Friday, November 12, 2004
11:55 PM
I've starred my favorites-->*

Essential Mac software: "As a college student, I need special tools to get things done. Here's a list of the applications I use on my Mac. (Applications included with Mac OS X have been excluded from this list.)

• 3ivx -- Occasionally someone sends you a movie in a mysterious MPEG-4 format like "DivX" or "Xvid". 3ivx is a QuickTime plugin that will let you view these movies inside QuickTime Player.
  
• Audio Hijack Pro -- I don't need this program very often, but when I do, it's a lifesaver. It lets you capture audio streams from applications designed to keep their audio to themselves, e.g. RealPlayer, Windows Media, etc.
  
• **BBEdit -- The tastiest text editor. It's got the kitchen sink, the blender, the food processor, and the measuring cups.
  
• CocoaMySQL -- I only use this once in a great while to back up geekable.com. But it works great each time!
  
• ecto -- How do my words make it from my computer to this website? ecto of course!
  
• FontCard -- This makes your Font menu WYSIWIG in every single application. Pretty damned spiffy.
  
• GraphicConverter -- This is like BBEdit for images, but without Photoshop's hefty price tag.
  
• Little Snitch -- Kind of like ZoneAlarm for outbound traffic. It lets you know which programs are trying to use the Internet, and lets you allow or deny the connection in real time.
  
• Mathematica for Students -- I'm a math major. 'Nuff said.
• **Microsoft Office -- For when you need to communicate with the unwashed masses. (I haven't upgraded to 2004 yet because of the constant glitches reported by Macintouch and Macfixit.)
  
• ***NetNewsWire -- NNW keeps track of the blogosphere via RSS/Atom and tells you exactly which sites have updated their content. This saves incredible amounts of your time!
  
• OmniDiskSweeper -- Your hard drive's gigabytes fill up so quickly. This program lets you see where the biggest files are hiding.
  
• **OmniGraffle -- When I need to create a quick diagram, and my pen is dry, I turn to OmniGraffle.
  
• QuickAccessCM -- Not an application, but it adds desperately needed functionality to the Finder. Add Exposé and a Logitech MX-500, and you'll be flinging files around at breakneck speed.
  
• Remote Desktop Connection -- Microsoft sells Virtual PC, but it's a waste of money if you already have a physical Windows PC and a home network. Just use this free Microsoft program to log in to Windows remotely.
  
• RockNES -- When you need to blow off some steam and play Dr. Mario or Zelda, you'll want RockNES. (Dr. Mario and Zelda not included.)
  
• TeXShop -- A fantastic GUI for TeX/LaTeX. Run your LaTeX markup through, and get beautiful mathematical output in PDF form.
  
• Transmit -- Fetch is so Mac OS 9. When you need to FTP, use a program written for Mac OS X.
  
• Unison -- From the makers of Transmit, this is the definitive Mac USENET reader. Panic sure makes a lot of definitive programs!
  
• **VLC -- If you receive a movie or some music but can't seem to open it, try VLC. It's a multimedia Swiss army knife.
  

"

(Via Geekable.com.)