22 replies to this topic

[A.Cole]

I just recently bought my new Macbook pro, and I was wondering what software would be most recommended.  I already have the iLife applications of course, as well as iWork, and I do plan to purchase Logic Express 8 soon for my music editing.  I plan to also get a few games, namely Rise of Nations, Civilization 4, and Rome Total War (perhaps some others, but I don't game enough anymore to justify it).

So really, what other software and applications should I be looking into?  Being completely new, I am just trying to figure out what I will really need.  Also, for reference, I am not planning on dual booting, so anything regarding that won't be necessary.  Someone suggest these on another site I go to, but I don't know enough about them:

"Bowtie - Control iTunes from your desktop with coverart
Perian - Video Codec
Flip4Mac - WMV Playback with Quicktime
Growl - Application notification
Candybar - OS X UI modifier
Dock Dr. - Dock modifier
Deeper - Personalization utility
Pulsar - Listen to XM/Sirius radio for free
Transmission - Torrent client
Onyx - Maintenance and optimization tool
UnrarX - Winrar for Mac
Adium - Universal chat client
Little Snitch - Prevent applications from connecting to net
SmcFanControl - Complete control of your computer's fan
Dragon Burn - Free CD/DVD burning software
Handbrake - DVD ripper"



Also, quick question about Snow Leopard.  Would it be better to do a full backup and a clean install, or can I just upgrade straight without losing my documents and applications?  I am mainly wondering since I have heard that upgrading straight might not run as well, but I would lose my current applications like iLife and iWork if I did a clean install.  Need the best advice here since I am a complete noob.  Yes, I said noob...

[J'nathus]

I'm not familiar with all of those, but I'll tell you about the ones I've utilized and why.

Flip4Mac - WMV Playback with Quicktime - this is sort of a codec pack to support .wmv files so that they'll play in Quicktime.  Same playing apps, added functionality.  Although, now that Windows 7 has added .mov and .m4v to Windows Media Player playback, I think Apple should add .wma and .wmv.

Growl - Application notification - I find this annoying and I disable it / remove it whenever it gets added by something (like Adium)

Dock Dr. - Dock modifier - I'm unfamiliar with this one, but I do have a dock modifying app and a custom 'dark glass' which makes the little lights under the apps easier to see.

Transmission - Torrent client - unless you're in love with torrent downloads, I'd stay away from this.  Or perhaps I'm just a ninny who doesn't believe in using torrents for illicit purposes..  DOwnloading WoW patches and Linux distro notwithstanding.

Adium - Universal chat client - I love the poop out of Adium - as I can simultaneously log into AIM, Yahoo, GoogleTalk and MSN . . . all of which I have accounts on.  

Handbrake - DVD ripper" - you'll need VLC with the new version - I use Handbrake to turn my DVDs into iPod / iPhone compatible formats for when I travel so I can have some entertainment with me.  

Some of MY recommendations . .
Firefox or Google Chrome (your preference... or stick with Safari...  I'm personally not a Safari fan)

Skype - free computer to computer VOIP calls (not necessary, but it is cross platform.. Linux, Windows and OS X . .. supporting the built-in webcam)

Stuffit Expander (for .zip files and other compression formats)

Skooby Renamer - a usefull renaming utility for mass renaming of files 'find and replace' and the like.

A good site for custom docks . . . http://leoparddocks.com/index.php

[Janichsan]

Of those mentioned so far, Perian, Flip4Mac, StuffIt Expander and some program capable of opening RAR archives (I personally use "The Unarchiver" which I like better than UnRarX) are basically a must. With those you will be able to open, watch and listen to nearly anything the internet throws at you.

Anything else is up to you: when you just have to tamper around with MacOS X's user interface, you'll need Candybar. When not, then you won't. When you just have to download torrents, you might need Transmission. When not, then you won't. And so on.

What I would recommend in addition to the aforementioned programs, would be some uninstaller software (there are several ones, I use AppZapper), LittleSnitch, VLC – that can open even more video and audio file formats than Quicktime with the recommended plugins – and possibly some more capable disk repair tool than OS X's own one for cases of emergency (I use Diskwarrior).

[Rob Chahin]

Janichsan, on July 24th 2009, 08:45 AM, said:

When you just have to download torrents, you might need Transmission.

Like these ones. </plug>

[The Liberator]

Ha ha ha, nice going there Rob.

Also, you might want to use CCC in the future. It is Carbon Copy Cloner. It effectively can copy your hard drive, so if you hard drive and other backups fail, then you have a last resort.

Liberator.

[Sargiel]

Obviously recommendations depend heavily on what you use your computer for .. however I'd recommend: -

1) Speed Download 5 - a great download manager

2) iBank - personal finance/budgeting software. Very accessible.

3) GarageSale - useful software if you're going to be selling on eBay. They also provide a free app if you're just buying

4) MacScan 2 - possibly a contentious suggestion as there aren't any mac virus' .. however I personally like to check for dodgy tracking cookies etc and this does the job nicely.

5) OnyX - already suggested above but a great app. I use it for all my maintenance. Free

6) VLC - good for the odd video that Quicktime with the Flip4mac components can't cope with. Free

7) SWF & FLV Player - as the name says. The basic version is free too.

