Reader Feedback Request: Top Apps for Switchers


So, I a friend (and co-host of the Forever Geek Podcast) who just purchased a Macbook Pro.  He’s made the switch.  The first thing he said was “I don’t know what I need to install on it.”

So…what applications should a switcher download and install when they get their new Macs?

I have a few ideas, but I wanted to see what you guys think, then I’m going to compile a list of the most popular choices…


Kossi Adzo

Kossi Adzo is a technology enthusiast and digital strategist with a fervent passion for Apple products and the innovative technologies that orbit them. With a background in computer science and a decade of experience in app development and digital marketing, Kossi brings a wealth of knowledge and a unique perspective to the Apple Gazette team.

15 Comments

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  1. I have used and owned a “PC” since the very first day they came out – not once did I feel the inclination to purchase any shareware. However since switching to the Mac at the start of 2005 I have bought around a dozen or more apps. The overall quality of application on the Mac is just vastly higher than it is on the PC.

    By the way; the first two lessons any switcher needs to learn, how to install and how to un-install! 🙂

    Of course which apps to download/buy is entirely down to your interests and work profile.

    However I would choose:
    AppZapper (please Apple buy this and make it part of Leopard!)
    Transmit (FTP client)
    Chronosync
    ComicLife (may well come with a new MBP)
    GarageSale (eBay client)
    Chicken of the VNC
    HoudahGeo (photo geo tagger)
    Newsfire (RSS reader)
    Otis (addictive game)
    Parallels (oh the irony!)
    MacSaber (just for fun)
    Text Wrangler
    Yojimbo

    Plus a few non-Mac specific apps like Google Earth. Oh and “Cuppa” (a tea brewing timer) I am from England after all!

  2. quicksilver is a must i’d say, also little snitch. neooffice if he does not want to cough up for pages and keynote. appzapper! dragthing is neat, macdust and macaroni for system maintenance, MenuCalendarClock iCal if he plans to use ical extensively. mplayer or better VLC or maybe both. i recommend spamsweep if he gets a lot of spam. stuffit expander can be useful. transmission as a bittorrent client, transmit for ftp. whatsize to keep track of disk space huggers. uno if he wants a seamless UI.

    can’t think of any more right now 😀 of course, not even half of the above is freeware.

  3. Hey all, I am the person to which Michael speaks.

    What am I looking to do with this machine:

    Blog
    Podcast
    Write Stories
    Basic Image Editing (crop, resize)
    Basic Videos (right from the integrated webcam and some desktop screencasts)
    Listen to Music
    Play with Frontrow
    Watch divx/xvid movies?
    FTP/SSH into sites to change things
    Deal with basic accounting (spread sheets from Open Office should be fine though)

    Basically this has to replace my ThinkPad laptop.

  4. What are they planning on doing with this MBP? Do they work with graphics, documents, video, audio…more information, please!

  5. AdiumX (you have friends, right?)
    NeoOffice
    Firefox with google synchroniser
    Freemind (mindmapping)
    VLC (to watch DVDs at high volume)
    Flip4Mac
    Perian Quicktime plugin
    The Unarchiver (supports most compressed files and is beautiful)
    Zee (beats preview for looking at pics)
    What else do you need anyway? 😉

  6. Oh boy, lets see.

    Acquisition
    AppZapper
    CandyBar
    Firefox
    Flip4Mac
    HandBrake
    Toast 8 Titanium
    Transmit
    Xtorrent
    iClip
    Mac Pilot
    MainMenu
    The Unarchiver
    StuffIt Expander
    Tinker Tool
    VLC
    Shapeshifter
    FruitMenu
    Growl

    Thats enough for now. 🙂

  7. Yojimbo for notes and projects
    Image Well for optimising photos for web and basic image editing
    Photoshop Elements for a bit more image editing
    Google Docs & Spreadsheets, Homepage and Reader
    Growl to tell you what is happening
    Transmit for FTP
    Quicksilver for productivity
    CleanApp to remove unwanted applications
    ArtText for basic and quick logos & icons

    …… and of course iLife.

  8. Adium – great IM which works with many networks
    TextMate – my editor of choice, much better than anything I have seen on PC.

  9. David:

    Blog – iweb – comes on a new mac
    Podcast – garageband/itunes/imovie/iweb – all come on a new mac
    Write Stories – openoffice
    Basic Image Editing (crop, resize) – iPhoto – comes with a new mac
    Basic Videos – imovie, quicktime (upgrade to quicktime pro for $30)
    Listen to Music – itunes
    Play with Frontrow
    Watch divx/xvid movies? – you’ll need to download 3ivx D4
    FTP/SSH into sites to change things – got me there

  10. For FTP, I recommend the freeware app Cyberduck.

    VLC player for Divx videos, Quicksilver is nice also.