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Ask YC: Mac virgin wants to know, what would you install?

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Re: Ask YC: Mac virgin wants to know, what would you install?

#51
post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sounds like this may be your problem: http://lists.macosforge.org/pipermail/macports-users/2007-Au... Ryan Schmidt suggests: Please verify whether you have /usr/bin/gnutar. If you do not, then your Mac OS X installation is incomplete. I believe gnutar is provided by either BaseSystem.pkg or Essentials.pkg from the Mac OS X DVD, both of which are quite essential to Mac OS X's functioning.

I appreciate the help. This was a factory install of leopard, so it seems odd that it would be missing components. To google, I go.

There's nothing wrong with your default installation. You need to install Xcode Tools as it says in the MacPorts installation instructions.

http://trac.macosforge.org/projects/macports/wiki/Installing...

Re: Ask YC: Mac virgin wants to know, what would you install?

#52
post #41
post #13

no one has mentioned installing firefox yet. plus web developer extensions. also get VLC for playing video files and DVDs

the only reason to install firefox 2 or firefox 3 is for the developer extensions, namely firebug. safari is much faster and feels better to use because of the natural OS X interface.

i also prefer safari. but another reason to use firefox is in combination with Spaces, which isn't very good at having an app's windows divided between spaces. (yes there is a setting to change this, but it has its own downsides)

Re: Ask YC: Mac virgin wants to know, what would you install?

#53
post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I find Colloquy is fine (though it has a bad habit of pinning the CPU every now and then...), but there's nothing special about it. I'd switch in an instant if someone suggested a superior alternative. What do you suggest for an OSX IRC client?

If you're a terminal junkie, then try installing 'irssi' over MacPorts. Love it.

/upvote

Re: Ask YC: Mac virgin wants to know, what would you install?

#54
post #51
post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I appreciate the help. This was a factory install of leopard, so it seems odd that it would be missing components. To google, I go.

There's nothing wrong with your default installation. You need to install Xcode Tools as it says in the MacPorts installation instructions. http://trac.macosforge.org/projects/macports/wiki/Installing...

I have the xcode tools installed. I'll check out the wiki, though. Thanks.

Re: Ask YC: Mac virgin wants to know, what would you install?

#56
post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why do you like colloquy? I found it barely adequate.

I find Colloquy is fine (though it has a bad habit of pinning the CPU every now and then...), but there's nothing special about it. I'd switch in an instant if someone suggested a superior alternative. What do you suggest for an OSX IRC client?

http://www.mibbit.com of course ;) why install a desktop IRC client :/

Re: Ask YC: Mac virgin wants to know, what would you install?

#57
post #47

AIM: Adium IRC: Snak RSS: NewsFireRSS Notes: FreeMind Newsgroups: Unison Misc: Aquamacs, AppFresh, WhatSize, Flip4Mac, Twitterific If you go to Startup School then you should also have a copy of SubEthaEdit installed. It's a text editor for mac that lets you take notes collaboratively in real time.

Why Snak for $29 when you can Colloquy for free? http://colloquy.info/ Also, if you're a terminal freak and want a good text mode IRC client, I probably don't have to tell you that you can install 'irssi' over MacPorts. Real hackers use irssi. :)

why install an IRC client when you can just http://www.mibbit.com :)

Re: Ask YC: Mac virgin wants to know, what would you install?

#58

AIM: Adium IRC: Snak RSS: NewsFireRSS Notes: FreeMind Newsgroups: Unison Misc: Aquamacs, AppFresh, WhatSize, Flip4Mac, Twitterific If you go to Startup School then you should also have a copy of SubEthaEdit installed. It's a text editor for mac that lets you take notes collaboratively in real time.

I really want to second the FreeMind suggestion. I don't use it every day, but its a great way to brainstorm or take notes, etc.

Re: Ask YC: Mac virgin wants to know, what would you install?

#59
post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

X-Chat Aqua is good, though unmaintained.

I find Colloquy to be significantly better. For one thing, X-Chat is pretty damn ugly.

X-Chat Aqua is styled like any other Mac OS application. Colloquy's UI just wastes a ton of screen space.
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