Getting a MBP - Hardware & Software

Hey Apple-fans! Because of my work, PHP Programmer, I am buying a MacBook Pro(2.7GHz, 8GB DDR3, 128GB SSD). And this is my first Mac D: So I was wondering, which programs should I get upon recieving it? What program/app can you absolutely not live without? Thanks!

I have to ask, why are you getting a Mac for PHP? You could save yourself a ton of money.

The entire office uses them :) Plus TextMate :P And, I want to try something new. So there's that.

Alright. I will say you won't be disappointed. Most Apple hate here I've seen is based on obsolete gripes or bullshit anyway. Can't say there are any "must have" apps since it's pretty fully featured out of the box, but you'll probably want Chrome and an alternative music player to iTunes unless you have an iTunes-centric music library already.

Thanks! :) That's the feeling I've been getting too. Okay, many thanks :) I really like the look of adium though :D Is it worth using?

Couldn't tell you. I haven't used a Mac seriously in a long time. Maybe I'll Hackintosh again if some updated kexts are available.

Kexts? :)

They're the Mac equivalent of drivers. The only one that exists for my laptop's wifi is one that only supports unprotected networks... useless at home.

Adium is nice, lightweight version of Live Messenger. As for what I couldn't live without? Spotify Premium and Lightroom 3, but that's for music and photo-editing. The App store means you can find a good range of apps that you may want to try out, so give it a go. You'll get Lion with your MBP, so try Safari in fullscreen and only use the touchpad, its terrific. You have steam so you can try Mac versions of PC titles you have. They'll do the job but you might want to use bootcamp to get the most out of gaming, and expand the library of games. Parallels for any apps you might have accustomed to but can't get on OSX. It runs in a window, so you don't have to reboot to use Windows but you do lose quite a lot of 3D performance.

[QUOTE=Protocol7;32319209]They're the Mac equivalent of drivers. The only one that exists for my laptop's wifi is one that only supports unprotected networks... useless at home.[/QUOTE] What laptop you got?

[QUOTE=djjkxbox360;32320642]What laptop you got?[/QUOTE] Sony Vaio VGN-C150P

XCode has highlighting/formatting for PHP - Can interface it with a web server installed too.

[QUOTE=Eax;32317667]Hey Apple-fans! Because of my work, PHP Programmer, I am buying a MacBook Pro(2.7GHz, 8GB DDR3, 128GB SSD). And this is my first Mac D: So I was wondering, which programs should I get upon recieving it? What program/app can you absolutely not live without? Thanks![/QUOTE] I recommend the following applications for mac use: Springy - Open .rars and other files normally unopenable by mac [url]http://www.springyarchiver.com/[/url] Cyberduck - Wonderful SFTP, FTP, and WebDAV client [url]http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/cyberduck/id409222199?mt=12&ign-mpt=uo%3D4[/url] Skype - Useful VoIP client(if you haven't heard of it already) [url]http://www.skype.com/intl/en-us/homepage[/url]

[QUOTE=Ninja101;32321690]XCode has highlighting/formatting for PHP - Can interface it with a web server installed too.[/QUOTE] I wouldn't use XCode for PHP though, there are much better choices.

[QUOTE=Eax;32318848]The entire office uses them :) Plus TextMate :P And, I want to try something new. So there's that.[/QUOTE] Don't learn TextMate

The Unarchiver - replaces default Mac functionality with the ability to open other compressed files (Free!) Adium - Messaging client that you can customise as much as you like Transmit - Extremely good looking FTP client Paragon NTFS - Allows the Mac to write to NTFS hard drives TextWrangler - Notepad on steroids TotalFinder - Cut/Paste as well as chrome-like tabs for the Finder Tweetdeck - The only social network manager I'd recommend for Mac Blackout - Makes the screen darker when you need it, which is great at night Flux - Makes the screen tinted orange at night, which is easier on the eyes GfxCardStatus - Control which graphics card the Macbook Pro uses (Helps save battery life) Sleepless - Force the Mac to stay awake with the lid closed and the screen off. Great for downloading at night! They're all my recommendations!

Many thanks everyone :D [QUOTE=Dr Egg;32339239]Don't learn TextMate[/QUOTE] Care to say why not? :)

Nice choice, get the one with the 500 GB HDD, then we can be macbook bros.

Ecoute is a pretty cool iTunes alternative but it costs $10. [url]http://www.pixiapps.com/ecoute/[/url]

Transmission for a torrent client. Insomnia for those times where you need to close your lid but keep whatever is going running and connected. [editline]18th September 2011[/editline] Transmission for a torrent client. Insomnia for those times where you need to close your lid but keep whatever is going running and connected. And I have one of the very first unibody Mac Book Pro's. Back from 2005 and she still powers most everything I throw at her.

[QUOTE=psp401.com;32368541]Insomnia for those times where you need to close your lid but keep whatever is going running and connected.[/QUOTE] I wouldn't recommend that one because it doesn't turn your screen off when you close the lid, therefore causing extra battery drain and heat. If you turn it down manually, no problem though.

[QUOTE=Eax;32356493]Many thanks everyone :D Care to say why not? :)[/QUOTE]Because there is Sublime Text 2

[QUOTE=Eax;32356493]Many thanks everyone :D Care to say why not? :)[/QUOTE] It's been more or less abandoned for years. Every so often the dev behind it promise TextMate 2.0, but nothing yet. I'd spend your time getting to grips with BBEdit. It's been around for 20 years by now so I'm pretty sure it's got some life yet

I have to agree with what Protocol7 asked. I'm also a PHP developer who uses a mac, but I didn't buy one for the sole reason that I write software. If anything, macs are probably one of the more difficult to setup and use platforms for web development. In terms of editor, TextMate isn't that good in my opinion. I think you'd be a lot better off with MacVim. Also, iTerm and VirtualBox for cross-browser and cross-OS testing (IE).

There's also Coda for web programming. I also hear things about TextExpander and CloudApp.

Good idea getting a Mac for web development, but you honestly don't need such an overpowered machine.

Hey everyone, I got it and it's awesome :) I AM using TextMate, and it's awesome :) TextMate 2 is coming somewhere around December :3 [QUOTE=advil0;32585448]Good idea getting a Mac for web development, but you honestly don't need such an overpowered machine.[/QUOTE] Well, I know :) But I got it extra cheap through work, so price wasn't an option :3