Mac Programs
All the following have a PC version as well. I've not included any Mac-only programs although I recognize that there are some spectaculare ones.
They're Sorted by Major Category (Research; Routine; Teaching) and Subcategory. Some programs appear in several categories.
| Category | Name | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Research: Generating | CmapTools
|
What it Does: Concept relationships - Useful in group situation Runs on: PC, Mac, Linux Free Uniqueness: It's one of only a few tools to provide this combination of functions Best Feature: Public server allowing group projects. Worst Feature: Initially difficult to see how powerful it is. Learning Time: Hours --- Export/Import: Medium My use: Infrequent --- Confidence in Evaluation: Good Comment: I have used it quite successfully in several courses. It was particularly helpful in promoting class interaction. |
| Research: Generating | Freemind
|
What it Does: Relationship diagrams - brainstorming etc. Runs on: PC, Mac, Linux Free, Open Source Best Feature: Very rapid development of a set of concept relationships Worst Feature: Cannot add much text or images. Learning Time: Half Hour --- Export/Import: Medium My use: Infrequent --- Confidence in Evaluation: Medium Comment: A simple but elegant tool for organizing a bunch of ideas. Ideal at the brainstorming phase of a project. Quicker to use than cMap, but not as powerful. Review & Comments about Freemind in Academic Tools Blog |
| Research: Numbers | MS Excel
|
What it Does: The standard spreadsheet Runs on: PC, Mac Drexel Site License Best Feature: Easy lists Worst Feature: Time to learn its vast array of features. Learning Time: Hours --- Export/Import: Good My use: Daily --- Confidence in Evaluation: Good Comment: For any heavy user it's worth adding the spreadsheet assistant mentioned elsewhere, and then learning how to record/write macros (VBA). Numbers note: Classroom demos of relationships |
| Research: Numbers | Simple Concordance
|
What it Does: Create document concordances - text analysis Runs on: PC, Mac Free Uniqueness: It's one of only a few tools to provide this combination of functions Best Feature: Amazing concordance Worst Feature: Requires text files - must save Word file as text first. Learning Time: Hours --- Export/Import: Medium My use: Infrequent --- Confidence in Evaluation: Good Comment: One of the gems. Months of work can be performed (better) in minutes. Obviously valuable only for those who need concordances. To save the analyses you will probably use copy and paste. Numbers note: For statistics on documents |
| Research: Search | Firefox
|
What it Does: Web browser Runs on: PC, Mac, Linux Free, Open Source Best Feature: Add-ins that provide additional fucntions. Worst Feature: Many large institutions are not friendly to FF - e.g. Drexel. Learning Time: Half Hour --- My use: Daily --- Confidence in Evaluation: Good Comment: I use Adblock, NoScript, and All-In-One Sidebar extensions a lot. Review & Comments about Firefox in Academic Tools Blog |
| Research: Words | CmapTools
|
What it Does: Concept relationships - Useful in group situation Runs on: PC, Mac, Linux Free Uniqueness: It's one of only a few tools to provide this combination of functions Best Feature: Public server allowing group projects. Worst Feature: Initially difficult to see how powerful it is. Learning Time: Hours --- Export/Import: Medium My use: Infrequent --- Confidence in Evaluation: Good Comment: I have used it quite successfully in several courses. It was particularly helpful in promoting class interaction. Words note: Can attach documents and notes |
| Research: Words | Endnote
|
What it Does: Bibliographic database with many output formats Runs on: PC, Mac Drexel Site License Best Feature: Integration with Word Worst Feature: Cannot take multiple notes on a single source. Learning Time: Hours --- Export/Import: Good My use: Infrequent --- Confidence in Evaluation: Good Comment: If you have to write a big document this is an invaluable bibliography tool. It does not have built-in note-taking capabilities as does "Citation" (http://www.citationonline.net/). See also the brand-new (10/2006) Zotero (http://www.zotero.org/) Words note: Can put abstracts etc. in it - but not multiple notes |
