Filed under: Software
My spin on 10 apps every new Mac user should download
I normally wouldn't post this, because I
don't tend to agree with the list, but the Digg kids are all piling on top of it, so I thought I should share here:
it's a list of 10 apps
every new Mac user should download.
Here's my take on the list:
- AdiumX is nice, but I'll stick with iChat. I like iChat. If I need to use all those other protocols, maybe I'll launch Fire.
- Cyberduck rocks. I like it. *But* I've been using Fugu recently. It rocks better and harder.
- Safari is a better browsing experience on OS X than Firefox. Firefox is great and all, but it doesn't integrate nicely with all the OS X goodness like the built in Dictionary and spellcheck, not to mention Services. Until it can do that nicely, Safari wins (especially if you load up Saft).
- iBackup.... eh. I'll stick with Carbon Copy Cloner and SuperDuper, thanks.
- Nvu... uh, no. This is not something that every new Mac user should download. There are lots of people not coding websites who don't need this one.
- Quicksilver rocks, but I find if you get used to Spotlight and don't mind the slight delay, you don't use it as much.
- Stuffit Expander? I mean you need it, but isn't it already on the System when you buy it?
- TextWrangler is nice, but I'll have to say they should have mentioned SubEthaEdit.
- VLC is good.
- Windows Media Player?! Why is this on a top ten?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
M Tuley said 1:20PM on 12-21-2005
"Stuffit Expander? I mean you need it, but isn't it already on the System when you buy it?"
I've got a version living in the OS9 part of my disk, but I don't think it ships in the OS X part anymore. I couldn't figure out why Classic launched every time I tried to unstuff something, and I think that's it. OS X comes with a different tool now, and it defaults to .zips.
I think.
MT
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Billy K. said 1:57PM on 12-21-2005
1. With all the different chat protocols, I don't see how anyone can get along with just iChat. I wish I could. I think Adium is a must-have. It's got a great interface and, in the Apple tradition, it "just works." Fire, not so much.
3. Firefox is great, but still not ready for prime-time on the Mac. Safari just renders better, period. Now if I was a PC user, different story.
4. I need to get backup software. My method (burning literally everything to DVD) is really tedious. I'm gonna check out iBackup or CCC. Call me cheap or dumb, but I think this is an app that should be free.
5. Nvu? Wha? Seriously...
7. Pointless to re-download Stuffit. Who wrote this list, anyway?
9. VLC is a must-have.
10. Flip4Mac is absolutely worth the $10. Now, I think I should be able to play WMV in Quicktime natively, but if it costs me $10, so be it. It has worked for me seamlessly.
This list is obviously skewed a little toward the programmer/developer side (with the inclusion of Text Wrangler and Nvu). Here's what I'd change:
Replace Nvu with Limewire (or Frostwire). I'm sure it was left out for legal thingies, but let's be realistic.
Replace Text Wrangler with Onyx, Cocktail or even Mac Janitor. Onyx (or Cocktail) is an absolute must-have. Probably would be #1 or #2 on my list.
Replace Stuffit Expander with Saft and/or Pith Helmet. Personally, I don't see the big whoop about Saft, but apparently many do. Pith Helmet is very useful.
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djones said 3:06PM on 12-21-2005
AdiumX is far and away better than Fire, both in function and user experience. I still use my 10 year old ICQ account as my primary IM. It's only been recently that I signed up for the me-too IM networks to keep in contact with people that joined the IM bandwagon more recently, so iChat won't cut it for me.
I can't imagine a list of must have apps including an FTP program and leaving out Transmit. I'd take Transmit hands down over all of the others.
I completely agree that Mac users should use Safari as their browser, and that it is a superior experience. However, it is a sad fact that some large commercial sites still do not support Safari, and you have to have an alternate browser installed. Of the options, Firefox is my browser of choice to keep in the Applications folder to use as needed. Since it likely will come up, I agree to it being in the list of must have downloads, just not for the reason the list cites.
I'm like Billy, too. I'm embarrassed to admit that I still do my backups manually (using external HDs). It's time for me to investigate software solutions, and these mentioned will be the first I examine.
Nvu. What can I say about this except: no. People that want to make web sites should learn how to do it properly. As a Web Standardisto, site building software is the bane of my existence, in any form.
Stuffit Expander comes with a fresh installation. However, DropStuff, the portion of Stuffit Standard used to create archives, does not. I believe that is what they are referring to, even though they use the word "Expander" multiple times.
Quicksilver: Agreed. This got removed from my system within 1 week of installing Tiger.
On text editors: SubEthaEdit (and Smultron) are nice, with SubEthaEdit giving a more favorable user experience, IMO. However, they, and every other text editor for the Mac except for BBEdit and TextWrangler cannot perform searches that traverse entire directories of files. People that work with text editors daily will likely need this feature (i.e. web developers, programmers, etc.) So if that is the case, I recommend TextWrangler. Only if we're talking about someone who just wants something more slick and robust than TextEdit would I recommend SubEthaEdit.
Windows Media Player? Whaaa?? I'm with you. Why put VLC on the list, and then act like you need WMP on top of it? Could they not think of a 10th item for their list? Well I sure can! Three specific ones that I would be upset to be without:
WhatSize
NeoOffice/J
Growl
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Allan said 3:23PM on 12-21-2005
Stuffit Expander doesn't come with Tiger.
Apple KB Article:
"Mac OS X 10.4: Where is StuffIt Expander?"
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=301016
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Laura in CT said 6:05PM on 12-21-2005
OK, help me out here. As a new (since June) Mac person--love my iBook!--I am always interested in lists like this. But sometimes it's hard to sort out what I really would use and what I wouldn't use.
In regard to media players, I've not downloaded anything--so i use Quicktime or nothing. Now and then I want to see a video on a news site that I can't see--would VLC help me here? (I went to the web site but couldn't quite suss out what formats it would work with or much else.) Or Flip4Mac?
I would far prefer not to download either WMP or RealPlayer.
Also, I see in the comments where people are saying Stuffit Expander doesn't come with Tiger, but I occasionally download a .sit program and it unstuffs just fine--are these self-unstuffing files or do I have Stuffit Expander?
Thanks!
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Alexander said 7:47PM on 12-21-2005
Fresh Installs of Tiger no longer come with Stuffit Expander, the license was up therefore you know have to download the free version in order to open .sit files.
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Nathan Sweeney said 12:57AM on 12-22-2005
I really like Adium, and would prefer to use it, but without file transfers working and no support for my iSight, I'll have to stay with iChat.
I did not have Stuffit on my iMac that I bought in May. A definite must have.
Nvu? I have it, just because I found it and wanted to test it. No way is it a must have.
I would have to say that WMP is pretty necessary too. I've had files that won't open in QT with Flip4Mac, or in VLC. BUt they do open in WMP. Hate to do it, but I must.
I like Firefox, and the way the Gecko engine works, but I don't want to live without spell check, RSS support (Camino), or un-Mac-like buttons/dropdown menus/etc (FF) I'll stick to Safari for now.
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dsjkvf said 2:29AM on 12-22-2005
Fugu is an SFTP/SCP *only* client, we still need Cyberduck or smthng like Transmit for simple and usual FTP.
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djones said 9:11AM on 12-22-2005
I really like Adium, and would prefer to use it, but without file transfers working and no support for my iSight, I'll have to stay with iChat.
File transfers work just fine. Video chat OTOH, is another story.
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sjk said 5:19PM on 12-27-2005
I recommend SuperDuper! over Carbon Copy Cloner, especially for novice users and anyone wanting excellent support. SD! is a more polished and resource-gentle app, with ongoing development.
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