Built-in Software

Macs come with full versions of most or all the software you'll need. Even better, because they're all made by Apple, they work together seamlessly to get the job done. The following tasks can be done with built-in software.

- Email
- Surf the Internet
- Manage Contacts
- Open PDF files
- Create PDF files
- Use a Dictionary
- Use a Thesaurus
- Play DVD Movies
- Create Music
- Use multiple Calendars
- Chat (Text, Audio, Video)
- Create Home Movies
- Organize Digital Photos
- Create DVD's
- Organize Music
- Turn on Firewall
- Use Parental Controls

Whether you're looking for reasons why you should switch or help with your recent switch, here are some links to helpful sites around the web.

Apple: Why you'll love a Mac
Apple: Which Mac to get?
Apple: How to move your stuff to your new Mac
Apple: Switching 101
Helpful site for Mac newbies: My First Mac
Find Mac Freeware and inexpensive Shareware: Versiontracker

My favorite third-party programs you'll want to get:

Adobe Flash: Websites are full of animations and videos (YouTube) that use Flash. Free
Firefox: An extra browser that may work with those very few websites that won't work with Apple's Safari. Free
Flip4Mac: Let's you watch Windows Media videos in Apple's Quicktime. Free
Google Earth: See the whole world or your back yard from satellite images. Free
Handbrake: Rip movies off of your DVD's to watch on your Mac or iPod. Free
Open Office: Alternative to Microsoft's Office. Create and open Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files. Free
Microsoft Office 2011: Microsoft's suite of productivity software, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Entourage (Outlook). This version was just released in early 2008. $150