Don't Let the Mac Get You Down - by Martina, ACE PIN '07-'08
Mac versions of Windows applications and features, plus Mac-only tricks and fun stuff!
Every once in a while someone dares to support their Windows preference to me by citing that due to the larger user base, many programs (or websites) are aimed at the Windows population rather than Mac users. While this may be true, I'd like to show you all who's boss (me) and what computer is so awesome it will rock your socks off (apple computers).
Windows Substitutes:
NeoOffice (Microsoft Office)
www.neooffice.org
For some unknown reason (cough monopolization of the market cough cough) everyone seems to be using Microsoft Office as their word processor, spreadsheet program, power point, blah blah blah. There really isn't any merit based reason that Microsoft rules all, but it is nice to be consistent. Too bad this type of consistency costs at east $150 (Office Ultimate costs $679!!!) So wouldn't it be nice if there was a free version? There is! Window users may be familiar with Open Office, an open source software that includes free versions of all your favorite Office programs! Go ahead, make a power point! Now, there are free versions of Office for Apples too, just check out NeoOffice. They automatically save as .odt file, but you can save them as .doc file when saving your document (or .ppt, etc.) They open all doc files with no problem too.
Adium (AOL Instant Messenger & Gtalk)
www.adiumx.com/index.php
Adium is an instant messenger that is quintessential of most Mac software, because it is actually way better than AIM even tries to be. First of all, Adium is way more secure than AIM, which means it is way harder/nearly impossible for people to spy on your conversation, unlike with AIM, where it is relatively a piece of cake. Secondly, you can use Adium not just to talk to your AOL buddies, but also your MSN buddies, Jabber, Yahoo, Yahoo Japan, ICQ, .Mac, Gadu-Gadu, Livejournal chat, Bonjour, Lotus Sametime, QQ, Novell Groupwise, Sip/Simple, Zephyr, or, OH YEAH, GOOGLE! At this time, Google Talk, a chat client that lets you chat with your Google Contacts without signing on to gmail, is only available for Windows but Adium lets you add your Google contacts as well. You get all this buy signing onto just one chat client. Wow, that's even better than loan consolidation.
Mail (Microsoft Outlook Express)
This program Comes with all Apple Computers
Pretty self explanatory. Mac Mail, or Apple Mail, or the stamp icon as it is commonly known is the Apple mail client that lets you check all of your email accounts using one program. Pretty nifty, huh?
Force-Quit (Control Alt Delete)
This feature comes with all Apple Computers
On Windows computers, if a program starts acting up and you need to shut down that sucker, or shut down your computer before it fries itself up, you use good old CTRL-ALT-DEL, right? Well, on a Mac, you can force quit your problem programs pressing Command-Option-Escape.
The "Right-Click"
This feature comes with all Apple Computers
It's true, the Mac also has a right click option. Just press your control key (ctrl) and then click your mouse. Ta-Dah! More options!
Delete versus Backspace
This feature comes with all Apple Computers
Most Windows keyboards have both Delete (eats the characters right of the cursor) and a Backspace (eats the characters left of it) buttons. On a Mac, you only need the delete key, which actually deletes to the left, and then if you would like to delete to the right, press both the Function (Fn) and the Delete key at the same time.
Fugu & Cyberduck FTP client (SSH)
http://www.columbia.edu/acis/software/fugu
http://cyberduck.ch/
You can use Fugu or Cyberduck to back up some of your documents on your Barnard server space. Check out our backing up FTP tutorial.
Windows Media Player or Flip4Mac
http://www.microsoft.com/
http://www.flip4mac.com/wmv.htm
Every once in a while I come across an imbedded video online that doesn't want to play on my computer. More often then not, these are Windows Media Files. Do not turn back now! You can still play these on a Mac using the Mac version of Windows Media Player. Or, even better, get Flip4Mac, an application which gives Quicktime (should already be on your Mac) the ability to play, import, and export Window Media files.
For Macs Only
Granted, I never really tried to personalize my computer too much when I had Windows. Maybe it was because it's tricky, or maybe because Microsoft likes to make users feel like lemmings. With Apple, I have discovered that I am unique, like a new blossom in a field of spring's first bloom. Anyways, check out how you can make your computer work for you, and not the other way around:
The F keys
This feature comes with all Apple Computers
Take the ride of your life over to your System Preferences, where you can configure your F keys to be shortcuts for just about anything. I use mine for custom views, like my desktop, all my open windows, or my Dashboard.
Dashboard
This feature comes with all Apple Computers
Dashboard is a program built totally for personal gratification. This is an example of Windows trying to copy Apple (The Konfabulator) but really, widgets aren't widgets if you can't pull them up with a click of a button. Widgets, for those of you not in the know, are fun little...tools? They're like mini applications that can all open at once like sticky notes, calculator, a clock, the weather forecast, a countdown to the next Harry Potter movie, or my personal favorite, the PandaCam, which lets me watch the Pandas at the San Diego Zoo.
Expose
This feature comes with all Apple Computers
Expose also is a personalization kind of trick. By setting it up in your System Preferences, you can just drag your mouse over to different corners in order to view your open applications, clear the desktop, or keep your screen saver from turning on while watching a movie. Again with the laziness
Quicksilver
http://quicksilver.blacktree.com/
Quicksilver is a program that lets you use your keyboard to open any application or file instead of opening up window after window. This sort of works double as a search engine. I've configured mine so that every time I press Command-Space, no matter what application I am running, my quicksilver window comes up and I just need to type the name of what I want. This is great for lazy people.
iStumbler
http://www.istumbler.net/
In the past, I've recommended an application called CoconutWifi, which would scan all the wireless networks your computer is in range of and let you know if they are encrypted or not. (Meaning, let you know if you need a password to access it.) However, the new Mac OS (Leopard, or 10.5) does this for you in Airport, so instead I'm letting you know about iStumbler, which also shows you the strength of the connection and other useful bits of info. But remember, while this is helpful if you're looking to pick up free wifi at a hotspot near you, it's not the most secure way of conducting online activity. This can also be used to scan and steal YOUR wireless network, so make sure to set up a Device Approval Appointment with Resnet before setting up your wireless router, and we'll make sure it's as secure as possible.
VLC
http://www.videolan.org/vlc/download-macosx.html
VLC is a media player that can play just about anything (except for windows media, but thankfully, there's an Apple version of Windows Media Player, eh?) It's good to have, especially for imported files.