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raynebair · Nov 5, 2004, 05:26 PM

I've just switched to Mac from Windows XP and here's what I'm using so far:

1. Taco HTML Edit (freeware)
2. MacJournal (freeware)
3. ideaSpiral(shareware)
4. CSSEdit (shareware)
5. Books (freeware)

Other apps that I will probably use more frequently as time goes on:
* cocoaMySQL (freeware)
* CyberDuck (freeware)
* Firefox (freeware - for when safari poops out a site)

Since I'm just now switching, I'm still trying to figure out which apps will do best what I did on the PC...I'm sure my list of apps will change some within the next several months.

av. · Nov 8, 2004, 08:19 AM

1. XCode
2. Disk Order
3. Safari, Mail, iTunes
4. VLC
5. Speed Download

AveTenebrae · Nov 13, 2004, 11:39 AM

Originally posted by raynebair:
I've just switched to Mac from Windows XP and here's what I'm using so far:

1. Taco HTML Edit (freeware)
2. MacJournal (freeware)
3. ideaSpiral(shareware)
4. CSSEdit (shareware)
5. Books (freeware)

Other apps that I will probably use more frequently as time goes on:
* cocoaMySQL (freeware)
* CyberDuck (freeware)
* Firefox (freeware - for when safari poops out a site)

Since I'm just now switching, I'm still trying to figure out which apps will do best what I did on the PC...I'm sure my list of apps will change some within the next several months.

To do webdev, nothing can beat Cyberduck/CocoaMySQL/SubEthaEdit

My top 5 :

� Butler � freeware � The best app to assign hotkeys, active corner, app launcher, pasteboard keeper, file browse, etc... Can't live without. The first reinstalled app after a format.
� X Ressource Graph � freeware � The best way to keep your disk, network, mem, weather and stocks graphs in a little translucent tab at bottom of screen

� Cyberduck � freeware � Better than Transmit, and free. Work well with SubEthaEdit
� BitWise � freeware � Cross plateform Instant Messenger support Voice chat, drawing board, file transfert, url keeper, encrypted, secure, great !
� QuickImageCM � freeware � not really an app, but a Contextual Menu to do some "photoshop" hints, add/remove preview, convert, batch rename, everything without quitting finder ! Can't live without too.

jerseyfreeze · Nov 16, 2004, 10:34 AM

Adium
Quicksilver
DeskShade
Desktop Manager
Meteorologist

android8 · 10:42 AM

Hi there

I've compiled a list of what I believe is indispensable or at least important pieces of Mac OS X software. I hope it can help some new macusers (switchers?) to get a good start with Mac OS X. I hope it'll help you newbies!

Linky

Lee33 · Nov 20, 2004, 08:55 AM

Great link, android.

NordicMan · Dec 12, 2004, 01:29 PM

Camino
LaunchBar
GraphicConvertor
I like Mail.
Apple's iApps, like iTunes
MacSword
Mellel
OmniWeb

jimcpherson · Dec 21, 2004, 11:21 AM

GraphicConverter
PodWorks
Synergy
Transmit

typoon · Dec 31, 2004, 10:18 AM

A small change in my top freeware/shareware apps in no particular order

Rapidweaver
Transmit
PodWorks
Launchbar
Apple's iApps
Mail.app
Candybar
Cyberduck
VLC
WireTap Pro
Audio HiJack Pro
Disclabel

dajk · Jan 7, 2005, 01:59 PM

Firefox
Adium
Transmit
Synergy
QUICKSILVER (OMG IT IS LIEK TEH LEET)
Finder (

)
iTunes
Sticky Windows
Azureus
Deskshade
gCount
Thunderbird
Meteorologist
VLC

Leonida · Jan 10, 2005, 06:36 PM

My top FreeSoftware:

FSuite CD

eatinwokout · Jan 11, 2005, 06:43 PM

firefox
cssedit
azureus
ecto

hwdor · Jan 13, 2005, 05:56 PM

Some of these have already been mentioned, some have not.

