Share you OSX App Knowledge
jared
College Station, TX Icrontian
Hey guys, I need your OSX advice!
I have been looking at getting a notebook to take to class and haul around campus since the beginning of school. Yesterday I gave in and decided to buy me a MacBook (instead of going the dell route like all my friends). So far it has been nothing but good to me. The little machine is fast, extremely well built (doesn't feel cheap or "plasticy"), and OSX seems pretty slick.
Now my question is about software. What apps do yall use on your OSX machines?
The MacBook came with a couple of the regular Apple Apps installed. However, on my Windowz machine I refuse to use Quicktime and iTunes and just because I am now on a Mac my opinion is not going to change. :bigggrin:
So here is what I am using so far:
IM client - Adium
Videos (quicktime replacement) - VLC
FTP - CyberDuck
POP Mail Client - default OSX mail app
Web Browser - none other than FireFox
.ZIP/.RAR client - stuffit expander
I plan on picking up a copy of Office 2004 for the mac from the student center, they give us a nice discount.
I also just have been using vi for my html/css/programming needs. So far it has been enough.
What about for playing MP3s? There has to be some other alternative besides using iTunes.
What about for newsgroups?
Anyways, just list you essential Mac OSX apps here! I need to expand my app library. The last time I used a Mac was OS 8 so I have some catching up to do!
cheers!
I have been looking at getting a notebook to take to class and haul around campus since the beginning of school. Yesterday I gave in and decided to buy me a MacBook (instead of going the dell route like all my friends). So far it has been nothing but good to me. The little machine is fast, extremely well built (doesn't feel cheap or "plasticy"), and OSX seems pretty slick.
Now my question is about software. What apps do yall use on your OSX machines?
The MacBook came with a couple of the regular Apple Apps installed. However, on my Windowz machine I refuse to use Quicktime and iTunes and just because I am now on a Mac my opinion is not going to change. :bigggrin:
So here is what I am using so far:
IM client - Adium
Videos (quicktime replacement) - VLC
FTP - CyberDuck
POP Mail Client - default OSX mail app
Web Browser - none other than FireFox
.ZIP/.RAR client - stuffit expander
I plan on picking up a copy of Office 2004 for the mac from the student center, they give us a nice discount.
I also just have been using vi for my html/css/programming needs. So far it has been enough.
What about for playing MP3s? There has to be some other alternative besides using iTunes.
What about for newsgroups?
Anyways, just list you essential Mac OSX apps here! I need to expand my app library. The last time I used a Mac was OS 8 so I have some catching up to do!
cheers!
0
Comments
why so against itunes/qt? It works great, flawlessly in Mac OS...
Video: mplayerOSX
Audio: XMMS
XMMS isn't really native, you need Fink or DarwinPorts for it. iTunes/QT don't do FLAC so they're unacceptable for me.
You may want to get on Apple Developer Connection and download the xCode IDE. I find it useful.
-drasnor
iTunes I stay away from because it is slow and just "too much". I want an simple audio player similar to winamp or foobar. I don't need to buy music through there store, download music video or movies, reorganize my music collection, or any of that other stuff iTunes is always trying to get me to do.
QuickTime isn't as bad but it can never seem to play some of the codecs I have, plus imho VLC is far superior anyways. XMMS is great, I will have to see if i can get it to work.
I will have to try and check out CuteFTP Pro for the Mac, not sure about that CyberDuck app yet.
What mac machines do you guys have?
drasnor, I noticed you are in collge station. Assuming you go to a&m what class are you? I am '08 (a-a-a-whoop). Didn't know we had any other aggies around the forums :bigggrin:
cheers and thanks for the input
Yeah, I go to A&M. PM sent on that note ('07: a-whoop).
-drasnor
I just picked up my MacBook yesterday so there really isn't any extra apps installed on it yet. The HD us 55 gigs formatted.. but yet I only have 38 gigs free????
Is there some bloatware that I am not aware of? I don't know mac OSX well, but what the hell is taking up 17 gigs?? There is no way the OSX and the few preinstalled apps take up that much room...
any insight?
cheers :bigggrin:
I could care less if my searches are blazing fast, I just need room for my mp3s
edit: I am going to try one of these apps listed in this thread to see if i can see where the HD hog is. http://www.bigbluelounge.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=31821
I messed around with DarwinPorts but I don't think it ever installed right. I am guessing I need xCode (for the c compiler) for darwinports?
I think I am going to have to go with xmms, I have tried a handful a players and they all suck to say the least.
I used Fink which is essentially Debian's apt-get with a slick GUI. Fink requires xCode to work though so you'll need that too. You'll need xCode for pretty much any of that software though.
-drasnor
Skryking