac is the inability of the Mac computer to run Windows applications. It is believed that Mac unit sales will grow dramatically to almost 40 million units by 2017, Belkin says, assuring interested parties that “the switch” is good.
“Now that Mac computers support Windows applications, a growing number of PC owners are switching to them, making the ability to work with existing PC files a necessity,” the company adds in its official report announcing the new product. “The Switch-to-Mac Cable ensures a hassle-free experience when transitioning to your new Mac,” Belkin concludes.
The cable can transfer data at USB 2.0 speeds, according to the specs list, while the Migration Assistant moves files and settings from default PC folders and applications to default Mac folders and applications. Once the job is done, the Assistant gives a summary of the transferred content.
Belkin's migration solution is compatible with XP and Vista, on the Windows side, and with OS X v10.4 (Tiger) and v10.5 (Leopard), on the Mac side. The Switch-to-Mac Cable (F4U001) retails for $49.99, and can be ordered from Belkin's website here. For the time being, only US customers can order it. Belkin promises that Canadian, European, Asian, and Australian residents will also be able to get it come February 2009.