• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Just bought my very first Mac today - Recommend some must-have apps?

JoLLyRoGer

JoLLyRoGer

Diamond Member
So today I'm the proud owner of a Macbook Pro 13" with the 2.4 Intel processor/4GB DDR3 and what not.

Since Mac doesn't use an uninstaller to clean up after itself like Windows I need a recommendation for a good uninstaller application to handle this task.

Also, I would like recommendations on a good DVD ripper so I can put movies on my hard drive

And I'd like a good virtualization platform for running a Windows VM. I've used VirtualBox on Linux and really liked it, have not looked to see if that's available on Mac yet.

Finally, if there's any other cool must-have applications out there / fun widgets, etc. Lay em on me.

Thanks!
-JR (Posed from my Mac!!)
 
Last edited:
AppCleaner. However what gets left behind by OS X apps are usually just preference files on the user account, usually not too much data or destructive. But, I do still use AppCleaner for stuff that I really want gone.

Handbrake.

VirtualBox exists on OS X. As do VMWare Fusion (my preference) and Parallels.

Perian to add a whole slew of codecs to Quicktime X.
VLC for anything that QX won't play.

For Safari, get the following from extensions.apple.com;
Safari AdBlock
ClickToFlash
A Cleaner YouTube (I really like this)
And anything else that strikes your fancy
 
JoLLyRoGer said:
So today I'm the proud owner of a Macbook Pro 13" with the 2.4 Intel processor/4GB DDR3 and what not.

Since Mac doesn't use an uninstaller to clean up after itself like Windows I need a recommendation for a good uninstaller application to handle this task.

Also, I would like recommendations on a good DVD ripper so I can put movies on my hard drive

And I'd like a good virtualization platform for running a Windows VM. I've used VirtualBox on Linux and really liked it, have not looked to see if that's available on Mac yet.

Finally, if there's any other cool must-have applications out there / fun widgets, etc. Lay em on me.

Thanks!
-JR (Posed from my Mac!!)
Click to expand...

1. For uninstalls, I wouldn't worry about it. Those 15% of Mac apps that need one have one; for the rest, drag the app into the trash. Uninstalls are typically a Windows construct.
2. Handbrake.
3. Parallels and VMware Fusion are both great. But Bootcamp is free.
4. MS Office 2011 is wonderful. Chrome is great. Add the i-Apps from Apple and aside from that I've not needed much else.
 
dclive said:
1. For uninstalls, I wouldn't worry about it. Those 15% of Mac apps that need one have one; for the rest, drag the app into the trash. Uninstalls are typically a Windows construct.
2. Handbrake.
3. Parallels and VMware Fusion are both great. But Bootcamp is free.
4. MS Office 2011 is wonderful. Chrome is great. Add the i-Apps from Apple and aside from that I've not needed much else.
Click to expand...

3: BootCamp is not virtualization, it requires you to restart the computer. If I just need to check something in IE... rebooting my computer is not the preferred method.
 
1. Another vote for app delete
2. I have been trying out mac dvd ripper from a macheist bundle. So far it works pretty good and will create iso images or a straight rip of the files. Handbrake is very good.
3. Currently using parallels from a mac heist bundle, but vmfusion was good too.

4. vlc

5. I actually prefer picassa over iphoto, mainly for the gmail integration as I dont use the mail app.

hmm. my list is very similar to those above.
 
IM - Adium
Quick PhotoEditing - Acorn
Added Gestures - BetterTouchTool
App Remover- AppZapper
CD/DVD Burning - Burn
VNC- Chicken of the VNC
Backup Sync (only if you have more than 1 HD, TM doesn't like multiple drives) - ChronoSync
A/V - ClamXav
Keeping Monitor On - Caffeine
IRC - Colloquy
Folder Encryption - Espionage
Folder size and Usage - OmniDiskSweeper
Website blocking - SelfControl
PDF Management and Highlighting - Sente
Extracting - The Unarchiver
Task Management - Things
FTP Transfer - Transmit
Usenet Client - Unison
OpenVPN - Viscosity
+1 vote for VMware Fusion (it also handles Linux very well, I use Mint 9, window resizing, copy/pasting etc.)
Password management - Wallet
Personal Wiki - VoodooPad


DVD Ripping - Unfortunately I haven't found anything good/easy. I've used Handbrake in the past but didn't like it, it was tricky. I'd just stick with AnyDVD through windows virtualization.
 
Last edited:
If you just need to check stuff in IE, use Wine. It comes with automatic configuration for any version of IE 6.0 and up. Uses a lot less resources than a full VM and will work for most little utilities. Of course, if you know you need a full VM, then go for it.

I think VMWare is the best all-around VM software for Mac. However, I was very impressed with the way Parallels worked with Windows. It's pretty horrible with Linux, though.

Other things to get:
- Chrome
- Windows RDP Client
 
to clean up files left behind from "uninstalls" try MacPaw's Clean My Mac. Awesome program! Works kinda like Ccleaner or NCleaner in Windows. auto registry /cache/temp files cleaner
 
Ns1 said:
Uh, you mean I actually DON'T have to reboot to my xp bootcamp in order to RDP into a Win2k3 server?
Click to expand...

Yes. Microsoft makes an RDP client for OS X. It is actually pretty decent.

