New to MacBook Pro......What "starter" applications should we install?

STC · Nov 4, 2012, 08:08 PM

I bought my son a new 13" MacBook Pro w/o retina for his 16th birthday. He was due for a new computer anyways and he'll use this for college too.
We have iPhones and iPads, but this is the 1st Mac computer in the house. We are used to setting up and running Windows machines, but do not know much about Macs.

Can you guys recommend some applications for a new user or what he/we should look out for? Thx!!!

btw I love his MBP, I might have to get one myself..... maybe the MacBook Air

GGJstudios · Nov 4, 2012, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by STC

Can you guys recommend some applications for a new user or what he/we should look out for?

This may be useful (includes links to app recommendations):

Helpful Information for Any Mac User
Portables Fast Start: The New User's Guide to Apple Notebooks

HE15MAN · Nov 4, 2012, 08:17 PM

Evernote is great. Couldn't live without it.

Virinprew · Nov 4, 2012, 08:33 PM

I think how to charge battery is important.

markus843 · Nov 4, 2012, 08:42 PM

There's a free program like photoshop called Gimp, (isn't on the app store, you can just google it), it isn't as good as photoshop but it can get the job done for simple tasks if you're going to edit any photos.

T5BRICK · Nov 4, 2012, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markus843

There's a free program like photoshop called Gimp, (isn't on the app store, you can just google it), it isn't as good as photoshop but it can get the job done for simple tasks if you're going to edit any photos.

It's not free but I bought Pixelmator. It does everything I want and it wasn't too expensive.

A Hebrew · Nov 4, 2012, 09:38 PM

Pages, Chrome, Keynote, and a few games.

throAU · Nov 4, 2012, 09:42 PM

VLC
Perian
Stuffit Expander
Transmission
Pixelmator (worth the money over gimp, easily)

applebro · Nov 4, 2012, 09:59 PM

If your son is going into engineering, disregard iWorks and get Office for Mac.

A Hebrew · Nov 4, 2012, 10:07 PM

^

If you do that do not get office until he actually goes to college, it will probably run much better.

markus843 · Nov 4, 2012, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T5BRICK

It's not free but I bought Pixelmator. It does everything I want and it wasn't too expensive.

Gimp is free, I'm like 99% sure it is http://www.gimp.org/downloads/ correct me if I'm wrong

T5BRICK · Nov 4, 2012, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markus843

Gimp is free, I'm like 99% sure it is http://www.gimp.org/downloads/ correct me if I'm wrong

No, you're not wrong. I was just pointing out that Pixelmator, a non-free alternative to GIMP, was worth looking into.

Braniff747SP · Nov 4, 2012, 10:40 PM

iWork is fine if one doesn't want to shell out a ridiculous amount of money for Word; I'd say it is an essential.

sngx1275 · Nov 5, 2012, 02:55 PM

Adium for chat. Handles all? the IM protocols.

Saladinos · Nov 5, 2012, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by STC

I bought my son a new 13" MacBook Pro w/o retina for his 16th birthday. He was due for a new computer anyways and he'll use this for college too.
We have iPhones and iPads, but this is the 1st Mac computer in the house. We are used to setting up and running Windows machines, but do not know much about Macs.

Can you guys recommend some applications for a new user or what he/we should look out for? Thx!!!

btw I love his MBP, I might have to get one myself..... maybe the MacBook Air

- Dropbox
- Mindnode (free version available)
- iCircuit

Nov 4, 2012, 08:08 PM	#1
STC macrumors 6502 Join Date: May 2008	New to MacBook Pro......What "starter" applications should we install? I bought my son a new 13" MacBook Pro w/o retina for his 16th birthday. He was due for a new computer anyways and he'll use this for college too. We have iPhones and iPads, but this is the 1st Mac computer in the house. We are used to setting up and running Windows machines, but do not know much about Macs. Can you guys recommend some applications for a new user or what he/we should look out for? Thx!!! btw I love his MBP, I might have to get one myself..... maybe the MacBook Air
	2

Nov 4, 2012, 09:42 PM	#8
throAU macrumors 68020 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Perth, Western Australia	VLC Perian Stuffit Expander Transmission Pixelmator (worth the money over gimp, easily) __________________ MBP (early 2011) - Core i7 2720 2.2ghz, Hires Glossy, 16GB, Seagate Momentus XT 750GB Mac Mini (mid 2007) - Core2 Duo 1.8, 2gb, 320gb 7200 rpm iPhone 4S, iPad 4
	1

Nov 4, 2012, 10:40 PM	#13
Braniff747SP macrumors regular Join Date: May 2010 Location: Los Angeles, California, USA	iWork is fine if one doesn't want to shell out a ridiculous amount of money for Word; I'd say it is an essential. __________________ Mid-2012 13" MacBook Pro with Studio Display, Late 2008 13'' Black MacBook, 1st generation iPad, iPhone 4S.
	0

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Nov 4, 2012, 08:17 PM	#3
HE15MAN macrumors 6502a Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Florida's Treasure Coast	Evernote is great. Couldn't live without it.
	2

Nov 4, 2012, 08:33 PM	#4
Virinprew macrumors regular Join Date: Apr 2012	I think how to charge battery is important.
	0

Nov 4, 2012, 08:42 PM	#5
markus843 Banned Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: North america	There's a free program like photoshop called Gimp, (isn't on the app store, you can just google it), it isn't as good as photoshop but it can get the job done for simple tasks if you're going to edit any photos.
	1

Nov 4, 2012, 09:38 PM	#7
A Hebrew macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Minnesota	Pages, Chrome, Keynote, and a few games.
	0

Nov 4, 2012, 09:59 PM	#9
applebro macrumors member Join Date: Sep 2012	If your son is going into engineering, disregard iWorks and get Office for Mac.
	0

Nov 4, 2012, 10:07 PM	#10
A Hebrew macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Minnesota	^ If you do that do not get office until he actually goes to college, it will probably run much better.
	0

Nov 5, 2012, 02:55 PM	#14
sngx1275 macrumors regular Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Missouri	Adium for chat. Handles all? the IM protocols.
	0