Ideal Mac Software

Video - Handbrake and ffmpegx
Maintenance and Uninstallation - it's debatable if you really need either.
Anti Virus - you're really going to slow down your system to protect lazy windows users?
Install Applejack asap.
Install Quicksilver
 
Mokusei said:
Thanks for your suggestions.

Main. & Uninst. - I read in a few places that even if you drag an application to the trash that some temp files are left lying around.
Anti Virus - I was wondering about the same thing. I suppose I'll leave that then.

What do Applejack and Quicksilver do?
Click to expand...
Those temp files are generally benign preference files that have little or no impact on the OS.
Handbrake is perfect for ripping/encoding DVDs - ffmpegX should take care of the rest.
Applejack is a troubleshooting/system maintenance app - you want to have it installed before you need it.
Quicksilver is primarily an keyboard based application launcher but in reality it does a whole lot more.
 
Mokusei said:
Hello everybody. Today, my new MacBook Pro 15" will be arriving from DigiCape. Obviously, in preparation therefore, I have already downloaded all the software I'll be needing. Would anybody be able to suggest anything better than what I've chosen for each specific function?

Maintenance: CleanMyMac 1.9.3
Uninstallation: AppCleaner 1.2.2
Productivity: I have both iWork '09 and Office 2011
Media: Perian 1.1.2, Plex 0.9.1.2, VLC 1.1.5
Browsing: I plan on using Safari + Safari AdBlocker 1.9.8.6
Anti Virus (just in case): Sophos Home Edition 7.2C
File Extractor: StuffIt Expander 2011 15.0.2
Torrent: Transmission 2.12
YouTube Downloading: TubeTV 1.0
Yahoo! Mail Checker: Yahoo! Widgets

Does anybody have any suggestions regarding better software than what I have or just any other software that a lot of people would recommend on a Mac for general use, etc? I would really appreciate it. :)

EDIT: Oh yeah, I was looking for an all-to-all video converter and found UltiConvert but their site is down, so is there an alternative?
Click to expand...

Good list of apps to start off with...
Off the top of my head you should also have a look at SpeedDownload (download manager) and Bodega (update apps 'till the Mac App Store opens).

AppCleaner is pretty much a waste if you have CleanMyMac which is the bomb.

There are keystrokes to save YouTube videos so I've never bothered downloading any apps for that...

I'm assuming you've just switched from PC (well done there) but eventually you'll come to terms with not needing Sophos... just keep your firewall on and think about it.

Will add to the list when I get back to my machine...
 
Mokusei said:
That's what I currently have and it's not my thing. I've kinda had it with Windows. Due to Delphi programming I have to use Parallels but that's it, and in a year I won't even be doing that so Windows will be out of my life at last. :D
Click to expand...

Couldn't resist. :p
 
Mokusei said:
Thanks so much for all the suggestions. I will leave Sophos out then. Also, what are the keystrokes for downloading from YouTube, if you don't mind sharing? :)

Not at all... "command" "option" "a" in Safari opens a dialogue box showing all the processes on all of the pages you have open.
Each page is highlighted and has a drop down menu showing flv, jpeg, txt files etc, as well as the file size.
The flv file will obviously be a couple of megs and you'll see the process running... Click it and Safari downloads it to your download folder.
Saving files that way might not be for you, but I much prefer it...
Click to expand...
 
With CleanMyMac, you don't need AppCleaner.
I'd also recommend Google Chrome as an alternate browser.
Sophos on-access scanning is an unnecessary overkill; if you want to install it then I recommend switching this off.

A few others you may consider:
Flip4Mac - play wmv media files.
Adium - IM client
Little Snitch - Application level firewall
NoobProof or WaterRoof - OS level firewall editors
Steam - Steampowered Games
TextWrangler - text editor
GrandPerspective or DiskInventory - Graphical view of disk usage
TunnelBlick - OpenVPN client
Paragon NTFS - Read / Write NTFS formatted drives (USB, ...)
 
VLC for media playback
Roxio Toast for DVD/CD burning projects
Parallels is also very useful. (Especially if you need to run Linux/Windows VM's)

I love Apple apps, but Office 2011 pips iWork 09 big time. I reckon you would not need to waste the disk space with iWork (preparing myself to be flamed :) )

Enjoy your MacBook Pro!
What will make a huge difference is if you upgrade to 8GB RAM. Just dont let the Apple dealers do it, they rip you off. You are allowed to self install without voiding warranty. iStore quoted me aroun R6K for RAM upgrade, I just went to supplier and bought the RAM and self installed for R2200.
 
