If you are new to the Mac or just researching buying a Mac, one big question on your mind is SOFTWARE. The story you hear is that there isn't any software for the Mac; and what software there is, just really isn't that good. Well, I'm hear to tell you that if you have hear that awful story, rest assured it is a total lie.
Are their more software titles for Windows? Are there some great software titles for Windows? While both of these questions are answered with "yes," it doesn't hold that there aren't many apps for the Mac. Truth be told, there are many GREAT applications for Mac OS X. Many are only available on the Mac. Many will make you wonder why you didn't switch sooner.
All that being said, the hardest thing about moving to a new platform is knowing what applications you just have to try. Below is a list of software that I consider essential, or at least worth trying. This list, long though it is, doesn't come close to showing the shear volume of software available.
Here is a List of Great Mac OS X Applications:
- Mail - Apple's mail client. You won't find an easier mail client to use anywhere. It isn't light on features. It is easy to use and best of all, it's included in every copy of Mac OS X. If you own a Mac, you have Mail. (Apple - FREE) - Upgrade Coming In October Mail for Mac OS X 10.5
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- Apple's calendar program. For me this was the most underused program. It isn't perfect and has its quirks, but you can't beat the price and in reality, it does 100% of what most folks need out of a calendar application. If you have .Mac though, it becomes even more useful. ()
- Upgrade Coming In October Mail for Mac OS X 10.
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- Apple's web browser. There are sites that don't play friendly with it; but not many. While it isn't perfect, you won't find a better browsing experience. Best of all, it too is included with every copy of Mac OS X. It's true most browsers are free, but not every browser is built from the ground-up to work on a Mac.() - Upgrade Coming In October(The beta is already available)
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- You might know this program by another name, Firefox. Camino is based on the exact same code base as Firefox; the major difference between the two is that Camino was developed for the Mac using that code base. There is a version of Firefox for Mac, it's even on this list, but it isn't optimized to run on the Mac like Camino. The drawback to this is simply updates to Camino don't occur as often as they do with Firefox. The upside is that Camino is more Mac compatible, not just running on a Mac, but thriving on a Mac giving Mac users all of the internal tools they expect. For example, built-in spell checking. Because it uses the same code as Firefox, any sites that works with Firefox will work with Camino.()
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for OS X - Many PC users have left Internet Explorer for Firefox. Simply put, it's better. If you used Firefox on a PC, then the Mac version is 100% identical. Most plugins will work on both versions. It isn't 100% Mac like, but works like a dream on a Mac and nearly 100% of all sites will display great on Firefox.()
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- Simply the easiest web creation program I have ever used. With its simple WYSIWYG design and use of themes you can have websites up in minutes. Many programers and designers have created plug-ins as well as themes. If you are going to create a website on a Mac, you have a few choices, but this by far is my choice. ()
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- Here is a tool that has no counterpart that i know of on the PC. Let's say Safari is your broswer of choice, but occasionally you need to use Caminio, Firefox or even Omniweb. While you are using that browser you don't have access to your regular bookmarks. What's a boy to do? Use Bookdog. This program will sync your bookmarks across all of your browsers, and now does it across user profiles. Even better, it sorts your bookmarks and even verifies they still work!()
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- The best music management software on Mac or PC. If you haven't heard of iTunes, then you have been living under a rock for the past few years. If you own an iPod you use iTunes. If you use iTunes, you may want an iPod. If you are buying music on-line, you are probably using iTunes and probably want an iPod. What Apple was shooting for? -()
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If you have bought a Mac in the past 10 years, you have iPhoto. The most recent version was just released and is part of iLife. If you have used photo catalog software on a PC, you are in for a treat. Only Picasa 2.0 comes close to iPhoto, and it isn't a close 2nd. -()
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- When you use this program you will think Apple thought it up; and they should have. iTunes can play videos and store them in its database, but doesn't do it increadibly well. iVideo on the other hand plays all videos and does do it very well. I think it should be closer to $14.95, but who's going to argue over $5. -()
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- They call it an application launcher, but this program has more secrets than the Nixon administration. The author created the software, but it's up to the community to figure out how it works. There is little this program can't do and launching programs is on the simple end. Basically, it was designed to talk to just about every database on your Mac: photos, music, videos, addresses, files, folders and so much more. Quickly becoming one of the most talked about applications in Mac "Geekdom" -()
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- While Apple computers are easy touse, they aren't "As Seen on TV" simple "Set It & Forget It" appliances. They are extremely sophisticated computers that do require some software maintenance. That being said, it isn't difficult and there are a host of free programs out there that do the jobs quite nicely. Any of them will work but this one sits in your menu and requires only that you click and choose the maintenance action you want to run: daily, weekly, monthly. It will do lots of little things for you that will keep your Mac running efficiently. -()
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- This program serves to useful purposes. 1) keeps track of your website logons and passwords, auto entering if you prefer 2) keeps track of all kinds of other data like credit cards, bank accounts, frequent flyer numbers and just about anything else. - ()
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- If you are looking for a great and simple way to manage your recipe collection, then this is a great way to go. Using the iLife look and feel, you can enter your recipes, pull them off of the internet and even go full screen in the kitchen to make reading the recipes easier. ()
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- A great program for the student or the professional. By mimicking a notebook in every way, as well as giving you the ability to index that notebook on the fly, this program becomes an indispensable note-taking tool. ()
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- Apple's answer to a productivity suite. Over the past few years Apple has been upgrading it and making the suite better and better. The original apps were Pages and Keynote. Pages has been a work in progress, but Keynote has been a stellar presentation program since day one rivaling PowerPoint. In the programs latest iteration, they have updated both and added a spreadsheet application. If you get this suite, you probably won't need Office which costs $300 more. - ()