Making my mac look cool

[joey4127]

Well i just got my first mac...Mac Mini...And I want the desktop look nice. I already have Ape thing for my dock and i want stuff that shows my current CPU usage and other junk like that.

Does anyone know a nice site for free software?

Thanks

[Koree]

Icon factory has some cool icons to replace some of the less apealing ones used by MacOS X, some really fit the aluminum theme.

http://www.iconfactory.com/

Congrats on the purchase!

[john1123]

Well i just got my first mac...Mac Mini...And I want the desktop look nice. I already have Ape thing for my dock and i want stuff that shows my current CPU usage and other junk like that.

Does anyone know a nice site for free software?

Thanks

You could use menumeter for the CPU usage and other junk or you could get konfabulator for widgets, although they do tend to hog your system.

check out the 'Official' free apps thread (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=95742) for free apps

[tykles]

MenuMeters (http://mac.softpedia.com/progDownload/MenuMeters-Download-6433.html)

[varmit]

Replace the User that is using the Mac. Instant coolness boost. :p ;)

The Icon Factory is a nice place to start.

[HydroMan]

and i want stuff that shows my current CPU usage and other junk like that.

Does anyone know a nice site for free software?

Thanks

Open your Utilties folder, open Activity monitor and it will show you CPU and Apps usage in a variety of options

Oh and welcome to the Mac community ;)

[john1123]

a cool app is backlight (http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/16015) which enables you to have your screensaver as your desktop background :D
it does hog up resources though so set the priority level to 'lowest' and everything should work fine (it works great on my ibook G3!!! :eek: )

[.jessica.]

This guy's website makes me want to puke, but he seems to have a decent set of apps. I hope they're all legit. MacApps (http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~hq8y-ishm/) :rolleyes:

[Santaduck]

Shapeshifter (http://www.unsanity.com/haxies/shapeshifter/) is the big daddy of all OS X customizers.

There's also a neat article here at Wired (http://www.wired.com/news/mac/0,2125,61441,00.html?tw=wn_story_related).

LOL I thought you meant casemodding when I read the title.
Macmod (http://www.macmod.com) already has pieces on customizing your MM (but not really in a visible way).

oh btw since you're asking about download sites:

www.macupdate.com
www.download.com
www.versiontracker.com

[varmit]

If you want cpu and resources graphs, X Resource Graph (http://www.gauchosoft.com/Software/X%20Resource%20Graph/) is good, and you can dock it to the side of the screen, even make it part of the background so it doesn't over lay anything.

[yellow]

A word of caution using Shapeshifter and Unsanity Haxies.. They might make your Mac "look cool", but if you start having troubles with the system, that's the FIRST place you need to look at disabling.

[joey4127]

If you want cpu and resources graphs, X Resource Graph (http://www.gauchosoft.com/Software/X%20Resource%20Graph/) is good, and you can dock it to the side of the screen, even make it part of the background so it doesn't over lay anything.

Thats cool...I think i will check it out as soon as i get home.

[adamjay]

check out cleardock from unsanity.com (in the free downloads)
not only can you make the dock background clear or any color you want, but also the application arrows' colors can be changed.

i've got my dock clear, with ableton green app arrows :D