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

[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

 

[GGJstudios]

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]

Evernote is great. Couldn't live without it.

 

[Virinprew]

I think how to charge battery is important.

 

[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.

 

[T5BRICK]

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]

Pages, Chrome, Keynote, and a few games.

 

[throAU]

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

 

[applebro]

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

 

[A Hebrew]

^

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

 

[markus843]

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]

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]

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]

Adium for chat. Handles all? the IM protocols.

 

[Saladinos]

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