Software for a new MAC

micheleaus · micheleaus #1 (**permalink**)

09-14-2010, 05:02 PM

I have a new Macbook pro after switching from Windows. Apart from Ilife, what is the essential software I should get - free or paid?

RiDE · RiDE #2 (**permalink**)

09-14-2010, 05:15 PM

Welcome to M-F and to OSX..

I thought there was a stick around with a list of "must have software"... but .. I didn't see it.

So.. here are the apps I download within minutes of opening a fresh Mac

Adium ... All-in-one IM client
Cyberduck ... FTP client
Quicksilver .. a more than app launcher.. but I may be making the move to:
Google Quick Search Box.
VLC ... Video player that plays just about any format
Caffeine .. MenuBar item that with 1 quick click keeps the mac awake.

vansmith · vansmith #3 (**permalink**)

09-14-2010, 06:04 PM

It's hard to answer this question without knowing what you do with your Mac. For instance, I don't use IM so I wouldn't need Adium which many will suggest (much like RiDE has done). What do you intend to do with your Mac?

cuhnool · cuhnool #4 (**permalink**)

09-14-2010, 06:40 PM

F.lux

This helps a lot when I'm in my room in total darkness at night. It does change the "color" of your screen, so if you need to do color sensitive work like graphic design or video editing, I wouldn't use this. You can disable it (either quit F.lux or disable for an hour) if you have to do color sensitive work, but other than that you will get used to the change and it really does help out on the eyes.

Onyx

Surprised this wasn't one of the first ones mentioned. You will not have/need to use this much, but I run it about every month or two, to keep things maintained. *Edit* Actually now that I think about it, since you have a brand new MacBook, you shouldn't have to use this application at all for a while. My MacBook is 2+ years old, to give you a perspective on when I use Onyx.

Boybland · Boybland #5 (**permalink**)

09-15-2010, 12:22 AM

A few others all free or shareware.
Firefox
Carbon Copy Cloner
Open Office
VLC & Cyberduck as mentioned

Old school games
Battle for Wesnoth
Escape Velocity Nova

If you want to run Windows alongside OSX but don't want to shell for Parallels get Virtual Box

JUKE179r · JUKE179r #6 (**permalink**)

09-15-2010, 05:39 AM

For music Audacity: Free Audio Editor and Recorder and definitely VLC Player!

http://coconut-flavour.com/coconutwifi/index.html

http://monolingual.sourceforge.net/

I know you wanted programs but here are some Safari extensions I prefer:
Glims
Click to flash

TattooedMac · TattooedMac #7 (**permalink**)

09-15-2010, 07:19 AM

And just FYI, here in the Mac world we call Software, Applications

You will slowly pick things up !!!!!

Dont use them all but here is a cpl to look into
OpenOffice : Substitute for MS Word
Handbrake : Is a video transcoder
Transmission : P2P client
StuffitExpander : StuffIt Expander can expand over 30 file formats
Pacifist : Pacifist is an application for Mac OS X that opens up .pkg installer packages, .dmg disk images, .zip, .tar, .tar.gz, .tar.bz2, .pax, and .xar archives,
CandyBar : To change Apps and System Icons as well as files/folders
AppTrap : App to help with trashing of ALL file/folders of the ........ you trashed

Keep you busy for a while

Cheers

JUKE179r #6 (permalink)
Member Since: Nov 01, 2009 Location: DohaLondonVegas Posts: 862 Mac Specs: '07 MBP 256GB SSD/6GB RAM/SL <--DAW!!!	09-15-2010, 05:39 AM For music Audacity: Free Audio Editor and Recorder and definitely VLC Player! http://coconut-flavour.com/coconutwifi/index.html http://monolingual.sourceforge.net/ I know you wanted programs but here are some Safari extensions I prefer: Glims Click to flash '07 MBP 3,1 w/ Vertex 4 SSD \| Logic Pro 9 \| Ableton Live 8 \| Traktor Pro 2 \| AKAI MPC2000XL \| Roland MV-8000, TR-808 & TR-909 \| Ensoniq ASR-10 \| x0xb0x #911 \| Denon DN-MC6000 \| (3) Technics SL-1200MK1 \| 3000+ vinyl records Last edited by JUKE179r; 09-15-2010 at 05:44 AM.
	QUOTE Thanks