What I use daily:

AlphaBaby - Freeware: for people with small kids. Let the children play!
Password Retriever - Shareware: a password manager
Clutter - Freeware: a new way to manage your iTunes music.
Ragtime Solo - Freeware: replaced Appleworks (for me, anyway)
Pod2Go - Shareware: "turns your iPod into a PDA"

What I use a little less often:

OnyX - Freeware: a maintenance, optimization, and personalization utility.
Audio Hijack - Shareware: audio recorder
Idea Knot - Freeware: capture, organize and link random thoughts
Snail Mail - Freeware: print envelopes w/barcodes from Address Book
iPodderX - Shareware: RSS feeds "direct" to your iPod (the Lite version is Freeware)

This is a great thread - I've got a long list of new apps to try!

brettcamp · Jan 14, 2005, 01:51 AM

Just wanted to say thanks to hwdor and the others here who posted not only the name of the app but also a brief description of what they do, and also whether they're shareware or freeware. this subject is a lot more useful when we know what the recommended app is used for.

Charles Bouldin · Jan 14, 2005, 11:32 PM

Possible new candidate for a nice utility: Speed Freak.

This is a GUI interface to "renice" (open the terminal and do man renice); this is a way to manually tweak the priority of a process to give a larger fractional share of the time on the cpu. Once launched, SF renices the frontmost application (the one you're working with) to a higher priority, and as you switch apps it constantly updates the priorities so that the foreground app is always higher priority. This is not a new idea, and there are many similar programs, but SF is nice since it is entirely automatic. I was -very- dubious of this, since it sounds like a free lunch and TANSTAAFL, but, by golly, I think it works.

Caveats: This will NOT make games run faster, and it will not make substantive cpu calculations (Photoshop motion blurs, fourier transforms, what have you) any faster. However, I think it makes the UI on the foreground app a little, "snappier".

This is a subjective impression; I can think of no good way to quantify it. SF is available via versiontracker. It's free. Get it and see if you agree. There appear to be no bad side effects from running it.

To me it seems: Scrolling is a little beter, the type ahead buffer doesn't feel as slow, menus are bit quicker. Note that I tend to run 10-20 apps at once, so this may be a pathological case of little interest to many users.

ryaxnb · Feb 7, 2005, 02:50 AM

I love utilities!
Util:
QuickSilver (LB is good too if that's your thing)
Easy type-it launcher
QS: * * * * and Price: * * * * *
LB: * * * * * and Price * * *
DragThing
Easy click-it launcher; way cool!
Rating: * * * * * Price * *
Backup
Comes with .Mac: Best casual backup util I know of.
Rating * * * * 1/2 Price: .Mac: * * * 1/2
Xray
Get It! Get Info! Get Info on steroids. Get it!
Rating * * * * Price: * * * *
TinkerTool and Safari Enhancer
Customization rocks!
Rating: Both: * * * * 1/2 Price * * * * *
Net:
Shiira:
A nice, superior to Safari browser.
Rating: * * * * Price: * * * * *
OmniWeb 5.1:
My current default browser. I paid!
Rating: * * * * 1/2 Price: * * * *

Little things:
Mactracker
Great REALBasic program! This program shows that that sentence is not an oxymoron. Mactracker has listings for every Mac made and is a godsend.
Rating: * * * * * * out of 5

Price: * * * * * (I can't believe it's free!)

MacStumbler
It's great to know whether my finicky Internet connection is working.
Rating: * * * * 1/2 Price: * * * * *

Games:
Snood
Snood Rocks!
Rating: * * * * Price: * * * *

EricN · Feb 13, 2005, 08:03 PM

Launchbar
MPlayer - Another good movie playing app
VideoLAN - Movie playing app
Process - neat little outliner. Can export to all sorts of formats
iDive - for downloading DV video and organizing it.
iView - not exactly cheap

http://press.oreilly.com/pub/pr/1245 - innovator's awards

crazeazn · Feb 15, 2005, 07:55 PM

adium
sidetrack
bluephoneelite
cocktail
macstumbler

malcolm · Feb 16, 2005, 12:24 PM

- DEVONthink, for staying organized
- DragThing (better than Apple's Dock)
- Passwords Plus, for storing passwords and important info re all my software
- Expenses, for keeping track of my money when I'm travelling. Very simple. Works for me.
- iDive, for keeping track, in an ingenious way, of my digital world
- SnapNDrag, for taking screen shots. Quite versatile.