| Research: Words | Filemaker Pro
|
What it Does: Database tool (relational) with exceptionally straightforward interface Runs on: PC, Mac Price: $250 Best Feature: Allows fairly easy keeping of detailed grading and attendance records and personalized Emails. Worst Feature: You'll have to invest several days of time to get comfortable enough to use it (or any database) easily. Learning Time: Days --- Export/Import: Good My use: Daily --- Confidence in Evaluation: Good Comment: You want to pay for Filemaker if you do a lot of database work and want a really good user interface. Any time you get over about 100 things that need to be remembered, sorted, searched - up to that point Excel may be easier. If printed output appearance is critical FileMaker is excellent. - Access (in MSOffice) is licensed, but tougher to use. Base in Openoffice is an Access clone, and currently very flaky. MySQL is free and even tougher for the non-techie. Words note: Excellent for journal/log Review & Comments about Filemaker Pro in Academic Tools Blog |
| Research: Words | MS Word
|
What it Does: The standard word processor Runs on: PC, Mac Drexel Site License Best Feature: Outlines for those who love them. Styles for those who love them. Worst Feature: Complexity beyond the simple. Immediately Useful: Yes --- Learning Time: Hours --- Export/Import: Good My use: Daily --- Confidence in Evaluation: Good Comment: For those writing a lot it is very much worth exploring the bells and whistles - they can make a very big difference. |
| Research: Words | Simple Concordance
|
What it Does: Create document concordances - text analysis Runs on: PC, Mac Free Uniqueness: It's one of only a few tools to provide this combination of functions Best Feature: Amazing concordance Worst Feature: Requires text files - must save Word file as text first. Learning Time: Hours --- Export/Import: Medium My use: Infrequent --- Confidence in Evaluation: Good Comment: One of the gems. Months of work can be performed (better) in minutes. Obviously valuable only for those who need concordances. To save the analyses you will probably use copy and paste. |
| Routine: Administration | Filemaker Pro
|
What it Does: Database tool (relational) with exceptionally straightforward interface Runs on: PC, Mac Price: $250 Best Feature: Allows fairly easy keeping of detailed grading and attendance records and personalized Emails. Worst Feature: You'll have to invest several days of time to get comfortable enough to use it (or any database) easily. Learning Time: Days --- Export/Import: Good My use: Daily --- Confidence in Evaluation: Good Comment: You want to pay for Filemaker if you do a lot of database work and want a really good user interface. Any time you get over about 100 things that need to be remembered, sorted, searched - up to that point Excel may be easier. If printed output appearance is critical FileMaker is excellent. - Access (in MSOffice) is licensed, but tougher to use. Base in Openoffice is an Access clone, and currently very flaky. MySQL is free and even tougher for the non-techie. Administration note: Particularly grading & email updates in combination with Outlook and MSWord Review & Comments about Filemaker Pro in Academic Tools Blog |
| Routine: Administration | MS Outlook
|
What it Does: The standard corporate Email/task/calendar/contact program Runs on: PC, Mac Drexel Site License Best Feature: Integration of Email and tasks. Worst Feature: Corporate backup is atrocious. I've had a colleague lose vital emails thanks to MS incompetence. Learning Time: Hours --- Export/Import: Medium My use: Daily --- Confidence in Evaluation: Good Comment: I use it every day - but enhance it with Neo - and am sure to backup my own local data (PST) files. Administration note: Task management |
| Routine: Administration | Quicken
|
What it Does: Bookeeping and financial reporting - small scale Runs on: PC, Mac Price: $30+ Best Feature: About as easy as accounting can get Worst Feature: Intuit is almost as greedy as MS. Learning Time: Hours --- Export/Import: Medium My use: Regular --- Confidence in Evaluation: Good Comment: Be aware that Quicken trys, like MS, to lock you in to their product by making data interchange difficult. Administration note: If you want to track your finances independent of your institution's official system. |