Mokusei said:
greg0205 said:
Thanks for that. I thought it might be something like that. The reason I wouldn't do that is because I assume you can choose the resolution of the video, or am I misinformed?



Okay, understood. I already deleted Sophos from my external. How does Chrome compare to Safari? The other stuff sounds great! I have NTFS3G for NTFS drive reading; is Paragon a better alternative?
Click to expand...

Chrome is good, but so is Safari... No reason why you can't try or keep both (I use both).
NTFS3G is satisfactory -- Paragon is a paid product (rated as the fastest)
Click to expand...
 
Mokusei said:
greg0205 said:
Thanks for that. I thought it might be something like that. The reason I wouldn't do that is because I assume you can choose the resolution of the video, or am I misinformed?

"Command" "option" "a" grabs the file as it's posted... I like the method, but as I said, it might not be for everyone.

Then, a couple of suggestions and comments...

Get Chrome, mainly 'cos every now and then you run into sites that aren't optimised for Safari. Flip4Mac +1, Finder handles burning CD's pretty well but I love Roxio Toast, so +1 there..

A couple of apps I have found to be useful and really enjoy are:
Aperture (but you could also have a look at Picasa or Gimp for a free image editing and management)
You could look at FinalCut for video editing but I've never really needed more than iMovie could handle and I'm sure you'll be running iLife '11 which had some tweaks to iMovie anyway.
Calibre for books, especially if you want to convert PDF files to epub files for an iPhone
CarbonCopyCloner as an alternate to TimeMachine backups
CandyBar for customising icons
DaisyDisk, just 'cos it's a very cool looking way of managing your hard drives
Dropbox (if you don't want to spring for a MobileMe account and want to access files across various platforms) & Evernote
Fontcase for managing fonts
Ripit for ripping DVD's
TidyUp for removing duplicate files on your HD and
Unison for newsgroups

With all of the suggestions in this thread so far your machine should pretty much kick a**!
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
StormbringerXXL said:
VLC for media playback
Roxio Toast for DVD/CD burning projects
Parallels is also very useful. (Especially if you need to run Linux/Windows VM's)

I love Apple apps, but Office 2011 pips iWork 09 big time. I reckon you would not need to waste the disk space with iWork (preparing myself to be flamed :) )

Enjoy your MacBook Pro!
What will make a huge difference is if you upgrade to 8GB RAM. Just dont let the Apple dealers do it, they rip you off. You are allowed to self install without voiding warranty. iStore quoted me aroun R6K for RAM upgrade, I just went to supplier and bought the RAM and self installed for R2200.
Click to expand...

Consider yourself flamed ;) I have both and I never seem to use Office at all... Nice having both options 'tho.
 
Mokusei said:
Thanks so much for everything guys. I am typing this from my MBP which arrived at about 10AM. I am so so so happy with it and have been fiddling since arrival. I have installed all the apps I need and I am beyond satisfied. I am definitely an Apple fanboy. :D
Click to expand...

As it should be... ;)
 
greg0205 said:
Aperture (but you could also have a look at Picasa or Gimp for a free image editing and management)
Click to expand...
New macs come with iLife, which includes iPhoto. :)
greg0205 said:
Calibre for books, especially if you want to convert PDF files to epub files for an iPhone
Click to expand...
iBooks - no need to convert PDF.
 
I use OpenOffice at work, MSOffice is utter rubbish.. always will be. I also play a lot of games so I've dual booted my mb pro with win7 via bootcamp. When I need to use windows dependent software for my web dev needs I launch it via parallels. I've always been a fan of chrome and hardly ever use Safari.
 
Mokusei said:
Well, I have had more than ample time to get the MacBook Pro set up for my liking for the moment, plus get used to some key strokes, etc. I am running the following apps for all that I need:

Photoshop CS5 Extended
CleanMyMac
ffmpegX
Google Chrome
HandBrake
InsomniaX
iWork '09
MS Office 2011
Skype
Speed Download 5
StuffIt Expander
uTorrent
VLC

Plus obviously everything that comes pre-installed on Mac OS X. I am having a ball of a time, and this screen's quality is amazing! Despite comments to the contrary, the glossy screen is not a bother at all. I am overall extremely happy!
Click to expand...

Photoshop CS5..? Takes up SO MUCH of space on your HD... prefer Aperture or iPhoto... Oh, and just for me, they have really, really ugly icons as well. I know it's a personal and silly thing but Mac apps have great looking icons... Windows & Adobe have no clue... Unless I customise them I hate what their icons look like in my dock.
 
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