Hey apple enthusiasts! im a windows/android user so dont be too mean to me, but i got a macbook pro recently because my laptop kicked the bucket and im a graphic designer looking for a reliable and relatively powerful machine.
ive been reading about macbook stuff and trying to figure out the macOS.
Are there any things you would have hoped you’d known before getting into the macbook game? Or just any apps/ things these computers can do that are unique and cool? basically tips for an apple newb
thanks!
(unrelated but how are more people not mad about 60hz screens for 1700 bucks lol)
maybe there is something native that is better these days but I have been using this for years. Got my first mac in 2014 (11in air).
better snap tool -BetterSnapTool allows you to easily manage your window positions and sizes by either dragging them to one of the screen’s corners or to the top, left or right side of the screen. This enables you to easily maximize your windows, position them side by side or even resize them to quarters of the screen.
Or event better, Better Touch Tool. Contains also snapping management, and also let’s you create a lot of custom trackpad gestures. You can customise it to make you more fluid with navigation/macros using just the trackpad.
It is payed, but absolutely worth the money in my opinion.
I think the big things are getting used to CMD+Space for opening applications and search, and getting used to the fact that you have an actual terminal instead of a command window.
Also, after getting used to the whole spotlight thing, I strongly recommend getting Raycast, or maybe other alternative, but Raycast is my favourite.
It has a lot of customisation options, including plugins, and really neat clipboard history. This will absolutely make you more productive.
ill look into it! i did some googling im not exactly sure what it is still but people keep saying its life changing
It has a learning curve… but it’s awesome. Replaces spotlight and does so much. I use a plug-in that allows direct search of my Arc web browser and/or arc open tabs. Awesome to jump straight to a specific tab from anywhere on computer. Also… highly recommend Arc browser… built on chrome so super compatible… but revamps and modernizes the ui… adds spaces which are awesome
These are paid apps, but I’ve personally enjoyed them, and they have trials:
- Divvy - excellent tool to resize windows to fit various grid shapes. You’re given a 6x6 (or custom size) grid you can tile windows around in. This has been wonderful for widescreen use.
- Little Snitch - Firewall tool. It is an absolute pain to initially get your rules all set up and configured, but helps block outgoing connections to sites/servers you don’t know.
- SoundSource - easy per-application volume control and routing to different sound devices.
For free stuff:
- UTM - If you use a M1 mac, this is nice to virtualize x86 OSes. IMO it has some rough edges and doesn’t feel as complete as other virtualization software, but hey, it’s free and open source.
- MonitorControl - adjust your external display brightness and sync monitor brightness w/ other monitors https://github.com/MonitorControl/MonitorControl
I recently discovered Yabai & sky’s which has a learning curve but once you master it, it is the optimal way to use a computer (I’m just a Linux user who was forced to use a Mac as his work machine)
I have a note saved in Obsidian with every app I install on a new Mac. Unfortunately many of these are paid apps:
- AltTab: switch windows instead of apps (useful for apps with multiple windows open)
- Bartender 4: let’s you hide icons on your menubar
- BetterMouse: lots of control over mouse. Ability to inverse scroll on mouse only and leave natural on touchpad. The right click pan scrolling is great too.
- DisplayLink Manager: let’s you use more than one external monitor on non-pro machines if you have a compatible dock.
- Fantastical: great calendar app if you manage multiple calendars and need to send your availability to people external of your company.
- Greenshot: I take a ton of screenshots
- iStat Menus: puts cpu, memory, network, etc graphs on your menu bar.
- Jump Desktop: best RDP client I’ve found.
- Obsidian: not Mac specific, but an amazing note taking client.
- Raycast: expands your cmd+space with many plugins available. Probably my most used app.
- Rectangle Pro: Better window management including snapping windows to sides of screens.
- iTerm2: Much better terminal app than the stock one.
I want to also shout out Bartender, Obsidian, and ITerm2. Great apps.
I used to love Fantastical - but since they went to a subscription model I’ve ditched them. I refuse to rent software. I’m using BusyCal in it’s place and it’s almost as good. I ditched 1Password for the same reason.
I also LOVE LOVE LOVE an app called Moom. Which allows much more control over the layout and placement of onscreen windows (which sounds like maybe similar to Rectangle Pro on your list).
