Macbook Pro App suggestions

bkitchen0406 · Jan 3, 2013, 08:31 AM

What apps would you recommend to a new macbook pro owner. Excluding the obvious apps made by apple.

Thank you

Fed · Jan 3, 2013, 08:42 AM

I mainly use Pocket, Day One, VLC and iStat Menus. Other than that, it's the usual Google and Microsoft suites and a few games.

Ploki · Jan 3, 2013, 08:47 AM

Why on earth do you people even use macbook pros? just use airs... I know I would.

old-wiz · Jan 3, 2013, 08:51 AM

there are already a gazillion threads about this. a search will find a lot of them.

App suggestions depend entirely on what you are planning to do with the machine. Video editing? web design? writing books?

Fed · Jan 3, 2013, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ploki

Why on earth do you people even use macbook pros? just use airs... I know I would.

I like being able to grip my technology products.

And, of course, the Air is for kids

bkitchen0406 · Jan 3, 2013, 08:54 AM

I am a network Engineer at work, but when I come home I want a powerful computer that do anything creative, entertainment, or productivity wise. This computer also has to be as ultra portable as possible and reliable as possible. I use to have a macbook air, and it was not powerful enough for my needs. It's a wonderful product though.

To answer your question, some people actually use all the raw horse power the macbook pro provides and need something portable.

Wicked1 · Jan 3, 2013, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ploki

Why on earth do you people even use macbook pros? just use airs... I know I would.

I had an MBA and returned it for a MBP 2012 BC storage is way too much money on a MBA then I can get on a MBP, also I can have a HDD where the Superdrive is, so having two drives is a bonus. I did love the portability of the AIR. but the fact that I could not upgrade the ram and SSD without buying a whole other unit was frustrating, even though OWC has aftermarket SSD's, just cost too much.

I try to use the minimal apps needed, however since I do a lot of video editing and creation, I have loaded:

vlc

coconut battery

Firefox - some web sites just do not work perfectly on Safari and I do not like chrome

MS Office 2011 - iWorks does not play with Office files well and I use Office for work, so it was an easy fit for me

Stuffit Deluxe for compressed files

Carbon Copy Cloner - many uses

Barna Biro · Jan 3, 2013, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bkitchen0406

I am a network Engineer at work, but when I come home I want a powerful computer that do anything creative, entertainment, or productivity wise. This computer also has to be as ultra portable as possible and reliable as possible. I use to have a macbook air, and it was not powerful enough for my needs. It's a wonderful product though.

To answer your question, some people actually use all the raw horse power the macbook pro provides and need something portable.

Why not start with installing the same software you had on your Air? I mean, you're not someone who has never worked on a computer before... not sure what were you expecting when asking: "what software should I get?" As if we have a clue who you are, what you are / were doing in the past or what you are planning on doing...

Everyone has different needs and likes. Would it really help you if I'd enumerate the software I find useful for my professional interests ( programming ) or hobby? I highly doubt it...

Just saying...

Mdwall · Jan 3, 2013, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ploki

Why on earth do you people even use macbook pros? just use airs... I know I would.

Because some folks want a 15" screen perhaps?

trigonometry · 03:08 PM

Wifi Explorer - in depth wifi breakdown
Bartender - customize the way menu bar icons are displayed
iStat Menu - monitor system
Diptic - photo montages
Cheatsheet - hold down command key in any app to see all shortcuts
Hazel - easy Mac automation tool
Detune - great for getting content on/off iOS devices when switching Macs
GeekTool - customize your Mac desktop
Pinpoint - customize your pointer with flames, text, fullscreen crosshairs, etc.
Caffeine - keeps your screen from sleeping
TorBrowser - explore the depths of the internet
uTorrent - self explanatory
BBedit - text editor
Omnifocus - high powered task manager
Things - friendly task manager
Colorstrokes - another great photo editor
Pixelmator - superb photo editor
Chrome - good alternative browser to Safari
Handbrake - convert movie formats
Ten Thumbs - typing tutor
Quickres - change screen resolutions
DaisyDisk - elaborate disk space manager for people with small hard drives
PixelSafari - pixelated old school Safari browser
Textwrangler - free text editor

GGJstudios · Jan 3, 2013, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bkitchen0406

What apps would you recommend to a new macbook pro owner. Excluding the obvious apps made by apple.

