Mac question...

[Algernonep]

I'm new to Mac and I just ordered a 21.5" iMac. Still waiting to receive it. The mail out here on this ship isn't the fastest. I was just wondering if DPS could give me some ideas on 'must have' software for my new iMac. Any thoughts are appreciated!

[sk66]

OOH, you need the Adobe CS4 Master Collection!

[Jim Poor]

Depends on what you are trying to do.

Lightroom, Photoshop - you can switch to OS X license if you get in touch with Adobe.

Carbon Copy Cloner is good for making backups and such.

Fetch is good for FTP.

[Algernonep]

Originally Posted by sk66

OOH, you need the Adobe CS4 Master Collection!

Master Collection?
I'll check it out.
Thanks!

[Algernonep]

Wow DPS is so helpful...lol
I went to a Mac forum and I wasn't too happy...

[Algernonep]

Originally Posted by Jim Poor

Depends on what you are trying to do.

Lightroom, Photoshop - you can switch to OS X license if you get in touch with Adobe.

Carbon Copy Cloner is good for making backups and such.

Fetch is good for FTP.

Well, I'm of course looking for photography stuff and also just general needs for a computer. Example.... CD/DVD burning, business software, etc.

Thanks Jim!
I got to start writing this stuff down...

[Jim Poor]

CD/DVD burining can be done without any additional programs, but TOAST 10 is good.

[karen_s]

Yea for Mac!

The Adobe Creative Suite is nice if you got some dollars laying around. (I sure wish I did.)

Outside of photography software like Lightroom, Aperture, or Photoshop, you might check out iWorks. It has some handy little apps that are useful for home use or small business. It has a page layout/word processor package, a presentation (slides) package, and a little spread sheet app. I think I got the package for $100. Pretty nice for the price.

About the only other software I have is something called SketchUp by Google. It's a 3d drawing package and it's FREE! It's not related to photography, it's just a fun thing to play with once in awhile :-)

Enjoy your new mac!

[dcclark]

Originally Posted by Jim Poor

Carbon Copy Cloner is good for making backups and such.

Time Machine, which is free and built in to OS X, does a much better job of doing backups.

Besides the things already mentioned, I LOVE Quicksilver. It's similar to Spotlight, in that it finds files or applications, but it learns what you "mean" when you type a few letters, an acronym, or an abbreviation for a commonly used item.

[Nicole]

+1 for Quicksilver

The other thing I use constantly is iStat Menus. I replaced the default calendar with that one because I'm always looking at other time zones with family living and traveling overseas. Plus it gives me info on how much memory / cpu is being used at any given time.

Also Adium if you use more than one instant messaging program.

And I use OnyX for any cleaning / system maintenance type stuff.

Then there are at least 2 programs I couldn't live without, but neither is free. The first is Delicious Library because it keeps track of all my books. The second is 1Password because it helps me make better passwords and remembers them for me.

Those are some of my fav non-photography programs that are pretty general.