mac software on a limited budget
"All the software is so expensive!" This is a complaint that is often voiced by those new to the Mac community - and usually with good reason.
With a little bit of research, it is possible to get professional level software using Open Source and Free/Shareware. It does exist for Macs - so this is just a brief mini guide of five essential free or lo-cost applications that do exactly what they say on their respective tins.
Each have been deliberately chosen so that together they cover a broad range of interests:
1. Desktop Manager (Open Source): OK, so this is really a ‘borrowed’ feature from the Linux world, but having the ability to manage virtual desktops on Macs is invaluable – especially when juggling multiple windows in considerably less than 19” of screen real estate. The OS X native environment means that you can flip between desktops with that extra bit of swirling, flipping, rotating sparkle. Currently, this is in early its Alpha stages, but I think that this will continue to grow to become an essential part of any Mac user's environment.
2. Audio Hijack Pro (Shareware: Pro $32; Standard $16): This program is sufficiently mature in it release history to gain such a level of completeness in its features. In a nutshell, this application captures audio. But the difference is that it can capture audio from anywhere. Hard wired through Line In is no problem, but the real killer feature is its ability to capture audio from any software residing on the Mac! When delving into its features – it is then that you realise that a number of years of ago, such software would have been consigned to the most sophisticated studios. It is also highly configurable – with the user being able to define the compression method and quality, whether to apply Audio Unit effects to the capture, along the software’s tight integration with Applescript. This remains a firm favourite. Other noteworthy products from the same developers include Nicecast (broadcast over the web through iTunes), and the forthcoming Slipstream (send any audio through the Airport Express - a worthy companion to Audio Hijack).
3. Gimp (Open Source): Everyone knows that Photoshop cannot be surpassed for high-end image manipulation and editing, but what if you can’t muster the hefty asking price? There are cheaper applications available, but for the best cost:feature ratio, then nothing can beat the Gimp. The GNU Image Manipulation Program (to give it the full title) project has been running since 1995 on Linux. This is a port, but the size and length of its development staff have brought this software to very professional level of use. Oh – and its free. Unlike other applications on this list, this run in the X11 Windows environment.
4. VLC (Open Source): When it come to playing compressed video files, the transplanted Mac version of Windows Media player can be a bit limp. I was very surprised on loading this up, to see how effortlessly it handles different file formats, compressions and codecs (and it can even play VCDs! Does anyone still make them?!) If it ends avi, mpg, or some other similar format; if it comes on a 12cm shiny disc - then it will probably play.
5. Proteus (Shareware: $15) & Adium (Freeware): MSN Messenger on Mac is weak (missing video chat and it's features lags behind its Windows counterpart). If you’re coming to Mac from a Windows background, its likely you don’t know enough people who use iChat. Then just to annoy things, its probably true you know a few other people who use Yahoo! What is needed is an Instant Messenger that somehow brings these protocols together under one roof. I have actually included two, because two months after registering Proteus, I discovered Adium! Bad timing! Both of these applications are compatible with the more popular IMs around today – so which should you go for? Proteus offers a more integrated Aqua environment and dovetails nicely in with your Address Book contacts (due to its Cocoa development framework). Adium is (I think) the more popular of the two, even though it does veer quite a distance from standard Apple interfaces. Of the two, Adium supports more IM services, and is able to be customised - i.e. interface, theme, sounds. And to cap it all, it has a green duck for a mascot (although this can be changed...)
With a little bit of research, it is possible to get professional level software using Open Source and Free/Shareware. It does exist for Macs - so this is just a brief mini guide of five essential free or lo-cost applications that do exactly what they say on their respective tins.
Each have been deliberately chosen so that together they cover a broad range of interests:
1. Desktop Manager (Open Source): OK, so this is really a ‘borrowed’ feature from the Linux world, but having the ability to manage virtual desktops on Macs is invaluable – especially when juggling multiple windows in considerably less than 19” of screen real estate. The OS X native environment means that you can flip between desktops with that extra bit of swirling, flipping, rotating sparkle. Currently, this is in early its Alpha stages, but I think that this will continue to grow to become an essential part of any Mac user's environment.
2. Audio Hijack Pro (Shareware: Pro $32; Standard $16): This program is sufficiently mature in it release history to gain such a level of completeness in its features. In a nutshell, this application captures audio. But the difference is that it can capture audio from anywhere. Hard wired through Line In is no problem, but the real killer feature is its ability to capture audio from any software residing on the Mac! When delving into its features – it is then that you realise that a number of years of ago, such software would have been consigned to the most sophisticated studios. It is also highly configurable – with the user being able to define the compression method and quality, whether to apply Audio Unit effects to the capture, along the software’s tight integration with Applescript. This remains a firm favourite. Other noteworthy products from the same developers include Nicecast (broadcast over the web through iTunes), and the forthcoming Slipstream (send any audio through the Airport Express - a worthy companion to Audio Hijack).
3. Gimp (Open Source): Everyone knows that Photoshop cannot be surpassed for high-end image manipulation and editing, but what if you can’t muster the hefty asking price? There are cheaper applications available, but for the best cost:feature ratio, then nothing can beat the Gimp. The GNU Image Manipulation Program (to give it the full title) project has been running since 1995 on Linux. This is a port, but the size and length of its development staff have brought this software to very professional level of use. Oh – and its free. Unlike other applications on this list, this run in the X11 Windows environment.
4. VLC (Open Source): When it come to playing compressed video files, the transplanted Mac version of Windows Media player can be a bit limp. I was very surprised on loading this up, to see how effortlessly it handles different file formats, compressions and codecs (and it can even play VCDs! Does anyone still make them?!) If it ends avi, mpg, or some other similar format; if it comes on a 12cm shiny disc - then it will probably play.
5. Proteus (Shareware: $15) & Adium (Freeware): MSN Messenger on Mac is weak (missing video chat and it's features lags behind its Windows counterpart). If you’re coming to Mac from a Windows background, its likely you don’t know enough people who use iChat. Then just to annoy things, its probably true you know a few other people who use Yahoo! What is needed is an Instant Messenger that somehow brings these protocols together under one roof. I have actually included two, because two months after registering Proteus, I discovered Adium! Bad timing! Both of these applications are compatible with the more popular IMs around today – so which should you go for? Proteus offers a more integrated Aqua environment and dovetails nicely in with your Address Book contacts (due to its Cocoa development framework). Adium is (I think) the more popular of the two, even though it does veer quite a distance from standard Apple interfaces. Of the two, Adium supports more IM services, and is able to be customised - i.e. interface, theme, sounds. And to cap it all, it has a green duck for a mascot (although this can be changed...)
This entry was posted
on Thursday, February 10, 2005 at 10:03 pm.
