New to Apple, Essential everyday software recomendations please :)

Meds

Meds

Meds

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Joined
20 Oct 2004
Posts
650
Location
London
Hi Guys,

I've taken the plunge and gone darkside, and was wondering if any of you experienced mac users could recommend me some standard software that you feel every mac should have installed.

Watching Movies (Including Codecs)
Win Zip/ Win Rar type
Email Client
Productivity - Office or Iworks?
Aperture or Lightroom

Thanks in advance, as Im new to all this, there might be cool programs that do other stuff that you guys feel are worth recommending also
 
Watching Movies (Including Codecs) - VLC
Win Zip/ Win Rar type - StuffIt
Email Client - Mac Mail (standard one)
Productivity - Office or Iworks? - Depends on what you want really, I just use both, though.
Aperture or Lightroom - Lightroom personally
 
Thanks syke.... Is OSX easy to get use to if your coming from IT Specialist background and familiar with windows?

That Skitch Program looks kinda cool dude :)
 
Watching Movies (Including Codecs) - Install Perian and Flip4Mac and you be able to play pretty much everything on your Mac. Failing that, VLC (which I actually prefer)
Win Zip/ Win Rar type - UnRarX
Email Client - Mail (already on OS X)
Productivity - Office or Iworks? - iWork personally, some people prefer Office though.
Aperture or Lightroom - Lightroom. As above, some people prefer the other. (It's worth trialling both)

Meds said:
Thanks in advance, as Im new to all this, there might be cool programs that do other stuff that you guys feel are worth recommending also
Click to expand...

1Password - Password managing.
HandBrake - Converting videos/ripping videos.
Skitch - Uploading and sharing photos in a couple of clicks.

Meds said:
Is OSX easy to get use to if your coming from IT Specialist background and familiar with windows?
Click to expand...

It's extremely straight forward to use, you'll know your way around it in no time.
 
Thanks for all the suggestions dudes, now I just gotta wait until the end of the month to receive my new toy.

I might just purchase Iworks as its only £35 from the HE store.
 
iWork is top.

Skype for video calls.
Burn for burning DVDs - I never have much luck with the native client.
Transmission for torrents.
 
I think you're somewhat more likely to have to put your hand in your pocket to get top-notch applications on OS X than Windows.

Here's a portion of my best in class:

AppZapper - Very handy, but make sure you understand the normal install/uninstall process first.
Cog - Lightweight audio player for when you don't want to use iTunes.
NetNewsWire - RSS reader. You are using RSS, aren't you?!
Pixelmator - Photoshop with less bloat (and features).
Things - Awesome task management.

Essential to me, YMMW:

LaunchBar
LittleSnitch
MacPorts
SizeUp
TextMate
XLD
 
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Watching Movies (Including Codecs) Quicktime Pro does the job for me
Win Zip/ Win Rar type Stuffit pro
Email Client You get one with apple as standard
Productivity - Office or Iworks? Both are rubbish, it that office is worse
Aperture or Lightroom Lightroom
 
This might be really noobish, but I dont know much about RSS, and I always thought they was only good for stuff like BBC headline feeds etc....

I will have to go and investigate them a little more, as a lot of you guys seem to use them, so I would assume that they are good :)
 
wush said:
It's called friggin' Keychain, as in the thing you have with you, yet there's still no option to take it with you on the iPhone. Worst name & concept ever!
Click to expand...

To be honest I don't *want* to take all my passwords with me on my phone. Compared to my MP sitting on a desk at home and a phone which can get easily nicked im quite happy not having it like that :p

I was more asking about on computers, as with MobileMe it syncs my passwords between MBP and MP so *shrug*
 
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