Another iMac Convert

[Zacarias]

I too am a recent Mac convert! I got my MacBook Pro last month!

I have a windows desktop that I've been using for years, and now I hardly ever use it! I find myself hitting the alt key on windows (CMD key) when I should be hitting CTRL!

Anyways I seen someone suggest Yummy FTP.. Might I suggest Cyberduck? I've been using it and I have no issues with it.
And for e-mail I use mozilla's Thunderbird.. I'm just a Mozilla fan.

I don't know where the negative reputation of the Mac being inferior to the PC came from.. It's simply untrue and the opposite. Mac's run windows faster on some applications than a PC does.

Well anyway, good to see another person come to the dark side... or the light side, whichever you prefer.
Once you go mac....

[Steve Machol]

So far the major issue I have with the Mac is that Finder is not nearly as good or intuitive as Windows Explorer. I just need a simple file manager that works with the traditional directory hierarchy. Is there a better substitute for Finder?

[Wayne Luke]

So far the major issue I have with the Mac is that Finder is not nearly as good or intuitive as Windows Explorer. I just need a simple file manager that works with the traditional directory hierarchy. Is there a better substitute for Finder?

When I exclusively used Macs, Finder was the most annoying part of the OS that I found as well. It is one of the reasons why I switched to Windows 95 and haven't looked back.

I haven't used OSX but back before Norton was bought out by Symantec, they used to sell a Finder Replacement. Have never checked to see if Symantec still sells it or not.

[Chroder]

I hate Finder, as well. I use an app called PathFinder. Very customizable, very powerful. Here's how I set it up.

[pank]

So far the major issue I have with the Mac is that Finder is not nearly as good or intuitive as Windows Explorer. I just need a simple file manager that works with the traditional directory hierarchy. Is there a better substitute for Finder?

Hi Steve.
I'm not sure if this is what you mean but you can change finders appearance by clicking the 4 buttons on the top left (right next to the back and forward arrows). Sorry if you knew that already but I know it takes a while to experiment around with all the nifty settings and views.

[Floris]

I think Steve means in Windows you can just enter a path and you go there, Finder kind of hides this, you have to find it in the menu or know the key combo; Chroder's right, PathFinder is a great replacement for Finder. However, for everyday things I just set up smart folders or symlinks in the left or top menu.

http://www.vBulletin-Fans.com/using_finder_folders.mov

[Floris]

When I exclusively used Macs, Finder was the most annoying part of the OS that I found as well. It is one of the reasons why I switched to Windows 95 and haven't looked back.

I haven't used OSX but back before Norton was bought out by Symantec, they used to sell a Finder Replacement. Have never checked to see if Symantec still sells it or not.

I agree, Finder has always been very bad, and everybody was hoping 10.5 would change this, but they've only tweaked it a bit and added coverflow. It's still a lame thing. Nevertheless I use it daily and don't have much complaints about it right now, but if i need to work with paths i am using the terminal mostly anyway.

[Steve Machol]

I'm trying out PathFinder. It's an improvement but it's still not equal to Windows Explorer.

[Floris]

If you could be specific for what functionality you're looking for, perhaps we can see if (path) Finder has this or if there's another program that perhaps can do it.

[Steve Machol]

As close to Windows Explorer as possible with the ability to travel through directory hierarchies effortlessly.

[goyo]

Just curiuus - why do you feel the need to call it a 'toy'. I've never understood the need for people on both sides to denigrate people who use something else that actually works better for them.

I'm not threatened at all by the fact that you prefer Windows. Why do you feel the need to insult me and my choice?

Sorry I had no intentions to hurt your feelings (or your choice) at all.

English is not my first not even second language...
If I see something shiny new high-tech (like the new Laser diode based TV, BMW/Jaguar model from the next year or even a next-gen. multi functional touch screen GPS or other gadgets) I call it a toy. It doesn't mean it's not suited for "serious" work it just means apart from its functions it's desirable (because of it's design, associated lifestyle or "feeling" as it's usually more than just another average product on the shelf) the same way as a new toy for a kid.

[kerplunk]

Congrats on the new iMac. I use a MacBook Pro + Cinema Display as my desktop. It is great. I'm sure you will find it to be the best.

Here are a few applications I use. Some have been mentioned before:

Firefox (web browser)
Adium (MSN and AIM)
Mail (Email)
TextMate (For text editing)
Transmit (FTP)
Terminal (SSH)
X-Chat Aqua (IRC)
Chicken of the VNC (VNC)
Disco (CD/DVD Burning)
Quinn (Tetris)
Renamer4Mac (Renames <insert large number here> files easily)
StuffIt Expander (WinZip of Mac OS X)
Transmission (BitTorrent client)


Other:

Flip4Mac (Playing WMV on Mac)
Perian (A bunch of codecs for Quicktime)

For word processing:
Until Office 2008 is released, I have been using a combination of:

Pages, NeoOffice, and Microsoft Word 2004

Enjoy!

[Onimua]

I have Flip4Mac on my Mac too; I forgot to mention it, but it does come in handy.