T H E   B E S T   O F   S C O T ’ S   N E W S L E T T E R

The very best Mac applications, tools, and utilities for typical work environments, based on informed, experienced, hands-on evaluation.

By Scot Finnie

The A-List Explained
The A-List of Mac Software is a hand-picked list of the best Mac apps compiled by an experienced software reviewer who switched from Windows to the Mac in 2006. The author, a long-time Windows reviewer, used Macs extensively from 1987-91 and from 1994-1996. He began his re-entry into the Mac world by buying a Mac mini in early 2005.

The A-List of Mac Software is a work in progress; it is by no means complete. New programs are added each month while others may fall off the list to be replaced by others. Applications are evaluated primarily on their efficacy for typical usage on end-user Macs in business settings or for mixed business/personal applications. Consumer-oriented products — while they may appear on the list — are not the current focus of A-List research (but that might change later).

A-List selections are rigorously evaluated and judged to be ideal for a broad range of Macintosh users. (Some consideration is also given to the specific needs of the reviewer.) Following the A-List is a list of products currently scheduled for evaluation and possible induction to the list. Products may be submitted by anyone for A-List consideration via email. Please describe what you like about any software you submit.

The A-List of Mac Software is an original work of Scot's Newsletter. It has also appeared in other forms at Computerworld (used by permission).


The A-List of Mac Software

Last Updated: July 21, 2007

• Apple Mail by Apple (email package)

• Entourage by Microsoft (email package)

• Eudora by Qualcomm (email package -- the one used by the author)

• Spamnix for Eudora by Spamnix Software (anti-spam utility)

• Apple Safari (primary browser)

• Mozilla Firefox (as a second browser)

• Parallels Desktop (virtualization utility)

• DiskWarrior by Alsoft (disk directory and data recovery tool)

• Adium by the Adium team (instant-messaging client)

• Apple iChat (video instant messaging client)

• skEdit by Sean Kelly (html and text editor)

• BBEdit by Bare Bones Software (secondary text editor)

• iPartition by Coriolis Systems (non-destructive disk partitioning utility)

• SuperDuper! by Shirt Pocket (whole-disk backup utility)

• AppZapper by Austin Sarner and Brian Ball (application-removal tool)

• SnapNDrag Pro by Yellow Mug Software (screen-capture utility)

• DoubleCommand by Michael Baltaks (keyboard-customizing utility)

• OnyX by Titanium Software (OS X system tweaking utility)

• Flip4Mac by Telestream (enables WMV playback in QuickTime)

• Perian by Perian Project (adds common media formats to QuickTime)

• StuffIt Expander by SmithMicro Software (decompression tool)

• SafariBookmarkChecker by Coriolis Technologies (The product's name says it all)

• Microsoft Office 2004 (office suite -- other suites may be as good or better, but this one is the de facto standard of business)

• Lotus Notes 7.0.2 (enterprise email/database client -- if you have to use Notes, this is the version you want)

• VirusBarrier X4 by Intego Software (antivirus utility)

• Apple iCal (calendar)

• Apple iPhoto (photo-management tool)

• Apple iTunes (music-library tool)

• Apple .Mac (online storage and Mac-to-Mac synching service)


Apps Scheduled for Evaluation

• TextMate by MacroMates (text and HTML editor)

• Drive Genius by Prosoft Engineering (non-destructive disk partitioning and disk repair utility)

• TechTool Pro by Micromat (Macintosh diagnosis and repair)

• Yank by Matterform Media (app uninstaller)

• Quicksilver by Blacktree (program/folder/data lauch tool)

• Butler by Many Tricks (program/folder/data launch tool)

• Path Finder by Cocoatech (file-management enhancement)

• SpamSieve by Michael Tsai (anti-spam tool)

• Thunderbird 2.0 by Mozilla (email package)

• RSSOwl by the RSSOwl development team (RSS reader)

• Yummy FTP by Yummy Software (FTP client)

• CuteFTP Mac Pro by GlobalScape (FTP client)

• Vine Server (OSXvnc) by jonathanosx and sensetalkdoug (remote-access server)

• Remote Desktop Client by Microsoft (Mac to Windows remote access)

• Apple Remote Desktop by Apple (Mac-to-Mac remote desktop solution)

• Camino by Mozilla's Camino Project (Gecko-based browser)

• Shirra by Shiira Project (WebKit browser overlay)

• ListGarden by Software Garden (RSS-feed-creation tool)


Apps Considered but Not Selected

• Windows Media Player 9 for Mac OS X by Microsoft (Windows Media player, will not be updated any further)

• Adobe Reader (PDF reader)

• Growl by the Growl Development Team (notifications framework/manager)

• PageSpinner by Optima System (HTML Editor)

• LaunchBar by Objective Development (program/folder/data launch tool)

• NetNewsWire by NewsGator (RSS Reader)

• NewsFire by David Watanabe (RSS Reader)

• OmniWeb by Omni Group (WebKit-based browser)

• Opera by Opera Software (browser)

• Saft by Hao Li (Safari plug-in)

• Mac Pilot by Koingo Software (system/disk utility)

• Transmit by Panic Software (FTP client - this is a good client that doesn't have the fullness of features of the two FTP utilities on the "Scheduled for Evaluation" list)

• ClamXav by Mark Allan (virus scanner)

Do you have something you want to tell me about a Mac application? Drop me a line.