TattooedMac #7 (permalink)
Member Since: May 19, 2009 Location: Western Astraya Posts: 6,453 Mac Specs: 13"MBP 2.9Ghz Intel Core i7 10.8.3 ~ iPhone5 6.1.3 ~ iPad Mini 6.1.3 ~ ATV2 5.2.1	09-15-2010, 07:19 AM And just FYI, here in the Mac world we call Software, Applications You will slowly pick things up !!!!! Dont use them all but here is a cpl to look into OpenOffice : Substitute for MS Word Handbrake : Is a video transcoder Transmission : P2P client StuffitExpander : StuffIt Expander can expand over 30 file formats Pacifist : Pacifist is an application for Mac OS X that opens up .pkg installer packages, .dmg disk images, .zip, .tar, .tar.gz, .tar.bz2, .pax, and .xar archives, CandyBar : To change Apps and System Icons as well as files/folders AppTrap : App to help with trashing of ALL file/folders of the ........ you trashed Keep you busy for a while Cheers Dont forget to use the Reputation System if someone has helped you out !!! “I have absolutely no pleasure in the stimulants in which I sometimes so madly indulge. It has not been in the pursuit of pleasure that I have periled life and reputation and reason. It has been the desperate attempt to escape from torturing memories, from a sense of insupportable loneliness and a dread of some strange impending doom ….”― Edgar Allan Poe
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micheleaus #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Sep 14, 2010 Posts: 1	09-14-2010, 05:02 PM I have a new Macbook pro after switching from Windows. Apart from Ilife, what is the essential software I should get - free or paid?
	QUOTE Thanks

RiDE #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Sep 13, 2006 Location: Deep in the heart of Texas! Posts: 3,556 Mac Specs: Mac's	09-14-2010, 05:15 PM Welcome to M-F and to OSX.. I thought there was a stick around with a list of "must have software"... but .. I didn't see it. So.. here are the apps I download within minutes of opening a fresh Mac Adium ... All-in-one IM client Cyberduck ... FTP client Quicksilver .. a more than app launcher.. but I may be making the move to: Google Quick Search Box. VLC ... Video player that plays just about any format Caffeine .. MenuBar item that with 1 quick click keeps the mac awake.
	QUOTE Thanks

cuhnool #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Jun 02, 2008 Location: Louisville Posts: 1,502 Mac Specs: MacBook 2.1GHz Core 2 Duo \| 1GB RAM \| OS X 10.6.3 \| 250GB External HD \| 8GB iPod Touch 1st Gen 3.1.3	09-14-2010, 06:40 PM F.lux This helps a lot when I'm in my room in total darkness at night. It does change the "color" of your screen, so if you need to do color sensitive work like graphic design or video editing, I wouldn't use this. You can disable it (either quit F.lux or disable for an hour) if you have to do color sensitive work, but other than that you will get used to the change and it really does help out on the eyes. Onyx Surprised this wasn't one of the first ones mentioned. You will not have/need to use this much, but I run it about every month or two, to keep things maintained. Edit Actually now that I think about it, since you have a brand new MacBook, you shouldn't have to use this application at all for a while. My MacBook is 2+ years old, to give you a perspective on when I use Onyx.
	QUOTE Thanks

Boybland #5 (permalink)
Member Since: Mar 02, 2010 Location: New Zealand Posts: 76	09-15-2010, 12:22 AM A few others all free or shareware. Firefox Carbon Copy Cloner Open Office VLC & Cyberduck as mentioned Old school games Battle for Wesnoth Escape Velocity Nova If you want to run Windows alongside OSX but don't want to shell for Parallels get Virtual Box
	QUOTE Thanks

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