[ChuChu]

Hi all,
I recently purchased a new Macbook Pro for a relative living in China, and he's asked me to do all the setup / registration so that it's ready to go when I bring it over in a few weeks. I'd like to configure it with all the tools he'll need to stay connected (Skype, AIM, QQ etc..) and maybe setup a gmail account for him (if that even works in China). Even though he is a novice, I want to set him up to take advantage of the new machine's features as much as possible.

I appreciate any suggestions you might have, but please don't turn this into a political discussion,

Thanks!
Shaun

edit: I should also mention he's getting an iPod touch as well.

[tonyswu]

these are things i'd put on my computer if i bought one today:

1. free stuff
Adium
ClamXAV
Firefox
MenuMeters
Smultron

2. not free stuff
Toast
VM Fushion with XP or Windows 7 if you have it (if nothing else, it makes it look like you know a thing or two about computers)

3. expensive stuff
Microsoft Office

you'll probably want some sort of system maintenance software. i do them manually myself, but it's up to you.

[CharlesS]

Originally Posted by tonyswu 

MenuMeters

MenuMeters uses code patching to hack into other processes, decreasing system stability. Not something I'd recommend if you want your computer to work right, and definitely not something I'd recommend that you foist upon an unsuspecting user.

you'll probably want some sort of system maintenance software. i do them manually myself, but it's up to you.

OS X doesn't require any "system maintenance software." There is no routine maintenance required for OS X. Most of those cache cleaning utilities are more placebo effect than anything else, and are not worth the wasted time.

[tooki]

Originally Posted by tonyswu 

these are things i'd put on my computer if i bought one today:

1. free stuff
Adium
ClamXAV
Firefox
MenuMeters
Smultron

2. not free stuff
Toast
VM Fushion with XP or Windows 7 if you have it (if nothing else, it makes it look like you know a thing or two about computers)

3. expensive stuff
Microsoft Office

you'll probably want some sort of system maintenance software. i do them manually myself, but it's up to you.

Well, if they know so little about computers that they need someone to set it up for them, they will not need or appreciate ANY of those things, other than MS Office. (But iWork or OpenOffice might be a better choice.) Mac OS X includes almost all the utilities one needs. (Toast? Really? I'm a power user and I still do 95% of my burning with Finder and Disk Utility.) Add productivity apps and you're set.

For a novice computer user, you are not doing them any favors by loading the system up with software they don't need. MenuMeters? That will serve only to confuse them.