Burke · Feb 20, 2005, 12:13 AM

Wow, thanks for this list everyone. I'm now creating a "First Time Mac User" CD with tons of these apps on it.

sminch · Feb 22, 2005, 02:55 AM

sminch's top five would be:

delocalizer (removes files for languages you don't use - i cleared out 600mb. sweet)
macjanitor (lets you run all the stuff your mac should do to stay healthy)
transparent dock (makes your dock purdy)
temperature monitor (so you know when you can start frying eggs on your palmrests)
neooffice/j (cos the best office suite is a free office suite)

sminch

Mattia · Mar 17, 2005, 10:32 AM

1. BBedit
2. Little Snitch
3. Interarchie (Jurassic Ftp but I love it)
4. FireFox
5. CocoaMySQL

mr.human · Mar 22, 2005, 08:15 PM

What apps you use is such a subjective question. I'm going to concentrate on stuff that modifies the OS X GUI:

Default Folder--Enhances Open/Save dialogs to make navigation faster. Very customizable and for me indispensible.

Kensington Mouseworks--Requires a Kensington mouse or trackball. I Love the DirectLaunch buttons + chording! All of my most common keyboard shortcuts are mapped to these so my right hand doesn't have to move between kyb and trackball as much.

ASM--This adds an OS 9-ish application menu to the right side of your menu bar

FruitMenu--Still the best! Adds an OS 9-ish customizability to your Apple Menu as well as contextual menu customization a la OS-9's Finderpop.

Cee Pee You--This is just a menubar processor gauge. Uses Unsanity's Application Enhancer module.

Runner Up: Drive Gauge--If I could get this to work consistently (it sometimes mixes up drives), I'd really love it. DG puts a bar right on your hard drives' icon showing how full the drive is. Really nice when you have 5 drives and you're trying to decide where to put a certain file or folder.
-s

Scooterboy · Mar 23, 2005, 07:16 PM

Top 5 (non-Apple) for me are:

1) Skype

2) Radio Lover

3) BBEdit Lite

4) Salling Clicker

5) VLC

There are so many more I could list...

cc_foo · Mar 23, 2005, 08:45 PM

I think I have already contributed to this topic. I'll list freeware only:

1. VLC
2. Azureus
3. Firefox
4. Abyss Web Server 1
5. Adium X
6. NetNewsWire Lite

teaforone · Mar 27, 2005, 01:00 AM

The best application I've gotten for quite a while: SizzlingKeys.

SuperHard · Mar 27, 2005, 07:11 PM

1. QuickSilver -most amazing app, brilliant!
2. Graphic Converter
3. AdiumX
4. DVD Backup
5. MenuCalendar

mrbass · Mar 28, 2005, 07:07 PM

I'm new to mac (been just over a month) and the ones I really dig (all freeware) are:

Cyberduck (nice ftp client)

ProcessWizard (graphical way to nice/change priority of apps)

SnapClip (prefer to crop screenshots and save directly to .png built-in Grab I detest)

ToyViewer (still evaluating but nice photo effects app)

Taco HTML Edit (wrote to author with 3 or 4 suggestions and then I can probably use this for my site)

Namely (I know most use QuickSilver and it's great but I like namely cuz it's about 1/3 of the resources and quickly type to launch an app. I think TigerLaunch and Himmelbar are good too for menu but they're not for me. I imagine eventually I'll switch over to QuickSilver but for now I'm sticking with namely).

Desktop Manager (I like this as it has alt+cmd + right arrow or left arrow to navigate virtual desktops and also a pager I can navigate with the mouse). I like it better than Virtue.

I wrote to panic about transmit supporting Taco HTML Edit and it needs to support AppleEvents so until then it can't be supported as an 'external editor'.

MrForgetable · Apr 3, 2005, 04:53 PM

quicksilver <3 <3
adium <3 <3 <3
VLC
firefox
neatimage <3

MrForgetable · Apr 3, 2005, 06:26 PM

i just tried safari speed 1.2.1.

wow. what a speed difference. what have i been missing out on!?! i know this is not just my "butt dyno", it really is snappier.

