Mac/Powebook users what software do you use?

[mtndew]

Im thinking about getting a G4 12in superdrive(reason is LBS) in a few weeks and wondering what other software do i need for the Mac other then Photoshop CS and Toaster 6 ti? My main use is to do saving/burning/editing while in the field or at work (seeing that our systems at work are a bite slow for photoshop) then finish it at home when i have time.

[Petergull]

I have 1Mac 17" and 12" G4 TiBook. Both work like a dream with PS CS and Toast. Can't think what else you would need :D

[mtndew]

petergull thanks just making sure that i have all the bases covered before i make this major of a purchase

[clorich]

That's all you NEED. However, I've recently been amazed by Renamer4mac (http://www.power4mac.com/renamer/) as one of the most useful tools I've ever had.

[alsmith]

I would say that it would be nice to know what you want to do with the mac.. I am a recent convert (withing the last two years) that still uses both platforms so I can help you a bit with this transfer if you like. Here is a list of software i have found invaluable.

Photoshop
Illustrator
Indesign
Microsoft Office (yup it works on the mac)
File Maker (equivelant of Access)
Dreamweaver
Fireworks
Freehand
Keynote
MSN Messanger

Some of the software that I love that comes wit the mac

Safair (web browser love it)
Stickies (my daily sticky notes.... and I abuse this privilage)
iChat
iSync
Garage Band
iPhoto (great for jpgs but does not handle RAW format)
iTunes.

Hardware I would definitely add if you can
iPod (this is a great tool for alot of reasons I don't have room to list)
Sandisk FireWire Card Reader (So fast and beautiful)
Microsoft Bluetooth mouse (if you get bluetooth built in which I recomend)
An extra power cord so you can leave one on your main desk.

Well I'll stop there so I don't blow the budget to much for you but all these are great additions for me.

hope that helps message me if you need anymore info or have questions

[Petergull]

Ah, that's quite a mouthh-watering list! I was only thinking of photo work when I posted my comment.

In addition I would add Adobe Go-Live for web design and New NotePad Pro (a brilliant note book - much smarter than Stickies).

FileMakerPro is far superior to Access. Couldn't live without iTunes! :)

[blinking8s]

Adobe Go-Live? nuh uh...evil..bad, very bad, not cool...must burn

hehe

[Petergull]

Actually, I don't know much about web building programmes. Go-live is what my son left me before he hopped off to the USA for a year. He must think it's simpe enough for me to use! What do you recommend for designing web sites on the Mac?

[alsmith]

Macromedia's products ie dreamweaver is the best I have found and is far better than go live. It is easier to use and I find that I work faster in it than I could in GoLive. But that's just my experience

[blinking8s]

well, be sure to stay away from Frontpage. I study webdesign in college...although I am seriously thinking of changing my major to photography

anyways...back on topic, html is east to learn, and to get the most out of macromedia products its better to know html, but if you dont you would probably be able to survive.

My software list includes...

Adobe
Photoshop CS
InDesign CS
Illustrator
After Effects 6.0

Macromedia
Dreamweaver MX 04
Flash MX 04 Pro
Freehand

of course you would not need all of these, some are for motion and video or printwork, and I have a lot more, but thats the basic design package I work with...

[alsmith]

I agree with the statement that learning html is the best way but the thing I like about dreamweaver is that the normal tasks are really sped up as opposed to programing it myself.

I'm still waiting to hear what mtndew is planning on doing with it mostly. That way we can help him the most....

MTNDEW YOU THERE???

[mtndew]

Alot of info to look up but to let ya'll know im going to start off with Photoshop CS & Toast 6 Ti also use Canon's Image Browser software(seeing its free). The new mac powerbook does came with ILife.
Ill be using the little mac for tweaking photos while im at work(seeing that the work systems are soooo slow) and while in the field then finish the rest when i get home, but ill be looking at web software in the near future. I wish i can get futher into this but im at work and i need to do a little research when i get home on some of the title that ya'll listed( i haven't heard of a few of the eg. Fireworks, freehand)
But Thanks for the info Petergull, Blinking8s, Clorich and Alsmith (by the way beautiful country you have up there in BC)

[alsmith]

no problem and if there is anything else we can do for you let us know.. and yes BC is a beautiful place (expensive but beautiful)

[blinking8s]

fireworks is a retardedly user friendly photoshop, and with the 04 release they added a whole lot of features. But its missing soooooo much. Several versions down the road it MIGHT catch up to photoshop...MIGHT...but in no way is it as powerful

[mtndew]

I like to thank you guys again and by the looks of it i need to find a student or teacher and save some cash. Most of the software titles that ya'll mention do come in bundles Adobe CS premium $680 and Studio MX (macromedia)w/ flash $280 thru Academic Superstore saving some killer cash

[blinking8s]

software is not cheap, it sucks...but prices drop more and more every year

[ScottJE22]

I'm a recent switcher myself -- I'll never go back :)

I'll echo those who have recommended Macromedia's Studio MX as well as PS CS. To expand [b]beyond[/i] the graphics, here are some that I love to have around....

Konfabulator (http://www.konfabulator.com/) -- The tagline is "Whatever you want it to be," and that is so accurate!! You download different "widgets" that can do everything from tell you the weather in your favorite cities, give you "mini" controls for iTunes, etc. Very addictive!

TigerLaunch (http://ranchero.com/tigerlaunch/) -- Should have been included with OS X! Puts a little "tiger paw" in the menu bar with a drop-down list of all your apps. Very useful when you want to use something that isn't on the dock and you don't want to have to click through "Mac HD --> Applications --> Utilities," etc.

NetNewsWire (http://ranchero.com/netnewswire/) -- A great RSS news feed reader. I use the "Lite" version which is free.

MacJournal (http://homepage.mac.com/dschimpf/) -- A great journaling program that can export into many popular blogging formats.

Transmit (http://www.panic.com/transmit/) -- My favorite OS X FTP client!!

[alsmith]

Here here to your list of simple software solutions ScottJE22 that is a great list and I use alot of those also

[ScottJE22]

Here here to your list of simple software solutions ScottJE22 that is a great list and I use alot of those also

Thanks!

There's a bunch of other stuff I use on-and-off, but these are the ones I wouldn't want to be without...

[DeeplyDigital]

A free HTML editor for OSX - "Taco html" can be found at
http://tacosw.com/index.html ,
no templates though - but you could open existing templates and work on them with Taco.
Works a treat if you have some prior knowledge of website building.

For photos - PSCS is a dream on Mac, also for .CRW and upsampling.
Had my 17" Powerbook for 2 months and have never looked back.

Enjoy!