My new MacBook Pro arrived yesterday. This will replace my aging, 2-year old version. It’s a thing of beauty. Whenever I get a new machine, I’m tempted to just run the simple data migration to move everything over, but never do. Instead, I start from scratch. This is a complete pain in the ass, but very much worth the trouble. It just feels so good!

Below is a list of things I installed this time. I’m listing only software, not the geeky bits like Ruby On Rails, MacPorts etc. It took me most of the day yesterday, but I think I’ve got things pretty much how I like them.

• Launchbar - Without a good launcher, using a Mac feels like working with one hand behind my back.
• Dropbox - Sync made so easy it’s ridiculous.
• Tinderbox - “The tool for notes” (and nearly everything else.) This is where I live.
• 1Password - Passwords, forms, card numbers, etc. Beautifully done.
• Yojimbo - An anything bucket. Simple enough that it actually gets used.
• BBEdit - Text editing done very well. Yes, better than TextMate.
• OmniFocus - Task management with enough oomph.
• AppZapper - I change my mind a lot.
• Backblaze - Online backup without thinking. Just in case.
• BusyCal - Because iCal isn’t good enough, and I don’t like web based calendars.
• Daylite - Gotta put all those contacts and opportunities somewhere.
• DEVONthink Pro - Anything project related goes here, and I’m guaranteed to find it.
• Fluid - For running web stuff as their own “apps”.
• Interarchy - SFTP client. I’ve been using this for years. No reason to change.
• MarsEdit - Still the best way to consistently post to a number of sites.
• MindManager - Mindmapping. Expensive, but still the best there is.
• NetNewsWire - Because even the good web-based readers suck.
• OmmWriter- Weird, new-agey writing app for distraction-free writing. Surprised by how much I like it.
• Photo Mechanic - Not used as much now that I don’t shoot digital, but it’s great for pulling photos of cards when I do.
• QuickCursor - Like the “Edit In…” plugins, without the hacks.
• Sequel Pro - Best MySQL management GUI available.
• SizeUp - Move and size windows with the keyboard.
• Skitch - Almost perfect screen capture.
• Spirited Away - Automatically hides inactive apps. Fits my minimalist tendencies nicely.
• SuperDuper - Simple, bootable backups. Saved my ass a number of times.
• Ulysses - Complete semantic writing environment.
• WriteRoom - Distraction free writing.
• Lightroom - Image management and editing. Does everything.
• Nik Plugins for Lightroom - The Complete Collection. Awesome set of tools for Lightroom.
• SilverFast Ai Studio - The best scanning results, with the worst UI of any software, anywhere.
• TextExpander - Wonderful typing utility/accelerator. I’m lost without this.
• iStat Menus - Very nice system monitors. I use the menu bar calendar instead of the built in version.
• Mail Act-On - Keyboard email management for Mail.app.
• Chronosync - Synchronizes all my external drives nicely, automatically, on a schedule.
• Acorn - It really is “The image editor for humans.” I despise Photoshop, and now I don’t need it.
• ClickToFlash - Great Safari plug-in which gets Flash under control.