| Routine: Multipurpose | Google Pack
|
What it Does: Many fine programs - some listed separately here Runs on: PC, Mac, Linux Free Best Feature: Easy installation and maintenance of good programs. Worst Feature: May become a time-waster because you get so many toys to play with. Learning Time: Hours --- My use: Daily --- Confidence in Evaluation: Good Comment: Amazing complilation. They'll probably charge for it eventually, but now it includes 14 worthwhile pieces of software including several listed here: 5 from Google; 4 others; 5 optional. Review & Comments about Google Pack in Academic Tools Blog |
| Routine: Multipurpose | MS Office
|
What it Does: The standard office suite - I've included components too. Runs on: PC, Mac Drexel Site License Best Feature: Standard Worst Feature: MS Learning Time: Hours --- Export/Import: Good My use: Daily --- Confidence in Evaluation: Good Comment: Everyone has it. It's refined and pretty darned stable. The imminent Office-2007 is a big quesition. Multipurpose note: All the "standard" programs: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc. |
| Routine: Multipurpose | OpenOffice
|
What it Does: Office Suite - MS Office compatible - Free Runs on: PC, Mac, Linux Free, Open Source Best Feature: Free Worst Feature: Lacks MS Words Outline mode For advanced MSOffice users the compatibility is not total. Learning Time: Hours --- Export/Import: Good Comment: It does almost everything MS Office does. The reason I don't use it every day is that I use outlining a lot. OO stinks in that one area. The drawing program is very good - you can do basic drawings for CAD work quickly, but don't expect to interchange with Autocad. Multipurpose note: Free - Some capabilities better than MS Office |
| Routine: Organizing | CmapTools
|
What it Does: Concept relationships - Useful in group situation Runs on: PC, Mac, Linux Free Uniqueness: It's one of only a few tools to provide this combination of functions Best Feature: Public server allowing group projects. Worst Feature: Initially difficult to see how powerful it is. Learning Time: Hours --- Export/Import: Medium My use: Infrequent --- Confidence in Evaluation: Good Comment: I have used it quite successfully in several courses. It was particularly helpful in promoting class interaction. Organizing note: Useful when trying to make connections between concepts |
| Routine: Organizing | Filemaker Pro
|
What it Does: Database tool (relational) with exceptionally straightforward interface Runs on: PC, Mac Price: $250 Best Feature: Allows fairly easy keeping of detailed grading and attendance records and personalized Emails. Worst Feature: You'll have to invest several days of time to get comfortable enough to use it (or any database) easily. Learning Time: Days --- Export/Import: Good My use: Daily --- Confidence in Evaluation: Good Comment: You want to pay for Filemaker if you do a lot of database work and want a really good user interface. Any time you get over about 100 things that need to be remembered, sorted, searched - up to that point Excel may be easier. If printed output appearance is critical FileMaker is excellent. - Access (in MSOffice) is licensed, but tougher to use. Base in Openoffice is an Access clone, and currently very flaky. MySQL is free and even tougher for the non-techie. Organizing note: Any time you get over about 100 things that need to be remembered, sorted, searched - up to that point Excel may be easier. If output appearance is critical FileMaker is superb Review & Comments about Filemaker Pro in Academic Tools Blog |
| Routine: Organizing | Freemind
|
What it Does: Relationship diagrams - brainstorming etc. Runs on: PC, Mac, Linux Free, Open Source Best Feature: Very rapid development of a set of concept relationships Worst Feature: Cannot add much text or images. Learning Time: Half Hour --- Export/Import: Medium My use: Infrequent --- Confidence in Evaluation: Medium Comment: A simple but elegant tool for organizing a bunch of ideas. Ideal at the brainstorming phase of a project. Quicker to use than cMap, but not as powerful. Review & Comments about Freemind in Academic Tools Blog |
