The intent of this guide/list is to help folks who have recently switched from Windows to OS X and are looking for “replacement” applications comparable to what they used on Windows. So here goes..
Please feel free – encouraged even – to leave a comment if you’ve found a great piece of OS X software that replaced something you used in Windows. I’m trying to avoid posting cross-platform stuff – for example, I’m not adding things like “Firefox” to this list, because Firefox is available for both Windows and OS X. This list will be constantly updated as new software comes out and comments are added.
| In Windows I used… | In OS X you can use… |
| Internet Software | |
| Miranda IM, Digsby, Pidgin, Trillian Messenger | Adium |
| Agent (newsreader) | Unison |
| FeedDemon | Vienna |
| SmartFTP, CuteFTP, WS-FTP | CyberDuck |
| Internet Explorer | Safari |
| Outlook Express | |
| uTorrent, BitTornado | Transmission |
| mIRC | Colloquy |
| WAMP | MAMP |
| CD/DVD Burning Software | |
| CDBurnerXP, ImgBurn, InfraRecorder, DeepBurner, JetBee |
Burn |
| Audio/Video Software | |
| Windows Media Player Classic | VLC* also available for Win |
| MediaCoder | ffmpegX |
| K-Lite Codec Pack | Perian |
| MP3 to iPod Audio Book Converter | AudioBook Maker |
| Graphics Software | |
| SnagIt | InstantShot! |
| BIMP, Advanced Batch Converter, FastStone Photo Resizer |
ThumbsUp |
| Compression Software | |
| WinZIP, 7-Zip | Stuffit |
| WinRAR | RAR Expander |
| Games | |
| MAME | MAME OS X |
| Solitare | Solitare XL |
| Minesweeper | BombSquad |
| Pinball | MacPinball (shareware) |
| General Utilities | |
| Notepad | TextEdit |
| Launchy, Dash Command, SlickRun | Quicksilver |
| Web Design and Development | |
| FrontPage | Kompozer |
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
I am just about to finally make the switch – this is a good guide. I am a bit of a Usenet junkie, do you know the best newsreader software for the Mac?
Great start! I was looking for K-Lite Codec Pack Mac alternative for a while.
@Andrew –
Which newsreader do you use for Windows? Unison is a pretty full featured newsreader for OS X, tho it’s not free (there is a fully functional 15 day demo).
In windows I used MP3 to iPod Audio Book Converter.
In OS X I use Audiobook Builder.
Thanks for the list.
Bruce
@Ross – Agent, I didn’t know Panic made a newsreader
awesome, those guys rock.
Thanks for the cool list!
Great list…here are few additions:
In Windows, I used MS Office…in Mac I use NeoOffice(Free)
In Windows, I used MasterCook….in Mac, I use MacGourmet(cost)
In Windows, I had to manually backup, in Mac I use iBackup (Free)
In Windows, I used CakeWalk, in Mac, I use GarageBand(Free)
Instead of Kompozer, my suggestion would either be coda ($99) or aptana (free). Aptana certainly holds it’s own with coda, and for some users like js coders it might be superior. the only downside is that you’ll have to use a seperate ftp where coda has it built in…
http://www.aptana.com/
http://www.panic.com/coda/