Sharky K. · Apr 17, 2005, 01:41 PM

Audio and Video:

iTunes: you know it.
iEatBrainz: finds a lot of missing id tags and updates your iTunes library and audio id tags.
VLC: video player that works well with salling clicker and plays a lot of different formats

Communication:

Bittorrent:...
Cyberduck: very nice FTP program
Unison: good newsreader

Development:

CSSEdit: great CSS editor, really speeds up the workflow.
SubEthaEdit: best text editor imho

Office and graphics:

Pages and Keynote: great office suit when you get used to it but has a lot of flaws
OmniOutliner: easy to use and great outliner.
OmniGraffle Professional: waiting for more professional functionality but is already fantastic.
Stone Create: an illustrator program, has its UI and GUI flaws if you compare it with OmniPrograms but I can't work without it.

Comonents, Plugins, etc...:

GrimRipper: remove resource forks from files.
Flip4Mac WMV Quicktime Plugin: play WMV files in quicktime, this removes a lot of frustation.
PDF Browser Plugin: not from Adobe but from Schubert.
More Internet PrefPane: just to add smb:// to the protocol list so smb files from safari will open directly in the finder.
Salling Clicker: controll your whole mac from that nice couch.
Teleport PrefPane: use two macs with one mouse.
iGlasses: get more functionality and quality from you iSight

IronPen · Apr 19, 2005, 11:51 AM

I've posted my Favorites here before, but that was some time ago. Since that time I've developed a love for a few more freeware/shareware apps:

1. SafariStand (http://macupdate.com/info.php/id/16687) - powerful Safari features such as kill animated GIFs, option search tools via the address bar (for example enter "mu safaristand" to search MacUpdate for SafariStand, or search Google, Amazon, Yahoo, and more.

2. Comic Life (http://macupdate.com/info.php/id/17709) - I love comics, and I make my own amateur comics. But this isn't just for folks like me. Use it to add fun word balloons to your digital photos. It comes with layouts, just drop a picture in the layout and BOOM, Comic Life formats the picture to fit the size of the panel. Add sound effects and more. Tons of fun, and way less expensive than the alternatives...plus, VERY EASY TO USE!!! Thank Plasq for this wonderful life-saving application...for me, at least.

3. KaidOSXmenu/Amaryllis (http://macupdate.com/info.php/id/17400 and http://www.teamxlink.co.uk/) - FREE online gaming tunneling software. Play games online w/other game lovers. Yes, HALO!!! With this software you can even host games with your Mac. Hours of fun and I can't live without it!!!

4. Chronosync (http://macupdate.com/info.php/id/7230) - shareware that I need to pay for very soon. A very easy to use, valuable backup and synchronization utility.

I have others, but most of them were mentioned in my previous post. Quicksilver still rules, Synergy is awesome, Proteus provides for my multi-messenger service needs...life on the Mac is gooooood!

ZXspectrum · May 28, 2005, 01:52 AM

Max Menus

Butler

You control

You Control Desktops

DeskShade

ZXspectrum · May 28, 2005, 01:53 AM

quicksilver

MenuCalendarClock iCal

DejaMenu

IC-Switch

Konfabulator

MacOSManiac · May 28, 2005, 04:22 AM

nobody mentioned Yummy FTP. it's pretty new but i already switched to it after having a bunch of problems with Transmit. check it out : http://www.yummysoftware.com

ZXspectrum · May 28, 2005, 06:05 AM

Originally Posted by MacOSManiac

nobody mentioned Yummy FTP. it's pretty new but i already switched to it after having a bunch of problems with Transmit. check it out : http://www.yummysoftware.com

what problems you had with Transmit?

angelmb · May 29, 2005, 01:54 PM

Originally Posted by IronPen

1. SafariStand (http://macupdate.com/info.php/id/16687) - (…) option search tools via the address bar (for example enter "mu safaristand" to search MacUpdate for SafariStand, or search Google, Amazon, Yahoo, and more.

Cool, that is a feature iCab has since years ago and I love, looking for it under Safari.

angelmb · May 30, 2005, 10:36 AM

I have tried SafariStand, it is not like iCab powerful search engine, under iCab once you have a web page with a search field, you just do a right-clic on it and add it associated to the letter you want. A pity.

ZXspectrum · Jun 2, 2005, 03:34 PM

Stickbrain!

