Essential Mac Apps

As my main computer (13” first generation Intel Macbook) is nearing its 4th birthday, I’ve come to realize that I really only have a handful of Applications that I “need.” Out of the 181 that I have on my computer, I’m starting to wonder if a simple start-from-scratch-by-erasing-and-installing-the-OS is something to consider in the very near future. So I’ve been thinking – which Applications would be the first to install should I do a refresh of my laptop? Here’s the list I came up with:

1Password, by AgileSolutions. My lifeline in this world of a million passwords, identity theft, online banking, online shopping, and my lack of brain capacity, this App is a true lifesaver.

Evernote – the online note organizer with built-in OCR. Keeps a list of all the things I need to reference: Mac tips/tricks, Serial #’s, cute things my girls say, and my Apps Database.

NetNewsWire – can’t be without my RSS Feeds, and I’ve fell in love with this reader, both on my Mac and on my iPhone.

Dropbox – one of cloud computing’s finest: 2GB free storage with Finder integration. I love MobileMe as much as the rest if not more, but Dropbox is a great friend, too.

iWork – Yes, maybe I’m a nerd. But I’m a big fan of productivity, efficiency, and software that allows me the flexibility to create anything I need and want. Without a doubt, my favorite Apple software out there.

Of course, there are probably more that could be added to this list, but I figured I’d keep it down to 5. ‘Sides, you wouldn’t want me to list out all 181 anyway…do you?

Let me know in the comments if you think I missed one.