Mac Tales

With the shiny new macbook out of the box and booted up, my first experience with OS X was the configuration – what a breeze! Connecting to my wireless LAN was practically effortless.
What do you think are the first applications I had to install? Well, nothing against Safari, I installed Firefox – the best browser on the planet!

1. Firefox web browser

Now, you must understand that I spend many of my waking hours on the web, and I’ve spent several years of my life building web applications and websites, sometimes I feel like I practically live inside the tubes of the Internet!

I’ve heard Camino is great, much more mac-like, and I vow to give it a try… but as a developer I can’t live without my Firefox plug-ins. If you haven’t tried Firefox yet, it’s FREE give it a go today!

2. Skype

If Skype is a game-changer, then Skype on a macbook sets the benchmark.

Incredibly easy to install, out of the box Skype works with the built in iSight and microphone, no tweaking with soundcards and drivers like our poor Windows cousins.

Within minutes I was having a live video conversation with my friend across the globe, no hands, no headset – this is how it’s meant to be! (If only it was full screen!)

Next I made a call to my domain name provider in the US (I’m in Australia), I just typed their normal 1-800 telephone number into Skype – and the next thing I know I’m talking to them – all for free!

Skype works on any platform, and their international call rates are very low… it’s the cheapest way I know to make international calls.

If you haven’t already, now is the time… give it a go today!

A successful first day with the Macbook : )