| Routine: Organizing | MS Excel
|
What it Does: The standard spreadsheet Runs on: PC, Mac Drexel Site License Best Feature: Easy lists Worst Feature: Time to learn its vast array of features. Learning Time: Hours --- Export/Import: Good My use: Daily --- Confidence in Evaluation: Good Comment: For any heavy user it's worth adding the spreadsheet assistant mentioned elsewhere, and then learning how to record/write macros (VBA). Organizing note: Excellent for small lists. |
| Routine: Organizing | MS Word
|
What it Does: The standard word processor Runs on: PC, Mac Drexel Site License Best Feature: Outlines for those who love them. Styles for those who love them. Worst Feature: Complexity beyond the simple. Immediately Useful: Yes --- Learning Time: Hours --- Export/Import: Good My use: Daily --- Confidence in Evaluation: Good Comment: For those writing a lot it is very much worth exploring the bells and whistles - they can make a very big difference. Organizing note: The outline mode is very good for organizing. |
| Routine: Storage | Endnote
|
What it Does: Bibliographic database with many output formats Runs on: PC, Mac Drexel Site License Best Feature: Integration with Word Worst Feature: Cannot take multiple notes on a single source. Learning Time: Hours --- Export/Import: Good My use: Infrequent --- Confidence in Evaluation: Good Comment: If you have to write a big document this is an invaluable bibliography tool. It does not have built-in note-taking capabilities as does "Citation" (http://www.citationonline.net/). See also the brand-new (10/2006) Zotero (http://www.zotero.org/) Storage note: Bibliographic information |
| Routine: Storage | Filemaker Pro
|
What it Does: Database tool (relational) with exceptionally straightforward interface Runs on: PC, Mac Price: $250 Best Feature: Allows fairly easy keeping of detailed grading and attendance records and personalized Emails. Worst Feature: You'll have to invest several days of time to get comfortable enough to use it (or any database) easily. Learning Time: Days --- Export/Import: Good My use: Daily --- Confidence in Evaluation: Good Comment: You want to pay for Filemaker if you do a lot of database work and want a really good user interface. Any time you get over about 100 things that need to be remembered, sorted, searched - up to that point Excel may be easier. If printed output appearance is critical FileMaker is excellent. - Access (in MSOffice) is licensed, but tougher to use. Base in Openoffice is an Access clone, and currently very flaky. MySQL is free and even tougher for the non-techie. Review & Comments about Filemaker Pro in Academic Tools Blog |
| Routine: Utility | Firefox
|
What it Does: Web browser Runs on: PC, Mac, Linux Free, Open Source Best Feature: Add-ins that provide additional fucntions. Worst Feature: Many large institutions are not friendly to FF - e.g. Drexel. Learning Time: Half Hour --- My use: Daily --- Confidence in Evaluation: Good Comment: I use Adblock, NoScript, and All-In-One Sidebar extensions a lot. Utility note: My current favorite web browser. Review & Comments about Firefox in Academic Tools Blog |
| Routine: Utility | Foldershare
|
What it Does: Synchronize files on multiple machines via web Runs on: PC, Mac - Uses Web Free Uniqueness: It's one of only a few tools to provide this combination of functions Best Feature: Automatic backup of files protects against hardware failure. Worst Feature: If you delete a file on one machine it deletes it on all. Learning Time: Hours --- My use: Daily --- Confidence in Evaluation: Good Comment: A web-basede srvice (MS now owns it) for synchronizing files between multiple machines. It takes a bit of thought to set up, but works wonderfully in the background. You should still backup separately. Review & Comments about Foldershare in Academic Tools Blog |
| Routine: Utility | VPN Client
|
