What’s On Tera’s Mac: Part 1—The Pro Level

If you’re at all like me, you like to know what applications other Mac users have on their Macs. First, we’re always trying out new applications to see how we can make the most personal of personal computers even more personal.

Second, Mac users are willing to share (evangelize) with others our knowledge of applications, how-to’s, and tips and tricks.

Three, not every Mac user is at the same level. There’s the average user who gets by just fine with AppleWorks, Safari, Mail, and Photoshop Elements. And iTunes, iMovie, iDVD, iPhoto, and perhaps GarageBand.

In all fairness, that would keep most users pretty busy computing away without worry of viruses, worms, Trojan horses, malware, BSOD (blue screen od death so common to Windows users).

There’s also the high end user—the Mac user with the latest and greatest of everything. Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop Elements, Final Cut Express or Logic Express, and some of the great utility applications such as PhotoToMovie and JAlbum.

Of course, no list of users would be complete without the low end Mac user. Let me define “low end.” These are the folks who get the most from their Macs for the least amount of money. That’s not cheap. It’s frugal, economical.

They may have a PowerMac, but probably not a new one. They may use applications in every category—graphics, audio, video, etc. But probably not the Professional applications from Adobe, Macromedia, Apple. These are the folks who get the most mileage from their Macs. Honor them. They’re a breed apart.

So this week I’m giving you a special theme—What’s On Tera’s Mac. Generally speaking, what’s on my Mac (all of them) covers all the bases. Professional level, high end user, low end users, and the average Mac user, so I can speak from qualified experience. Your mileage may vary.

Today it’s the Professional Level. Tomorrow, something different.

Since no two Mac users usually have exactly the same applications, useage requirements and needs, here’s what’s on mine (well, one of my Macs).

I have the luxury this year of upgrading to the new 23” Apple Cinema Display HD, and a dual 2.5 ghz PowerMac G5 with 3 gigs RAM. That’s the Mac.

What’s on it? Well, as you’d suspect, it’s loaded. Loaded. Pro apps, everything Apple, the best of Mac utilities, 13 gigs of iTunes music, 13 gigs if iPhoto digital photos, Mac files I’ve had for 10 to 12 years. And all critical files are backed up on multiple hard drives, to other machines, to my iPod, and to DVDs.

Today the discussion is Professional level applications so those go first today (I’ll do others—low end, high end, average user applications later).

Click Here for Page 2 and the list of applications and uses.