So... I just bought an iMac (Essential software suggestions)

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  ozhunter on 28/05/2015 - 17:24

  Xee
  Chrome
  Hyperdock
  Xtrafinder

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  scotty on 28/05/2015 - 17:46

  Homebrew.

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  nahi11 on 28/05/2015 - 17:46

  +14

  Windows

  • 

    [Deactivated] on 28/05/2015 - 22:00

    Beat me to it

    • 

      Forfiet on 28/05/2015 - 23:42

      Time to send your Mac to Boot Camp!!! Now fall in soldier!

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  verio on 31/05/2015 - 07:52

  +1

  There is a relevant "New to the App Store" section in the Mac App Store which is going to be relevant.

  Do not install any antivirus software, it won't be helpful.

  The rest depends on whether you have an iPhone or not.

  • 

    kfuerza on 01/06/2015 - 13:15

    Thanks for the anti-virus tip. That takes care of one of my concerns.

    Thanks everyone for the help. Not going to install Windows on the machine as I'm looking forward to experimenting and learning the Mac Os. Also trying to better understand from a user perspective the 'ease of use' of staying within the Apple ecosystem

    The main purpose is to replace an aging windows laptop and provide a simple, clean environment for the family to use. (They are all on iOS devices.)

    • 

      verio on 02/06/2015 - 08:22

      In this case my advise would be not to push too hard with installing 3rd party apps that replicate Windows experience. Things like photo viewers or file managers that people tend to install on a Mac after switching have hardly anything in common with the user experience that Apple meant.

      Try to get familiar with Apple apps first, spend some time organising your photos and music into libraries (hello Photos and iTunes). After that continue with 3rd party apps from the Mac App Store to see what might improve your workflows.

      • 

        kfuerza on 02/06/2015 - 09:10

        That's precisely the plan. :)

        I have however added Picasa to the mix as I have found Photos to be deficient in two key areas of my anal-retentive photo organising.

        1. Can't GPS tag photos (I have an older digital camera that I use from time to time)
        2. I haven't quite figured out how to bulk update photos in…er.Photos to change the filename to the date/timestamp.

        2 is important mainly for wifey. She'll go to Big W and print of some photos for making albums and whatnot. The photo prints put the filename on the back of the photo and having the date/timestamp as the file-name makes it easy for her to organise the prints in order.

        My extensive research has shown that Picasa does it the easiest. Just mass select the photos. Press F2 leave the filename field blank and keep the 'Date Time' tickbox selected. It will convert all the filenames to date/time based on your PC's time format.
        (Windows Protip: Make your system dateformat (YYYY/MM/DD) and time 24 hour clock (HH:MM:SS).
        This will put everything in military time and make it simple when looking in the folders.
        The BIG problem with Picasa is that the MOV videos taken by iOS devices use GMT for the time. :( Soooo….you have to manually update your video times to your timezone. Hopefully, once I do more research in Photos I can find a way to eliminate this issue using Mac software.

• 

  Davros on 02/06/2015 - 09:12

  -1

  "So… I just bought an iMac"

  There there <pats on head>

  • 

    Forfiet on 03/06/2015 - 14:02

    But did you buy a jeep? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NL_xYt32lyQ

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  [Deactivated] on 04/06/2015 - 16:57

  uTorrent
  You don't need antivirus if you're not an idiot.
  Chrome, Firefox as a backup.
  Bartender, it costs money but the Mac notification centre can get 'hectic' after you install a few Apps. Bartender will clean it up for you.
  X-Code and Brackets/Sublime Code if you're interested in Coding.
  MS Office

  That's about all I can think of. :)

  • 

    kfuerza on 04/06/2015 - 19:17

    +1

    Much obliged!

    Happy to report that after 15+ years in the IT industry, I'm not an idiot!

    The suggestion to not worry about antivirus validates my assumptions.

    Took advantage of the recent corporate email change and grabbed the mac versions of office from the M$ home use program.

    Already an office 365 subscriber but thought very grab the HUP version too just in case.

    o365 is full versions now but.. No harm in having a backup if I decide to leave that behind later.

    • 

      scrimshaw on 04/06/2015 - 20:58

      +1

      Be careful of bloatware on Apple ecosystems now. Back then it was uncommon for mac software to come with 'bundles' however as of late many big-name software companies, even Oracle (Java) now bundles the Ask toolbar into their Java Installer..

      And this is how you remove it — through a well hidden option.

      You may not only need to have an antivirus nowadays (due to increase in malware in general), but you now need to be extra vigilant now because Mac crapware / adware is on the rise.

    • 

      [Deactivated] on 08/06/2015 - 16:35

      I also forgot, I would highly recommend:
      AirFlick (Lets you said files to an Apple TV, removes iTunes restrictions)
      PopcornTime.io (Free movies and TV, streaming from torrent files)
      ShiftIt (Adds Windows "snapping" feature to OS X)
      Chrome Remote Desktop (If you're a student, this will save you when you accidentally leave that assignment on the desktop at home!)
      Lightshot Screenshot (Amazing tool for taking screenshots, automatically uploads them to Imgur)

      A lot of these are less popular applications that you'd only install if you were 'that type of user'. I hope I could've helped! :) Enjoy the new computer!