What it Does: Work away from home as if on campus -Virtual Private Network Runs on: PC, Mac, Linux - Uses Web Drexel Site License Best Feature: Use Outlook at home. Worst Feature: Cannot print to local network printer at home when connected to VPN. Learning Time: Half Hour --- My use: Daily --- Confidence in Evaluation: Good Comment: It ought to be possible to connect to campus servers when using the VPN, but I've not been successful recently. |
| Teaching: Classroom | CmapTools
|
What it Does: Concept relationships - Useful in group situation Runs on: PC, Mac, Linux Free Uniqueness: It's one of only a few tools to provide this combination of functions Best Feature: Public server allowing group projects. Worst Feature: Initially difficult to see how powerful it is. Learning Time: Hours --- Export/Import: Medium My use: Infrequent --- Confidence in Evaluation: Good Comment: I have used it quite successfully in several courses. It was particularly helpful in promoting class interaction. Classroom note: Develop group consensus |
| Teaching: Classroom | Firefox
|
What it Does: Web browser Runs on: PC, Mac, Linux Free, Open Source Best Feature: Add-ins that provide additional fucntions. Worst Feature: Many large institutions are not friendly to FF - e.g. Drexel. Learning Time: Half Hour --- My use: Daily --- Confidence in Evaluation: Good Comment: I use Adblock, NoScript, and All-In-One Sidebar extensions a lot. Classroom note: Useful to present external material - in my case my students produce web pages and we review them in class. Review & Comments about Firefox in Academic Tools Blog |
| Teaching: Classroom | Google Earth
|
What it Does: View and zoom the entire world Runs on: PC, Mac, Linux - Uses Web Free Uniqueness: It's one of only a few tools to provide this combination of functions Best Feature: Wow factor when exploring a geography-related aspect of a course. Worst Feature: Interface a bit clunky when going beyond basics. Learning Time: Minutes --- Export/Import: Medium Confidence in Evaluation: Good Comment: What a splendid, ever-improving tool. If you use it regularly it's worth it to spring the $20/year for the "plus" version. Classroom note: Wow factor is still high Review & Comments about Google Earth in Academic Tools Blog |
| Teaching: Classroom | MS Powerpoint
|
What it Does: The standard slide-show creator Runs on: PC, Mac Drexel Site License Best Feature: Professional appearance made easy. Worst Feature: It's difficult to change course in mid-stream presentation. Immediately Useful: Yes --- Learning Time: Hours --- Export/Import: Medium My use: Regular --- Confidence in Evaluation: Good Comment: It's not fair to blame the tool for its misuse, but many people do. |
| Teaching: Communication | CmapTools
|
What it Does: Concept relationships - Useful in group situation Runs on: PC, Mac, Linux Free Uniqueness: It's one of only a few tools to provide this combination of functions Best Feature: Public server allowing group projects. Worst Feature: Initially difficult to see how powerful it is. Learning Time: Hours --- Export/Import: Medium My use: Infrequent --- Confidence in Evaluation: Good Comment: I have used it quite successfully in several courses. It was particularly helpful in promoting class interaction. Communication note: Allows group development |
| Teaching: Communication | MS Outlook
|
What it Does: The standard corporate Email/task/calendar/contact program Runs on: PC, Mac Drexel Site License Best Feature: Integration of Email and tasks. Worst Feature: Corporate backup is atrocious. I've had a colleague lose vital emails thanks to MS incompetence. Learning Time: Hours --- Export/Import: Medium My use: Daily --- Confidence in Evaluation: Good Comment: I use it every day - but enhance it with Neo - and am sure to backup my own local data (PST) files. |
| Teaching: Communication | Skype
|
What it Does: Telephone and video over web (VOIP) Runs on: PC, Mac, Linux - Uses Web Free Best Feature: Very low cost calls Worst Feature: Not as easy as the phone yet. Learning Time: Half Hour --- Comment: There are many competitors. The field is changing rapdily. Skype certifies hardware. |
| Teaching: Communication | Thunderbird EMail |