This may be useful:

Helpful Information for Any Mac User (includes several resources for app recommendations)
Portables Fast Start: The New User's Guide to Apple Notebooks

Ploki · Jan 3, 2013, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wicked1

I had an MBA and returned it for a MBP 2012 BC storage is way too much money on a MBA then I can get on a MBP, also I can have a HDD where the Superdrive is, so having two drives is a bonus. I did love the portability of the AIR. but the fact that I could not upgrade the ram and SSD without buying a whole other unit was frustrating, even though OWC has aftermarket SSD's, just cost too much.

I try to use the minimal apps needed, however since I do a lot of video editing and creation, I have loaded:

vlc

coconut battery

Firefox - some web sites just do not work perfectly on Safari and I do not like chrome

MS Office 2011 - iWorks does not play with Office files well and I use Office for work, so it was an easy fit for me

Stuffit Deluxe for compressed files

Carbon Copy Cloner - many uses

Funny, the whole first paragraph applies to rMBP.

I don't like the fact what apple did with the MBP sector. It annoys me, they never did that, they just replaced a model and be done with it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mdwall

Because some folks want a 15" screen perhaps?

Makes sense.

runebinder · Jan 3, 2013, 03:05 PM

BetterTouchTool, you can customise your trackpad gestures and enables Windows snap functionality. My favourite piece of freeware.

Ledgem · Jan 20, 2013, 05:56 PM

I'll list some of my favorites.

Bartender (mentioned previously)

iStat Menus (also mentioned previously)

CopyLess - an extended clipboard manager. You know how the system clipboard replaces its contents every time you perform a copy command? CopyLess stores copied text, images, etc. and allows you to easily re-paste older items without having to go to the original source. The free "lite" version in the app store stores a maximum of 10 items; the paid version can store up to 100. (There are a few other programs that perform similar functions but have different interfaces; CuteClips and Clips are two that I've used in the past, but I prefer CopyLess.)

RipIt - for DVD ripping. Creates an image file that can be opened in DVD Player, and rips out copy protection. If you have a lot of DVDs that you want to encode and some disk space to spare, RipIt can be a nice first step in the process, followed up by using HandBrake and queuing all of the files. RipIt has an encoder built-in, but I always use HandBrake.

HandBrake - for DVD encoding and light re-encoding of other media files.

Transmission - free BitTorrent client.

gfxCardStatus - allows you to see whether you're using the integrated graphics chip or the discrete graphics card. You can also disable dynamic switching and force the system to use integrated-only or discrete-only. Some programs inappropriately activate the discrete graphics card and drain your battery very quickly in the process; I use this program to force integrated-only.

Meteorologist - a free weather application that resides in your menu bar. There are a number of other paid types that look a bit snazzier. I used to use the weather widgets in Dashboard heavily, but it looks like Apple might remove Dashboard at some point in the future; hence I'm transitioning to menu bar applications. (If you have Bartender, having more menu bar applications isn't a big deal.)

Little Snitch - a network monitor that alerts you to and allows you to block outgoing network connections. I like to know if a program is "phoning home" or connecting to weird websites, and Little Snitch allows me to see that and block those connections. It would also potentially alert me to an infection on my system if and when that infection attempted to make connections.

Reeder - RSS client.

Those are the applications I use that would appeal for general usage, I'd imagine. If you're constantly on the lookout for new applications, I can recommend the website Appstorm. They frequently look over different applications and give an explanation and review of their functions. It's pretty useful - I've discovered two or three new applications through them.

Jan 3, 2013, 08:31 AM	#1
bkitchen0406 macrumors member Join Date: Feb 2012	Macbook Pro App suggestions What apps would you recommend to a new macbook pro owner. Excluding the obvious apps made by apple. Thank you
	0

Jan 3, 2013, 02:50 PM	#10
trigonometry macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: South Carolina	Wifi Explorer - in depth wifi breakdown Bartender - customize the way menu bar icons are displayed iStat Menu - monitor system Diptic - photo montages Cheatsheet - hold down command key in any app to see all shortcuts Hazel - easy Mac automation tool Detune - great for getting content on/off iOS devices when switching Macs GeekTool - customize your Mac desktop Pinpoint - customize your pointer with flames, text, fullscreen crosshairs, etc. Caffeine - keeps your screen from sleeping TorBrowser - explore the depths of the internet uTorrent - self explanatory BBedit - text editor Omnifocus - high powered task manager Things - friendly task manager Colorstrokes - another great photo editor Pixelmator - superb photo editor Chrome - good alternative browser to Safari Handbrake - convert movie formats Ten Thumbs - typing tutor Quickres - change screen resolutions DaisyDisk - elaborate disk space manager for people with small hard drives PixelSafari - pixelated old school Safari browser Textwrangler - free text editor Last edited by trigonometry; Jan 3, 2013 at 03:08 PM.
	0