8) Yahoo Messenger - still in beta but a nice clean app that allows chatting with cam and also allows you to add your msn messenger contacts too. I use this daily. Free

9) Seashore - not been updated in ages but I sometimes use it to amend images & image resolution. Free.

And I'd agree with a lot of the suggestions above .. skype etc.

[the Battle Cat]

1) Aleph One

[Tetsuya]

J, on July 24th 2009, 12:16 AM, said:

Transmission - Torrent client - unless you're in love with torrent downloads, I'd stay away from this.  Or perhaps I'm just a ninny who doesn't believe in using torrents for illicit purposes..  DOwnloading WoW patches and Linux distro notwithstanding.

A good site for custom docks . . . http://leoparddocks.com/index.php

Or totally legal TV show downloads, or free music downloads (as in, really for free, not pirated, such as OCRemix.org) or free apps, or demos, or, or, or.

Torrent's are here to stay and have a myriad of completely legal uses.  So quit being a ninny =)

great dock site, too.

[The Liberator]

the Battle Cat, on July 25th 2009, 05:13 AM, said:

1) Aleph One

Nah, there is no need to worry about this silly app that tBC added. It is par useless…








…unless you want to be entertained for hours and hours on end.

Liberator.

[J'nathus]

Tetsuya, on July 24th 2009, 03:24 PM, said:

Torrent's are here to stay and have a myriad of completely legal uses.  So quit being a ninny =)

great dock site, too.

As I use Windows quite a bit as well, I don't have tolerance of mixed files of questionable origin. I'll stick to other more legitimate means of obtaining media or media creation (i.e. ripping my DVDs to iPod / iPhone formats when needed).

There's another dock site, but I don't remember the URL.  I have the one I want / need, so no need for any additional browsing.

[A.Cole]

So what about upgrading to Snow Leopard?  Should I do a full wipe of my computer and install, or should I just do an upgrade?  I just don't want to lose all my programs and all...  

[Sargiel]

I would go with an upgrade. You've only just got your mac so it's not as if you'll be wanting to declutter in the space of a few months and with the upgrade you'll keep all your files

Also, just as an side, it's great there will be a very nice price for upgrading to Snow Leopard ($29 or so) for us Leopard owners. I'll be buying Snow Leopard when it comes out and installing once I seen how the games compatibility is.

[Tetsuya]

J, on July 24th 2009, 10:55 PM, said:

As I use Windows quite a bit as well, I don't have tolerance of mixed files of questionable origin. I'll stick to other more legitimate means of obtaining media or media creation (i.e. ripping my DVDs to iPod / iPhone formats when needed).

There's another dock site, but I don't remember the URL.  I have the one I want / need, so no need for any additional browsing.

good luck getting any music that isn't ever released on a disc, or TV shows that dont air in the US (or wherever you're from), etc.  

That's my point.

[alldaveallen]

can anyone recommend a good cheap backup program for someone who isn't running Leopard?

[PeopleLikeFrank]

alldaveallen, on August 7th 2009, 03:34 PM, said:

can anyone recommend a good cheap backup program for someone who isn't running Leopard?

What are you running? CCC is good, and "cheap" as in free (and "free" as in beer). Superduper is another recommended one, though I haven't used it. It's cheap. Both require 10.4 and up.

To the OP. Hard to say without knowing what you want to do, though I ++ the recommendations on VLC, Transmission and Adium. I've been getting some use out of WireTap Pro (yay, MacHeist!) for recording some radio shows recently.

[alldaveallen]

nobody, on August 7th 2009, 12:43 PM, said:

What are you running? CCC is good, and "cheap" as in free (and "free" as in beer). Superduper is another recommended one, though I haven't used it. It's cheap. Both require 10.4 and up.

I'm on 10.4.11 and will be for the foreseeable future. I just downloaded CCC and I'll give it a shot. I have the demo of SuperDuper but wasn't sure if it was worth paying for it and unlocking the scheduling and "smart backup" features. I'll try CCC and compare them both.

Thanks!

[Eric5h5]

nobody, on August 7th 2009, 03:43 PM, said:

CCC is good, and "cheap" as in free (and "free" as in beer).

It's only free if you're a cheapskate leech.    You're supposed to pay for it, though you get to decide how much it's worth to you.  (And yes, I paid for it....)

--Eric

[the Battle Cat]

alldaveallen, on August 7th 2009, 12:57 PM, said:

I have the demo of SuperDuper but wasn't sure if it was worth paying for it and unlocking the scheduling and "smart backup" features.

10.4 here.  I bought SuperDuper and the unlockables are well worth it!  SuperDuper is now my backup scheduling system.  Once a week it incrementally backs everything up to a second internal bootable hard disk and every night it backs up my user data to an external hard disk.  I love it, it's never given me a problem where as CCC was very problematic just getting a clone performed.  It took forever with many stops and starts.  Good thing forever is not as long as it's cracked up to be is all I can say.

[Eric5h5]

CCC has always worked fine for me, but that's because it has anti-tBC code in it, and I'm not tBC.

--Eric

[the Battle Cat]

CCC has dweeb code in it.  No wonder it likes Eric so much.  At least SOMETHING likes Eric.