Or, conversely, you can install VNC onto the Win2K3 server.
 
My list of must have free/open source applications for OSX

appcleaner - for cleaning up after application removal

burn.app - ISO burning and creation (as well as dvd creation from most video types) made easy.

handbrake - Video ripping made easy

Chrome/firefox - I'm just not a safari fan. I really like chrome.

adium - if you need more chat networks than ichat provides

open office - everyone needs office right?

cyberduck - FTP/SFTP

ps3 media server - streaming and real time transcoding videos to your ps3/xbox 360

Steam - for buying and playing real video games

The Unarchiver - for compressed files osx can't handle.

VLC - Watching Videos

Transmission - Bittorrent

Minecraft - everyone should play minecraft

gfxCardStatus - for taking control of your video card and battery life.

CrashPlan - backups the way they should be done.

BetterTouchTool - take control of your mouse/trackpad

The list of other applications that I use on a daily basis:

macgdbp - debugging php

TextMate - Awesome text editor

Coda - Really nice web development tool

Tower - Really nice git client.

Git - Kinda needed for Tower and using github.

MySQLWorkbench - managing MySQL

Oracle SQL Developer - managing oracle

OmniGaffle - As close to visio as you can get on OSX

XCode - needed for osx/ios development
 
I love to talk about apps. 🙂

1Password - Password manager - ($40)
Dropbox - Must have for quick sharing of files, even with just yourself - (Free/pay for add'l storage)
Aperture 3 - Photo Workflow/Editor Tool - ($200)
BusyCal - Replacement for iCal.. wish it worked with Exchange natively (paid)
TotalFinder - Getting better and better with each version. Still some UI/UX quibbles, but I really like it. - ($15)
Alfred - Application Launcher - (free/pay for added functionality)
CandyBar - Change system/app icons and the dock - ($30)
Keyboard Maestro - Macro maker for OS X tasks - ($37)
Reeder - RSS Reader - (free)
Rivet - Stream media to Xbox360 - ($20)
The Unarchiver - Unarchives what OS X's Archive Utility can't - (free)
Transmission - Torrent Client - (free)
Transmit - FTP Client - ($40)
Things - Task List Manager - ($50/got mine in a bundle or else I wouldn't pay for it)
Evernote - new Beta version makes it a much nicer experience - (free)

As for virtual machines, if you're doing anything gaming related that isn't supported in OS X.. I'd recommend Parallels Desktop over VMWare. I just transitioned about a month ago to Parallels Desktop 6 and it's MUCH faster than VMWare now, and 3D games are quite fluid.
 
Last edited:
sourceninja said:
gfxCardStatus - for taking control of your video card and battery life.
Click to expand...

I'm so glad you included this app. I had no idea about its existence, and I am very pleased to find an app that will let me switch GPUs on my late 2008 MacBook Pro without having to log out like Apple's solution requires.
 
Last edited:
These threads pop up from time to time, and while I won't bitch about merging/bumping them, one thing that is ALWAYS helpful is to know which apps are free and which aren't.

Because it's one thing to say "I use Things every day! It's the most amazing app ever for doing everything you've ever wanted to do!", it's entirely another if it costs $30 or whatever. Of course, if you like your "Serial" from the "Box" sometimes that's okay too. =]

That being said, I use:

PandoraJam: (demoware) Stand alone pandora-er
TextWrangler: (free) Text editor
AppFresh: (free) Kinda an all in one thingee to make sure all your programs are up to date
iSoul: (free) Mac SoulSeek client
Transmit: (not free) FTP client. Works for me in some situations where Cyberduck does not, since Cyberduck changed SSH libraries ages ago.

Oh, and while we're here: People like Transmission better than uTorrent?
 
I found transmission and utorrent tend to work about the same on my system (my DL pipe gets maxed out either way) and transmission seems more 'mac' like and more activity developed.
 
scootermaster said:
Oh, and while we're here: People like Transmission better than uTorrent?
Click to expand...

I certainly do. I got onto Transmission before utorrent was available on os x, so that is part of it, the other is how small I can make the transmission window compared to utorrent.
 
Are you sure you want a virtual machine or would you rather run Windows and Mac at the same time? My wife runs Parallels on her late-2009 MBP 13" in convergence mode.
 
alkemyst said:
Are you sure you want a virtual machine or would you rather run Windows and Mac at the same time? My wife runs Parallels on her late-2009 MBP 13" in convergence mode.
Click to expand...

Even with Convergence/Unity you still have a virtual machine. It just isn't in its own window.
 
Last edited:
You said:
alkemyst said:
Are you sure you want a virtual machine or would you rather run Windows and Mac at the same time? My wife runs Parallels on her late-2009 MBP 13" in convergence mode.
Click to expand...

I said:
TheStu said:
Even with Convergence/Unity you still have a virtual machine. It just isn't in its own window.
Click to expand...

To which you replied:
alkemyst said:
That was my point.
Click to expand...

You are asking if the OP wants a VM. Unity and Convergence are part of VMWare Fusion and Parallels, both of which are VM software.

You then asked if the person would rather run Windows and OS X at the same time, something only possible with a VM. So you are asking if the OP is sure they want a VM, or do they want a VM.

That is what is confusing me.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top