Bicyclist · Jun 5, 2005, 02:25 AM

1. Azureus for bittorrents
2. Firefox, All-in-one gestures, adblock and web developer toolbar
3. MenuMeters - CPU, memory, network stats conveniently in your menu
4. iTunes - self explanatory
5. MPlayer - currently better than VLC

red rocket · Jun 6, 2005, 08:11 AM

1. Little Snitch
2. Adium
3. Quicksilver
4. Jer's Novel Writer
5. Acquisition

I really liked NewsFire, but I think the developer is charging too much for it.

hotani · Jun 7, 2005, 10:38 AM

I think i posted in this thread a while ago but my list has changed:

- BitsOnWheels (downloading bittorrents)
- HandBrake (ripping DVDs)
- Adium (IM)
- Smultron (HTML/php/js editing)
- VLC (pretty standard)
- Transmit (older version)

dixeyk · Jun 10, 2005, 10:59 PM

Text Wrangler
Mellel (a terrific writer's tool, I use it more than word these days)
CandyBar
Cyberduck
PixelNhance (from the now defunct Caffiene Software)

and for more commercial apps...

StickyBrain (I'd be lost without it)
MacJournal

ph0ust · Jun 16, 2005, 06:34 PM

Originally Posted by lavar78

... or any OS IMO.

i agree that launchbar rules, but it has existed within windows for like a decade or more.... in the form of the run command. windows key-->r-->app name. it was the only thing i ever missed on from windows when i switched... until i found launchbar that is!

ph0ust · Jun 16, 2005, 07:13 PM

Originally Posted by tritonus

What does Launchbar do. It sounds like a workaround for the Dock. I like my Dock now.

edit: Oh, checked versiontracker.com's product description for it. Bah, I don't like "abbreviations" that much. Mouse clicking and Finder's search engine are fine for me.

i wouldn't say that it replaces the doc.... it replaces the mouse. instead of having to take your hands off the keyboard, grabbing the mouse, navigate to what you want in the dock, put hands back on keyboard.... all you have to do is press the hotkey and type "itunes". takes about one hundreth the time. waaaaaaaay cool imo.

ph0ust · Jun 16, 2005, 07:17 PM

Originally Posted by DennyA

Yeah, not to get too far off the "lists" topic, but I have to add one for Launchbar. I just got my iBook and bought Launchbar after seeing this topic. Now I really, really wish I had it for my PCs. :-) Best. Mac. Utility. EVER.

PC=run command: windows key->r->app name (e.g. outlook) and it will open the app.

romantikc · Jul 19, 2005, 08:36 PM

myNotes - freakingly awesome note taking app

Smultron - html source editing (freeware)
Process - outliner
Transmit - FTP

Agent69 · 02:00 PM

BitTorrent
BookDog*
Cocktail*
Cog
ExifRenamer
GraphicConverter*
MacMame
Nanosaur II*
OmniOutliner Pro*
Safari Enhancer
Safari Speed
SubEthaEdit*
ViewIt*
VueScan*
XinePlayer

My list is slowly growing, so I thought that I would update it. Firefox was eliminated for web browsing because the new version of Safari is good enough for my needs. I bought a license for SubEthaEdit to support its development, even though I was eligiable to use it for free. I upgraded to OmniOutliner Pro after I upgraded to Tiger.

*Shareware/Commercial

raynebair · 02:00 PM

Now that I've used my Mac for a while, my top apps have changed. I'm currently using:

* Adium
* Konfabulator
* TigerLaunch
* MenuCalendar Clock
* Mail/Safari

Commerial apps I frequently use:
iPhoto
Photoshop CS

TheIceMan · Jul 31, 2005, 07:09 AM

shadowClipboard - clipboard enhancer
CheckBook - awesome checkbook register
Safe Place - securely stores your passwords, credit card numbers, software registration numbers, or any other information
iVideo - iVideo keeps movies the same way Apple's iPhoto keeps pictures.
DEVONthink Professional - Keeps documents, notes, PDFs, e-mail, images, videos, mp3s, URLs, and bookmarks. Can web archive a website or webpage. Phenomenal data management tool. It plays QuickTime movies and mp3s. Opens up Word documents and PDFs. And it does it all very well. My favorite new program!