Jan 3, 2013, 03:05 PM	#13
runebinder macrumors 6502a Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Nottingham, UK	BetterTouchTool, you can customise your trackpad gestures and enables Windows snap functionality. My favourite piece of freeware. __________________ 15" 2012 Retina MacBook Pro i7 2.3GHz/8GB/256GB 10.8.2 15" 2010 MacBook Pro, i7 2.66GHz, 8GB RAM, 256GB OCZ Octane SATA II, 10.8.2
	0

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Jan 3, 2013, 08:42 AM	#2
Fed macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Cheshire, England	I mainly use Pocket, Day One, VLC and iStat Menus. Other than that, it's the usual Google and Microsoft suites and a few games.
	0

Jan 3, 2013, 08:47 AM	#3
Ploki macrumors 68000 Join Date: Jan 2008	Why on earth do you people even use macbook pros? just use airs... I know I would.
	1

Jan 3, 2013, 08:51 AM	#4
old-wiz macrumors 603 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: West Suburban Boston Ma	there are already a gazillion threads about this. a search will find a lot of them. App suggestions depend entirely on what you are planning to do with the machine. Video editing? web design? writing books?
	0

Jan 3, 2013, 08:54 AM	#6
bkitchen0406 Thread Starter macrumors member Join Date: Feb 2012	I am a network Engineer at work, but when I come home I want a powerful computer that do anything creative, entertainment, or productivity wise. This computer also has to be as ultra portable as possible and reliable as possible. I use to have a macbook air, and it was not powerful enough for my needs. It's a wonderful product though. To answer your question, some people actually use all the raw horse power the macbook pro provides and need something portable.
	0

Jan 20, 2013, 05:56 PM	#14
Ledgem macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Northeast USA	I'll list some of my favorites. Bartender (mentioned previously) iStat Menus (also mentioned previously) CopyLess - an extended clipboard manager. You know how the system clipboard replaces its contents every time you perform a copy command? CopyLess stores copied text, images, etc. and allows you to easily re-paste older items without having to go to the original source. The free "lite" version in the app store stores a maximum of 10 items; the paid version can store up to 100. (There are a few other programs that perform similar functions but have different interfaces; CuteClips and Clips are two that I've used in the past, but I prefer CopyLess.) RipIt - for DVD ripping. Creates an image file that can be opened in DVD Player, and rips out copy protection. If you have a lot of DVDs that you want to encode and some disk space to spare, RipIt can be a nice first step in the process, followed up by using HandBrake and queuing all of the files. RipIt has an encoder built-in, but I always use HandBrake. HandBrake - for DVD encoding and light re-encoding of other media files. Transmission - free BitTorrent client. gfxCardStatus - allows you to see whether you're using the integrated graphics chip or the discrete graphics card. You can also disable dynamic switching and force the system to use integrated-only or discrete-only. Some programs inappropriately activate the discrete graphics card and drain your battery very quickly in the process; I use this program to force integrated-only. Meteorologist - a free weather application that resides in your menu bar. There are a number of other paid types that look a bit snazzier. I used to use the weather widgets in Dashboard heavily, but it looks like Apple might remove Dashboard at some point in the future; hence I'm transitioning to menu bar applications. (If you have Bartender, having more menu bar applications isn't a big deal.) Little Snitch - a network monitor that alerts you to and allows you to block outgoing network connections. I like to know if a program is "phoning home" or connecting to weird websites, and Little Snitch allows me to see that and block those connections. It would also potentially alert me to an infection on my system if and when that infection attempted to make connections. Reeder - RSS client. Those are the applications I use that would appeal for general usage, I'd imagine. If you're constantly on the lookout for new applications, I can recommend the website Appstorm. They frequently look over different applications and give an explanation and review of their functions. It's pretty useful - I've discovered two or three new applications through them.
	0