Filed under: Software
Free alternatives to the Macheist bundle + more
Many people love the Macheist bundles because of the software. Others like the price. However, we're betting everyone will like some free alternatives to their latest collection -- despite the low price, there's always another, cheaper way. In a list of freebies compiled by Lifehacker, matching the Macheist options, there are a few standouts: For money management online without the cash layout, try replacing Cha-Ching with the free Mint website. Getting your clipboard multiplier under control can be done at a cost by iClip or freely by Jumpcut. WriteRoom, the distraction-free word processor, is replaced by the web-based DarkCopy among several other options (including Freeverse's free attention-focus tool Think). See Adam Pash's excellent article for the full rundown.
Following the example of LH's list, here are a couple of alternative options for the current MacUpdate promo bundle:
- For SoundStudio, check out the free & open source Audacity (of course, GarageBand may already be on your Mac)
- DVDRemaster Pro's conversion and archiving chops can be met or matched by the lovely and talented (and free) HandBrake
- Leap is quite cool and somewhat hard to replicate, but SpotInside is a free Spotlight enhancer that does a nice job too
- For the Parallels headliner, you can find cheaper or free Windows emulation/virtualization tools at VirtualBox, iEmulator, and Q
Thanks Adam P.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Nikke said 3:26PM on 4-18-2008
Xslimmer might be good, but so is Monolingual and it's free.
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nil.bitbucket said 3:41PM on 4-18-2008
Xslimmer is good. It removes the unused PPC or Intel code and language files from applications. Monolingual only removes language files.
Onyx doesn't do either of these, so it shouldn't even be included the in list of so-called alternatives; it's not an alternative.
Mark S said 6:52PM on 4-18-2008
Monolingual does keyboard mappings and architectures in addition to language files. Downside is that it doesn't allow you to choose which apps it touches or leaves alone. For the $12 that Xslimmer costs, it's well worth it to have the level of control that it offers over Monolingual.
Tim Kimberl said 3:35PM on 4-18-2008
Great post, did you guys notice they changed the sales figures on the top of mac heist site once they realized macupdates promo was selling like hot cakes.
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Andreas said 7:06PM on 4-18-2008
An alternative for xslimmer is the combination of monolingual ( http://monolingual.sourceforge.net/ ) and trimthefat ( http://homepage.mac.com/gweston/download.html ) - both are free and do exactly the same unlike onyx.
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jus10 said 3:50PM on 4-18-2008
The nice thing about KeepassX is that the files are compatible with Keepass on the Windows side. So between Keepass on Windows and KeepassX on Mac/Linux you pretty much can take your encrypted password database anyway.
Bean is actually my new favorite OS app for Mac. Since Abiword for Mac hasn't been updated, Bean has filled in nicely.
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Nikke said 5:44PM on 4-18-2008
nil.bitbucket, I think that Monolingual removes also unused PPC and Intel code. Have you tried newest version?
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Chris Thomson said 3:54PM on 4-18-2008
Keep in mind that Mint.com is only available to US citizens, compared to Cha-Ching that works all around the world.
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Dalton said 3:57PM on 4-18-2008
PTHPasteboard is an also an excellent alternative to iClip. I had nothing but trouble with iClip 4, PTHPasteboard is great and the Pro version even allows you to sync clipboards between computers!
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britt said 4:11PM on 4-18-2008
Why do you say?
Quicksilver (for those not using Leopard)
Quicksilver seems to work just fine on Leopard.
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Luigi193 said 4:12PM on 4-18-2008
I like simplicity for my clipboard apps, so i use clipper.
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Manny said 4:42PM on 4-18-2008
Interesting to see someone copying the article of Adam Pash at the following link: http://lifehacker.com/380493/free-alternatives-to-the-macheist-bundle
At least give credit to the person who you stole all the information from instead of passing it off as your own.
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pscs said 5:42PM on 4-18-2008
ooooops! plagiarism.
Michael Rose said 6:14PM on 4-18-2008
Manny --
a) you may have missed the line "Here they are, as compiled by Lifehacker" -- no intent to confuse anyone about where the list came from
b) that said, Dave is editing the post to clarify that it's an LH original and redacting part of the list, so LH gets the readership they are rightfully due
thanks for the feedback.
anonymous said 5:04PM on 4-18-2008
Awaken is replaced by a rooster.
Cha-Ching is replaced by an accountant.
DevonThink Personal is replaced by Secretary.
CoverSutra is replaced by Kama Sutra
iClip is replaced by a perfect memory and infinite typing speed.
Overflow is replaced by Stacks.
Wallet is replaced by DevonThink Personal, which is replaced by Secretary.
WriteRoom is replaced by turning out the lights and turning wireless off.
Xslimmer is replaced by a bigger hard drive.
Forty nine bucks huh? Most people already have a rooster, accountant, secretary, and a big hard drive. Doesn't sound like such a great deal after all!
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Ed said 12:08AM on 4-20-2008
I seem to be running a bit short. Can I borrow your rooster and Hard Drive?
Gareth R.N. Sloan said 6:42PM on 4-18-2008
Hmm if you really want a good deal on bundle software I have to say that Mac Update promo bundle is far superior to the current MacHeist option.
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SomeOtherGuy said 6:05PM on 4-18-2008
DeskTunes instead of CoverSutra? I recommend GimmeSomeTune. downloads lyrics and coverartwork. gimmesometune.com
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Justin D said 6:10PM on 4-18-2008
How can you replace a desktop app with a web app? I can't use DarkCopy if I'm offline.
I recommend Think:
http://freeverse.com/think
(Disclaimer: I work for Freeverse. ;)
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Nathaniel said 6:38PM on 4-18-2008
One could just use WriteRoom 1.0 which he left for free, though
lacking support. I haven't figured out a reason to pay for the new
one, everything most could ever need is there. Works just fine under
Leopard.
http://hogbaysoftware.com/files/releases/0000/0008/WriteRoom.dmg