Essential Mac Software?

Cirrus

So, I just bought myself a shiny new Macbook Pro. I love it to death, but it occurs to me that, having never really used a Mac before, I'm a bit clueless as to software that's essential (Or just plain useful) on a Mac. Firewalls? Anti-Virus? Anti-Spyware? Are these things even necessary on a Mac?

Other things? Software that's just handy?

Basically, I'm just looking for any useful software that one should have on a new Macbook.

Thanks

EggyToast

The firewall that it ships with is pretty good, although due to the fact that there's no spyware or viruses means that it's not really needed. Which also means that anti-virus and anti-spyware is also not needed.

That means you just get to have fun with your computer

You'll probably have a lot of fun running through macupdate.com, just to see some of the shareware/freeware that's out there. Cyberduck is useful for FTP, iTerm is useful for command line stuff, adium is useful for IM chatting.

embrik

A couple of apps I can't live without -
Little Snitch - Kinda like a firewall, basically asks your permission before an app connects to the Internet. Not everyone will want this, but hey, I love it.
Delicious Library - Catalog your DVDs, Books, Music, etc. Will even let you scan barcodes using a reader or an iSight camera.

Both of these cost money (aside from the trials).
All of these are free:
Cyberduck - Donationware FTP Client
Firefox - Speaks for itself. Also take a look at Camino (It's made by the same folks, but the UI is a bit different and more Mac-oriented)
Quicksilver - hard to totally describe, check out the site.
VLC - Plays a lot of videos, sounds, etc, that aren't supported out of the box elsewhere.
Handbrake - Convert DVDs to avi, etc.
Smultron - Awesome text editor with Syntax coloring.
MenuMeters - Gives you nice system resource meters in your menu bar. Very neat and customizable.
SeisMac - Ok, not really vital, but just darn cool. Gives you a little seismograph from your Sudden Motion Sensor.

iTunesIsEvil

You really don't need a firewall short of the default one that is built-in to OS X, nor do you need any AV or anti-spyware software.

I'd recommend getting Cyberduck for an FTP client for when you don't wanna use Terminal.

I use Camino for browsing because I'm just not a Safari fan and I *need* my tabs now (I'm pretty sure Safari doesn't have tabs... I haven't used it in so long I forget). :oops:

If you do programming of almost any variety that would run on a Mac (including web stuff) I'd suggest getting Xcode.

VLC for playing video that Quicktime won't play (DivX/Xvid/WMV).

If you're unfamiliar with the *nix-style command-line I'd also learn that just because you've got a machine that basically runs on top of Unix. Terminal is where you'd play with that stuff, and that's built into OS X. Finder => Applications => Utilities => Terminal. Alternately just press Apple+Space and start typing Terminal.

[edit] Damn you embrik! :x

Cirrus

So here's a follow-up question about my new Mac that is undoubtedly terribly easy - How do I make it auto-arrange things in my various folders?

You know, in Windows, I would just right click --> Arrange by...

How do I do that in Mac? The icons are getting untidy, and I'm sure there's an esay way to fix this.

EggyToast

If you hit apple+2, or the "column view," you can sort things by date modified, kind of file, name, etc. And then group things into new folders, etc.

Fugitivesqwerl

Adium

Best AIM client ever made. ever.

Arminas

Cirrus wrote:

So here's a follow-up question about my new Mac that is undoubtedly terribly easy - How do I make it auto-arrange things in my various folders?

You know, in Windows, I would just right click --> Arrange by...

How do I do that in Mac? The icons are getting untidy, and I'm sure there's an esay way to fix this.

Go to finder, choose the folder you wish to arrnage (i.e. desktop) and then go to the top menu bar. Click view > clean up OR view > arrange by > ...your favorite organizational method.

Fugitivesqwerl wrote:

Adium

Best AIM client ever made. ever.

It's the Trillian of Mac.

Or if you're lazy and enjoy iChat...
Chax slaps a band-aid onto iChat to give it some better customization like tabbed chat windows and the link. And as a personal preference, I like iChat better for googletalk because Adium keeps disconnecting me from it for some reason. Though, Adium really is great for AIM.

The Omni Group
they have a lot of cool software. I especially like OmniOutliner for taking notes in class. OmniGraffle is pretty great for diagrams and flowcharts too. Though, my Macbook came with OmniOutliner.

I was just about to link more stuff..but then I suddenly remembered that...

we have a Mac Thread

(I am not upset, I'm just grabbing attention to the right thread )

EDIT2:
AppleGeeks also has a fantastic Mac Sub-forum ; chockfull of Mac applications, gurus, and troubleshooting tips

DeathPrawn

iTunesIsEvil wrote:

I use Camino for browsing because I'm just not a Safari fan and I *need* my tabs now (I'm pretty sure Safari doesn't have tabs... I haven't used it in so long I forget). :oops:

FWIW, Safari does have tabs. I don't remember if they're enabled by default, but you can tweak them in the preferences.