Best Free Software For Macs-A Truncated List

As more of my friends become Mac users, I thought it would be helpful to turn them onto some free software that power users use on a regular basis. I just thought I would post this up as a guide for some programs that you may not be aware of. If you know me well you know that I am a militant Apple user.

For those of you who are new to Apple computers in general and are just getting into using your computer more, there are often Windows alternatives to the programs I list (even some of them are available on both platforms) so if you are interested, Google them or just shoot me an email and I'll give you the info.

Not all of this software is completely free. Some might be shareware, freeware, or cheapware. Not everyone is going to find value in this list, but hopefully you might find something useful. I am an avid believer in all things free, especially when it comes to software, but some of these developers do deserve donations or the small fee they request for their respective software.

1. Quicksilver
Quicksilver is a program that I use on a daily basis, in fact I use it more than any other program on my Mac. Available for both Intel and PPC Macs, it is a great replacement for Apple's Spotlight. I use it primarily to call up files and launch programs, but it is more powerful and useful than just that. If you are up for the challenge, Quicksilver can be customized do work in exactly the way you want it to, without having the program be bloated or overcomplicated. With a keystroke you can call up a program or file and immediately launch it or alter the file in any way you might need. Extremely useful if you don't want to actually open a file in a program to edit it in some way. Also, there is a tutorial for Quicksilver on Youtube.com, you can find it here.

2. Firefox
Even though Safari is a great web browser, Firefox is leaps and bounds better for the avid web surfer. There are thousands of ad-ons that streamline your browsing experience. Firefox's bookmark management is great, and the over-all user interface can be customized to your specific browsing habits. A couple ad-ons I can't live without are Ad-Blocker Plus, and Google Toolbar.

3. App Cleaner
If you ever want to fully remove a program from your Mac, this program is essential. Even though you can simply delete a program by dropping it into your trash bin, there are occasionally file extensions that don't get deleted with the program. App Cleaner searches for these files and makes sure they get deleted correctly. In addition to programs, you can also delete Dashboard widgets with ease, also eliminating any rogue files.

4. Adium
If you are like me, you use multiple chat clients including iChat, MSN Messenger, AOL Instant messenger, Yahoo, and others. Adium allows you to log into a wide variety of chat clients within one program, eliminating the need to log into more than one chat client. Like the other programs on this list, you can customize it extensively, and of course, being on a Mac it's gotta look and Adium's interface is quite aesthetically appealing.

5. Sticky Windows
Sticky Windows is a nifty little program that helps you clean up your workspace by letting you "tab" the windows, much like a web browser. It's really useful if you frequently have lots of windows open like I often do.

6. Freedom
Sometimes we all need a little motivation, Freedom does just that. It blocks your Internet connection for a specified time, allowing you to get things done. I easily get distracted by the Internet, and Freedom is a simple way to eliminate that distraction. One note though, if you set it, make sure you don't want the Internet to be on, in order to cancel Freedom, you must reboot your Mac.

7. Ecto
If you maintain a blog you need Ecto. It allows you to write your blog without being online, and also has additional features to streamline writing your blog. If you write daily in a blog, Ecto is a lifesaver.

8. Skype
Skype allows you to make phone calls to other Skype users for free, and to land and mobile lines very cheaply. You can also get many of the same amenities you can get with regular phone service, including voice mail and your own phone number which can be called from regular phone lines.

That's it for now. I have many others, and many suggestions for programs if you are looking for a free or low cost alternative for mainstream software.