Software advice for macbook

firefox for browing sites that dont support safari
perian and for viewing xvid/divx/mkv/flv etc in quicktime + front row and flip4mac for viewing WMV in quicktime. flip4mac also includes a WMV browser plug-in
VLC for the odd file type that perian cannot play.
neooffice - open source alternative to microsoft office.
adium - chat client that supports MSN, Yahoo, Jabber, Google Talk + more i.e. more than ichat supports
skype to video chat to people who dont use ichat.
transmission - bittorrent client
quicksilver - allows you to control your mac intuitively with keyboard shortcuts
the unarchiver - supports more archives than Mac OS X's built in archiver.
onyx for maintenance
handbrake to rip and encode dvds to mpeg4
mactheripper to rip dvds to video_ts folders
google earth - no explanation

these are all my essential apps and they are all free or open source. im sure more members will recommend other free apps.

 

I posted this in another thread the other day..
Good to get you started:

http://osx.iusethis.com/top
http://www.blacktree.com/
http://bestmacsoftware.org/
http://www.panic.com/

 

Doobi Essential OSX Software Addition List

Essential Programs
Adium (Multi-string messenger client - MSN, AOL, Yahoo!, etc.)
Xtorrent (No. 1 mac torrent client, awesome P2P downloading)
Google Earth (Sat images)
Sofa Control (Awesome apple remote use for all applications)
FileChute (FTPish thing using dot-mac)
Conversation (IRC)
iStumbler (Best airport tool)
Voice Candy (Photo booth for your chops)
Acquisition (P2P)
Firefox (Secondary browser)
Skype (Video conferencing)
TabView (.ptb viewer)
Paint
HexEdit

Buy
iWork (Mac office)
Adobe CS (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, etc)
Finale (Music Notation)
Logic Express (Awesome recording/mixing)
Toast Titanium (Pro disc burning utility)
Parallels Desktop (Alternate OS virtualization integration)

System Utilities/Add-Ons
SizzlingKeys (iTunes system-wide hotkeys)
Growl (System notifier)
Smart Scroll X (Awesome scroll smoother & inverter)
Inquisitor (Enhances safari search bar greatly)
MacFreePops (allow Hotmail into Mail)
MathType (Good looking equations for physics, etc)
Application Enhancer (platform for other add-ons)
Adobe Flash/Shockwave
Stuffit 10 (Archive Expand/Contract)
VISE X (Installer Driver)
Airport Extreme 802.11n Enabler

Multimedia Playback/Conversion/Utilities
VLC (Crappy but mega-multi-codec MP)
RealPlayer (Awesome self-format player)
SRS iWOW (Advanced 3D audio enhancement for iTunes)
DivX (Good codec with convert utility)
iPodDisk (Transfer music from iPod to computer)
Flip4Mac (Essential WMV plugin for Quicktime)
iSquint (Fast easy video convertor)
Airfoil (Allows all system audio through AirTunes)
Audio Hijack (Rip any audio)
HandBrake (DVD ripping)
VisualHub (Video conversion)

Widgets
iStat Pro (Comprehensive system stats)
IceTV (Aust TV Guide)
BatteryInfo (cool little bat meter)
SpeedSat (In/Out data meter)
IP (Shows current IP address)
Amazon Art (iTunes album art)
iStat Wireless (Tachometer stye wireless meter)
StopDashboard (Quit)


hope my list is good for you


doobs

 

Check out Dr Q's great thread