Mac Users Prefer Free Mac Utility Software.

It was a great week for free Mac software. Not only did we compile a list of the lastest free Mac utility software, Mac users chimed in with their own free listings.

Everyone has their own favorite Mac utility applications. The free ones are especially sweet.

Mac user “mike” had his list of freebies:

“iPhoto Library Manager is good for separating different types of picture library - I keep my web graphics for various projects in one library, with my digicam photos in another.  ssX is a great Soulseek port. 

OnyX is a brilliant Mac optimisation app.  Wiretap is good for recording miscellaneous audio from your Mac, useful to grab the odd bit of internet radio.”

VJ “cal6n” puts his Mac to good use with free applications for the music scene.

“As a VJ, MorphX is great for generating clips to feed my “pro” apps, and
it’s FREE!

Click Here for Morph.

I’m also a (im)mature student, studying Nano at Uni. Molecular models
written on PCs were a real pain til I found “iMol”. The movies it has generated of “certain” molecules have made it into my VJ
library, as well.

Use it, Love it!  Click Here to love it or leave it.”

I’ve had difficulty figuring out Quicksilver, but it’s free and many Mac users swear by it. That includes Mac user “curious little monkey.”

“*Definitely* QuickSilver. I have uterly no idea what I’d do without it.  It’s the best of the launchbars, for its ability to seamlessly blend with OS X, both in operation and design.”

Had a chance to check out Apple’s Mac mini yet? You’ll be surprised at how small the little bugger is. Mac user “bob” from AOL had this comment:

“I think the biggest point of the Mac Mini is missed by everyone.  Apple could have easily brought back the cube using far cheaper parts.  For example, the use of a desktop harddrive instead of the slightly slower (and extremely smaller) one used in the iPod. 

The big point is this is gotta be like first desktop computer, that is small enough, and light enough to carry in a shopping bag while your make your shop at the mall.  Apple stores are in malls and large shopping centers, and making a small, light, and easy to carry computer takes out the hassel of making a trip to the car. 

If you’re going to sell stuff at the mall, you’d better make it small enough and light enough to take to the car without the use of a dolly.”

Small is better, right?

Mac user “chod” is giving up the ghost of Newton’s past and looking forward to an encounter with iLife, iWork and Mac mini. Not necessarily in that order.

“I think this was my final year waiting for the re-appearance of a Newton/iPod.  I still use my Newton 2100 everyday and it’s still far better than any Palm I’ve come across.  However, working with OS X is frustrating and it is probably time to move on as much as I hate the idea. 

I think the Mini, Shuffle, iWork and iLife are terrific.  Just wish there was a hand-held to round out the whole system.  Maybe iPhone will be the clincher.”

During the Macworld keynote presentation, Steve Jobs said 2005 is the year of HD (even Sony’s president came out for a show ‘n tell-- what’s up with that?) and proceeded to show off iMovie’s “HD” skills. Mac user “brandon” has a few questions about that.

“I own an HDTV and would really like to hook a Mac mini up to it for a media center.  On the Apple page it says that the Mac mini can hook to any HDTV w/ DVI connection.  My HDTV doesn’t have a DVI connection like most. 

Is there a way to hook the Mac mini up to my TV with Component Cables and get a HighDeff picture?”

DVI makes it work great. I’m sure there’s an adapter somewhere that’ll take that DVI signal and convert it to a TV signal. Wanna bet that Apple and Sony have something coming that’ll do just that?

Check out the daily list of our 9 Word mini-Reviews at NoodleMac, and Kate's daily in-depth Mac software reviews at PixoBebo.