Back to a Mac
July 28th, 2009I’ve recently switched back to using a Mac after many years using Ubuntu.
I much prefer OS X to Ubuntu, mainly because some of the software it has is not available on Linux, such as iTunes, and TomTomHome.
What surprised me is how many essential applications and functions were missing from OS X (10.5.7), when compared to a default install of Ubuntu (9.04).
Here’s the list of essential software to bring OS X to the same level as Ubuntu 9.04:
- Adium multi-protocol chat client
- Growl desktop notifications
- MenuCalendarClock a better menu bar calendar
- GoogleNotifier gmail notifier for the menu bar
- iStat menus System resource graphs for the menu bar
- Transmission BitTorrent client
- VLC a video player that plays anything (almost)
- RealPlayer because VLC can’t play some RealPlayer content
- OpenOffice because Microsoft Office is too expensive
Whilst installing all this software, I noticed what a pain it was, compared to the simple ‘apt’ or Synaptic in Ubuntu. If only there was a package management system for OS X that would allow me to install all the software I want.
On top of the essential software above, I installed the following, to get me to my minimum machine specification:
- Tweetie Twitter client
- FruitMenu allows you to customise your Apple menu
- Firefox because Safari just doesn’t cut it
- MacVIM for editing code
- Netbeans for Java ME development
- Mpowerplayer SDK because Sun don’t produce an OS X version of the Java ME tools themselves
- Rubymine for Ruby development
- Git source control
- gitx superior gitk/git-gui clone for OS X
- FFXporter Free Flickr eXporter iPhoto plugin
- ffmpegx for all your video conversion needs
- Fugu SFTP/SCP client
- Facebook Exporter for iPhoto
If I ever need to rebuild this Mac, it’s going to be a real pain downloading and installing all those applications again.
August 3rd, 2009 at 8:22 pm
Looks like Bodega is trying to position itself as a one-stop shop for Mac apps.