Any tips for running second Macbook air
 

There is lots of information on YouTube etc but I wonder if there is anything obvious I need to know before finding out after the event!
I am getting a second MacBook Air to run alongside the original with the same apple account (along with iphone ipad iwatch etc).
Any tips welcome.
Mike

Nothing I can think of. You've already got several Apple products linked to the same Apple ID, you're adding one more. You can, when setting up the new Macbook, use a backup from the other Macbook (using Time Machine) to set up the new one. It will basically produce a clone of the other Macbook with all the same software, settings and documents on it. Depends on whether you want that of course, and you will have to check whether all the software allows this. A Microsoft Office installation might protest at being used on two systems at the same time for example.

Be very careful, to prevent data loss or corruption if both devices are switched on at the same time:

1. Using IMAP email accounts
2. Using Synchronisation software
3. Using Online storage, such as Dropbox, ownCloud, iCloud etc
4. Doing anything too quickly with the above & changing/reversing (eg folder moves, copying & deleting)
5. In particular, LogTen with Dropbox & 1Password with Dropbox

...and yes I’ve broken most of these 'rules'

IMAP
Results in getting locked out of the mail account, normally temporarily.
Sometimes the devices do not sync the accounts in a timely manner.
Don't think anyone uses POP3 any more, but this would result in mail on only one device.
Exchange Server (corporate mail), might get upset if you are appearing in 2 different locations

Backup before Sync, or risk an empty folder due to the 'newer' copy being empty!

Online storage is generally pretty reliable, but don't have the same file open on two devices (especially LogTen or similar).

If you drag and drop a (large) folder to the wrong place, let it sync online & upload fully before fixing this. Otherwise you could end up repeating the operation two or three times.

And the golden rule:

Replication/synchronisation is not Backup!

Good luck.

Thanks for the advice. Still podering the approach to take but at this stage no rush.
Mike

Consider two separate Backblaze accounts:
https://www.backblaze.com/cloud-backup.html

combined with two bootable backups to external drives using SuperDuper:
https://shirt-pocket.com/SuperDuper/...scription.html

and for complete "all belt and braces" security, TimeMachine backups.

Some kind of external backup is doubly important if you are using an SSD rather than a spinning disk - ask me how I know! :)