Just got Powerbook...what apps recommended?

[Gareth C]

Just bought a Powerbook for my other half and was wondering if there is any particular software/apps that anyone recommends.

Not after advise on the big programs (photoshop, dreamweaver etc) more the small apps that are useful.

Any help appreciated, cheers...

[megatron]

VLC to watch your multi-region dvds and all your other porn movie files.

Adium for your messenging needs. Official Msn on Mac is cack.

Azureus for bittorrent.

[Gareth C]

Does VLC have all the codecs etc for divx?

[the shape]

Poisoned (for Mac access to Kazaa et al)
VLC (for reasons posted by megatron)
MPlayer (for when VLC decides to be a cock)
Acquisition (for smooth, sweet Gnutella access)
UnRarX (because Macs can do .rar too)
Toast 6 (because it's nicer than Panther's own burning software)
Tomato Torrent (works incredibly well for me; simple torrent software)
Broadband Optimizer (it might be witchcraft but it does no harm)

Besides lots of little tools specific to my photographic and sonic needs, that's about it for the 'small indispensable apps'. I can't remember if you need to download the DivX codecs separate to VLC, but if you do, it's not hard, just got to divx.com and 'ave 'em away. Oh also:

iTunes-LAME (integrates LAME mp3 encoding into iTunes so you don't have to dick about in Terminal to run it. Could not live without this. Makes iTunes usable.)

[FreelancePolice]

coincedently i just got a powerbook today, my friend uses adiumx for his messenger needs and swears by it there are lots of useful plugins recommended for it. Is it worth downloading firefox by the way? Safari seems just as capable but i wouldn't know if there are any speed advantages etc.

[007]

What's that app you should download to help with moving the cursor around, or something? Anyone know what on earth i'm on about?

[Valken]

Er, Sidetrack? o_O

[Firsty]

I personally prefer proteus to Adium...

[Btang84]

I also use Adium religiously, definitely better than MSN messenger, which doesn't seem to support anything.

The iLife apps are very nice, if you need them. I also use:

Safari & Firefox (always have one as backup)
Skype (cross-platform VoIP)
USB Overdrive (to speed up mouse pointer)

Others I use have been mentioned.

Use http://www.versiontracker.com for all your downloads, it's the most reliable site. Look through all the popular apps and you shouldn't go wrong. After that, it's a matter of personal preference as to which apps you'll start using.

[segages]

A couple been mentioned already...

Tomato Torrent - simple, quick and not a memory hog like Az
Transmit - my fave FTP client (Panic do some other good stuff too)
Camino - 'cos Safari is terrible with Java and Firefox is average. FF isn't native Cocoa either.
Quicksilver - control almost anything via a simple interface. Amazing little app. Try it, and you'll see why
Carbon Copy Cloner - clone your drive with incredible ease. Perfect for regular backups, before you do a big update, or if your main drive dies on you.
Sharepoints - for custom shares and sharing external drives over the network.
Konfabulator - widgets! before Tiger (10.4 out in a month or so) shows how it's really done

There's loads of others like VLC Player, Toast, Handbrake...etc, etc. Versiontracker is your friend

[Gareth C]

Cheers all, most helpful

[gIzzE]

Yeah Scott, it is sidetrack and the first thing I download, but I think that the new powerbooks now have trackpad scrolling built in.

[007]

I;ve installed it, what's it supposed to do?

[007]

Sidetracker has made my mouse totally **** now, what's up with that? Also, i can't use the touch pad as a click anymore.

What is it actually supposed to do?

[gIzzE]

Go into your system preferences and you will see an option for sidetrack, go in there and calibrate it.
You can use the touch pad to scroll now and turn tapping on and off.
It is just a more advanced driver for the touchpad.