What it Does: EMail client Runs on: PC, Mac, Linux Free, Open Source Best Feature: Clean interface and search Worst Feature: It doesn't connect to outlook Learning Time: Half Hour --- My use: Regular --- Confidence in Evaluation: Good Comment: A good EMail client that is being constantly improved. Firefox's sibling. I currently use GMail and my wife uses Thunderbird. |
| Teaching: Presentation | CmapTools
|
What it Does: Concept relationships - Useful in group situation Runs on: PC, Mac, Linux Free Uniqueness: It's one of only a few tools to provide this combination of functions Best Feature: Public server allowing group projects. Worst Feature: Initially difficult to see how powerful it is. Learning Time: Hours --- Export/Import: Medium My use: Infrequent --- Confidence in Evaluation: Good Comment: I have used it quite successfully in several courses. It was particularly helpful in promoting class interaction. Presentation note: Can use interactively - modify session on the fly. |
| Teaching: Presentation | Google Earth
|
What it Does: View and zoom the entire world Runs on: PC, Mac, Linux - Uses Web Free Uniqueness: It's one of only a few tools to provide this combination of functions Best Feature: Wow factor when exploring a geography-related aspect of a course. Worst Feature: Interface a bit clunky when going beyond basics. Learning Time: Minutes --- Export/Import: Medium Confidence in Evaluation: Good Comment: What a splendid, ever-improving tool. If you use it regularly it's worth it to spring the $20/year for the "plus" version. Presentation note: Wow factor is still high Review & Comments about Google Earth in Academic Tools Blog |
| Teaching: Presentation | MS Powerpoint
|
What it Does: The standard slide-show creator Runs on: PC, Mac Drexel Site License Best Feature: Professional appearance made easy. Worst Feature: It's difficult to change course in mid-stream presentation. Immediately Useful: Yes --- Learning Time: Hours --- Export/Import: Medium My use: Regular --- Confidence in Evaluation: Good Comment: It's not fair to blame the tool for its misuse, but many people do. |
| Teaching: Visualization | CmapTools
|
What it Does: Concept relationships - Useful in group situation Runs on: PC, Mac, Linux Free Uniqueness: It's one of only a few tools to provide this combination of functions Best Feature: Public server allowing group projects. Worst Feature: Initially difficult to see how powerful it is. Learning Time: Hours --- Export/Import: Medium My use: Infrequent --- Confidence in Evaluation: Good Comment: I have used it quite successfully in several courses. It was particularly helpful in promoting class interaction. Visualization note: It's inherently visual. |
| Teaching: Visualization | Google Earth
|
What it Does: View and zoom the entire world Runs on: PC, Mac, Linux - Uses Web Free Uniqueness: It's one of only a few tools to provide this combination of functions Best Feature: Wow factor when exploring a geography-related aspect of a course. Worst Feature: Interface a bit clunky when going beyond basics. Learning Time: Minutes --- Export/Import: Medium Confidence in Evaluation: Good Comment: What a splendid, ever-improving tool. If you use it regularly it's worth it to spring the $20/year for the "plus" version. Review & Comments about Google Earth in Academic Tools Blog |
| Teaching: Visualization | Google Sketchup
|
What it Does: 3D Drawing tool - sketching rather than detailed. Runs on: PC, Mac Free Uniqueness: It's one of only a few tools to provide this combination of functions Best Feature: Integration with Google Earth + Wow factor Worst Feature: Focus is on buildings - orthogonal objects Learning Time: Hours --- Export/Import: Medium My use: Regular --- Confidence in Evaluation: Good Comment: The integration with Google Earth is spectacular. |
| Teaching: Visualization | MS Excel
|
What it Does: The standard spreadsheet Runs on: PC, Mac Drexel Site License Best Feature: Easy lists Worst Feature: Time to learn its vast array of features. Learning Time: Hours --- Export/Import: Good My use: Daily --- Confidence in Evaluation: Good Comment: For any heavy user it's worth adding the spreadsheet assistant mentioned elsewhere, and then learning how to record/write macros (VBA). Visualization note: The charts are quite good. |
Update: 2006-11-26