3. Skype (http://www.skype.com
– Free) is an Internet telephony application that’s available across all
operating systems so no matter what kind of system you or your friends have,
Skype will work for you. In my first year of college I used Skype often to
video chat and keep in touch with friends and family all across the country.
It’s a breeze to install and you’ll be video chatting with your loved ones in
no time. Skype is a must have for any computer, really.

4. Maintenance: MacUpdate (http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/16790/maintenance
– Free) is a great application to have around for keeping your computer in
good, working order.

Mac App For College Students

You know every once in a while when your computer gets buggy and noticeably slower? That’s when Maintenance comes in handy. Just click a few
boxes, enter your password, step back from your computer and let Maintenance do
the rest. It will repair your disk permissions, clear out half-downloaded files
and rid your computer of all of those things that were just left lying around,
buried somewhere with no grunt-work on your part.

5. A good browser is a must and Macs, like Windows, have a large
variety of browsers to choose from. Safari, which comes with your Mac, is a
fantastic and speedy browser that will take care of all of your needs.

I use Firefox (http://www.getfirefox.com – Free) too,
right alongside Safari. Though it may hog a few more of your system resources
Firefox in some instances out-performs Safari making it the obvious second
choice. I keep them side-by-side in my Dock just in case I feel like using one
or the other.

College

Browsers like Opera and Camilla will vie for your attention but
pay no attention to them. Go with the two big guns on the Mac, Safari and Firefox.

6. You also need a good Bittorrent client. College kids are strapped for money right? That means you’ll just have to get all of your music and movies for free off of the Internet.

Best Mac For College Students

I recommend Transmission (http://www.transmissionbt.com/ – Free). Transmission is extremely lightweight “with few dependencies and written in C, Transmission has the lowest memory footprint of any BitTorrent client we’ve seen,” according to Transmissions developers.

[Note from Dave Taylor: I do not endorse using bittorrent applications to download illegally copied commercial material, but there’s also other data accessible through the torrent networks, including entire operating system distributions. As with any tool, please use it thoughtfully and for good.]

7. Last but not least is Adobe Photoshop (http://www.amazon.com/
– $195), something that everyone should have on their computer and have a
modicum of skill using.

Whether it’s blurring out the Bud Lights in your hand at parties
so you can show your friends on Facebook that you go out or actually using
Photoshop for academic purposes, the fact that you need Photoshop is really an
understatement. You’re going to need to design things in college, whatever it
may be, and Photoshop is the only way to go. This is the student version too so
you’re getting major discounts from the full Creative Suite package.

I hope this list will come in handy and these applications will
treat you well. I just got done my first year of college and I used each one of
these apps extensively. Whether it’s design, keeping in touch, or acquiring
your favorite music and movies, these Mac apps will help you out along the
journey that is the college experience.

Zack Shapiro is the Social Media
Outreach Editor and staff writer for the CU Independent. He is also an active
blogger. You can find him on his website
ShutUpInternet.com
and
on Twitter as
@zackshapiro

Let’s Stay In Touch!

Apple Computer For College Students

I do have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but first I'd like to say thank you, Dave, for all your helpful information by buying you a cup of coffee!