Incidentally while writing this post I ended up stumbling on my switching thoughts from 2003, so I guess I've been a very happy Mac user for over 4 years now (which also explains why that first generation 1Ghz G4 that I'm still using while on the road is so sloooowww - I can't wait for my new MacBook Pro to arrive...).
The one big change from my previous recommendations is that I don't use so many rich applications; as I can use the online versions on the move, on my desktop, laptop or phone. So I use Gmail for almost all mail - unfortunately I'm stuck with Mac.Mail for corporate email :(. I use Google Reader instead of NetNewsWire for reading blogs etc.
Since switching to gmail for email; I no longer feel the huge need for a virtual desktop anymore; I've gotten out of the habit. Expose is enough for me, especially on a 30" screen.
So here's my current list of recommended OS X software, excluding Java IDE (which I'm using IDEA but eclipse is good too on the Mac).
- QuickSilver. I love it; though only really use it for starting up applications & tend to use it instead of the Dock
- text editor: TextMate
- for terminal stuff iTerm rocks. I love tabbed shells (though maybe Leopard might have this too in Terminal)
- for creating diagrams OmniGraffle is awesome. It can even open DOT files. Also if you have some open source which creates visualisations in DOT files, then the OS X version of GraphViz rocks - as it monitors the DOT file in real time and re-renders the graph in a surprisingly flicker-free way. I've used this with some customers to watch ActiveMQ clients startup visually as they deploy their applications.
- irc: X-ChatAqua
- xmpp: iChat
- MenuMeters for neat monitors of CPU, disk, network etc on the menu bar (I'm quite fond of the graph view for CPU usage)
- VoodooPad is a WYSIWYG editor for wiki-ish things which I'm hooked on. I just wish it auto-sync'd with GDrive :)
- ByteController for a nice little iTunes controller on the menu bar; so you don't have to switch windows when the phone goes or you wanna forward to the next track etc
- RadioLover for recording internet radio & installing it into your iTunes library; though if you're not careful you'll end up with a monster library :)
- Clutter is cool to play with your new monster iTunes library :)
- Growl for notifications of things (like IRC posts etc)
- Google Notifier for easy access to your calendar etc
- I tend to use gCal for calendering but sync it with iCal
To other OS X users out there, whats your favourite software?
Update: here's Charles Millers list - thanks! I particularly like the look of Chax (certainly until Leopard with tabbed iChat).
3 comments:
My list.
I've always like Sizzling Keys for iTunes keyboard control. Like Quicksilver, I'm totally naked without it.
http://www.yellowmug.com/sk4it/
I got a MBP about 6 weeks ago, and I'm loving it.
I like:
- Adium for IM
- VMWare Fusion rocks
- If you have problems with your MBP running too hot, check out smcFanControl. Turning up the default fan speed makes it run much cooler.
- iGTD if you like the Getting Things Done way of managing tasks
- Blue Phone Elite is cool, and if I called or got more calls I would have bought it
- iStumbler is cool if you find yourself needing to locate a Wifi hotspot
Post a Comment