Working with Apples, Part 2
Software
Before we begin, here is a link to Part 1, if you missed it: Working with Apples, Part 1
Okay, so I got the iMac, and swapped out the keyboard and mouse for a set I was much more comfortable with, and it was time to start using it as my “main computer”. Which means, installing programs to actually get stuff done.
The iMac comes with iTunes, for managing music and videos; and iPhoto which gives me basic image editing. It has Safari for surfing the Web. Also Apple Mail, for managing my email; iChat for IM-ing/video conferencing (limited to other iChat users); a quite basic text editor; DVDMaker; and Garage Band.
Which is not a bad set of utilities for an operating system to come with.. but IMHO, the best is Time Machine (I’d sure like to see a Windows version of that!)(Well, Genie Timeline is very close..)
When I was in the gizmo and gadget Superstore looking at keyboards, I also went over to the software aisles — there were three.
One was dedicated to PC games (making it one of my preferred aisles.. ahem).
And a four foot long section, of four shelves, constituted the “Mac Software” section.
A pitifully small selection.. especially when you’re standing in the aisles.
This pie chart might be too generous.. to the Mac.
There were two antivirus titles; about three dozen game titles (of those, 12 were “real games”, and not Solitaire); Microsoft Office for Mac; a couple of PDF-related titles, Quicken, iLife and iWork, and the rest were too uninteresting for me to mentally note.
I guess you could call it a “bright spot” — they did have one Call of Duty title…
So, I didn’t buy any (software) programs for the iMac.
- For Internet Safety, I downloaded Avast! for Mac (free)
- For Productivity, I downloaded Open Office for Mac, which allows me to handle my Microsoft Office documents and spreadsheets. (free)
[Some people prefer Libre Office, also free] - For notes/reminders/to do’s, I downloaded Evernote (free)
- For real chat/video I downloaded Skype (free)
- For HTML and blogging, I downloaded Komposer (free)
- For Remote Desktop, I downloaded TeamViewer (free)
I will be browsing CNet’s Download.com Apple software section for more titles when time allows. I didn’t see anything too interesting in the Apple Store..
With those titles, and a few more, I have an actually productive machine.
But I’m kind of out of luck in the gaming department,, though, there’s plenty of Time-waster type games,
Please feel free to suggest other titles you’d like to recommend to me, as a Comment (below)
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• About Tech Paul
I am a Retired computer & network technician. I used to think the machines were pretty cool. Now I don’t.
They’re anything but.
I regularly posted how-to’s and tricks & tips and general computing advice here starting in 2007. (Use the Search tool to find answers. But be aware, many are rather dated.) Sometimes I answered (your) specific questions in an article if I believed the answer was generally helpful to “everyone”. All the writing you see was my own, typos and all. There always is/was an implied “IMHO” in what you see here.
Note: You are responsible for using this blog and its content. I am in no way liable for any losses caused by user error, viruses and/or other malware, hardware or software failure, or any other conceivable reason.
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Tech - for Everyone 
All Blizzard Entertainment games are compatible with Mac, and Diablo III is a good dungeon grinder if you like those kind…Other than that don’t have any other suggestions, I play MMOs mostly and own a PC :P
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Samantha,
Thank you and… what MMO’s do you enjoy? (If you don’t mind me being a wee bit nosy.)
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I primarily play World of Warcraft. I also enjoy Guild Wars 2, but really only have time for one game (and sometimes Diablo III) and I’m very invested in my guild on WoW. I’ve only been playing any MMOs for a couple of years, so it’s interesting as a whole. :) (I also prefer MMORPGs because amazing story=you’ll probably hook me).
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“hook you”? Nah.
I have a nephew who’s into Guild Wars, and Minecraft. And I believe I have heard tell of WoW.
I do understand that these environments can be very “involving”. And that millions of people play.
I got my Dungeons & Dragons gaming out of my system back in the days of 20-sided dice. Now I like combat sim and stratsim and flightsim games.. If and when time ever allows.. which it hasn’t in a while.
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Not hooking like “addicting”, but hooking like a really good book hooking. If that makes any sense. :)
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Ah! I get it now.
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I’m getting ready to put together a “Hackintosh.” I don’t play games on the PC side, so the lack of games won’t bother me on the Mac.
I’ll be doing the Hackintosh route for the same reason I bought an iPad – enough clients are getting these things that I need to have some familiarity with them and getting them to work with “real world” stuff. I’ve found out that the Mac doesn’t “just work” within its own ecosystem as seamlessly as their marketing and fans would have you believe, and they DEFINITELY don’t “just work” when you introduce them to mixed PC environments and non-Apple peripherals!
I’ll be watching your posts to hopefully avoid some of the pain you’ll be enduring. Thanks in advance! :)
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TucsonMatt,
Shhhh. The truth could impact the Apple Reality Distortion Field.
(And you know the scene at the end of the first Star Wars? The round thingy in space goes ‘boom’?)
I hope/trust you will get a good enough experience via the hackintosh. But I’ve heard they can be a bit wonky.
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Hi Paul,
Now you understand WHY all the Mac and Linux OS people pay more for games during the Humble Bundles than PC users. They are HAPPY to get one game and getting 5 or more they are ecstatic. Here’s my wallet..how much do you need???
Anyways..try here for now. There are quite a few there..some not priced too bad. Games catalogue – GOG.com You need to join and you get the free games. The free ones are at the end of the list. They also have some decent sales. I signed up for their newsletters. I just bought 7 pinball games from GOG and Dotemu a couple weeks ago..Just setting up the last one… It’s not the same as the real tables but it’s better than nothing. Haven’t checked out Abandonware or the others yet…..
I checked Dotemu..no Mac Games.
Hope this helps…
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delenn13,
Too funny! I thought I have been pretty clear that I don’t have time for games anymore, but folks are proving very helpful. And, yes, looking at those shelves .. how small and empty they were .. made me feel true pity for Mac owners. (I was a bit surprised to see an old Microsoft game there: Age of Empires War Chiefs. That was a fun “empire-builder” type game [ala the “Civilization” series].)
I do thank you and will check the link. Perhaps a future article in there somewhere.. “Where to get good games for Mac” .. or some such. (Wonder what the true deal the game distributors is..?)
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Hi Paul,
Just remember….”All work and no play……”
P.S. Those pinball games were on sale for $1.50 a piece..LOL
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the machines at the burger joint take four quarters now (for 3 balls) … so, bargain!
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