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The most important source is the nearest store that sells Apple software.
 technofile
Al Fasoldt's reviews and commentaries, continuously available online since 1983

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Where to find commercial and shareware programs for OS X


Oct. 6, 2004


By Al Fasoldt
Copyright © 2004, Al Fasoldt
Copyright © 2004, The Post-Standard

   "It's easy to find software for Windows," a reader complained recently. "But finding software for my new Macintosh is a pain."
   My first reaction was to deny this. After all, every day I come across more new OS X software -- commercial programs, shareware and freeware -- than I could possibly try out over a full month of weekends.
   But the more I thought about this complaint, the more I realized it reflected a genuine quandary. Where DO you find OS X software if you're not a geek-speaking computer journalist? I'll try to provide a good answer this week.
   When you think about getting extra software for your OS X Mac, you probably imagine downloading shareware off the Internet. But that's not what comes to my mind first. To me, the most important source of software for modern Macs is the nearest store that sells Apple software.
   If you don't have a local or regional Apple software dealer, you'll have to shop by mail or on the Web, but always check your own city and suburbs for a place where you can shop in person first. You might be surprised to find Apple software dealers a few miles away.
   Cases in point: CompUSA, which specializes in Windows computers and Windows software, actually sells Macintosh computers and software, too. Go to the back of the store to find the Mac area. And the Syracuse area has a longtime exclusive Apple retailer, too. It's Applied Technical Systems.
   To locate authorized Apple stores in your area, go to http://wheretobuy.apple.com/locator.
   If you're far from a walk-in retail store, shop online. Start with Apple's own online store, at www.apple.com. Click the "Store" link at the top, then choose the "Software" link. Apple's online store usually won't offer the kind of bargains you might find at discounters, but it's well stocked.
   A casual browser might think that Apple's software store is a download-only catalog. But click the "Made4Mac" link at the top and then choose the "Software" link on the page that opens. You'll see Apple's continually updated list of commercial software, shareware and freeware. In every case, you've shown a link that you can use to find out more about the software or order it for delivery.
   Always look in this list -- you'll find a good search form on the "Software" page -- before you assume that a program you need is not available for Mac OS X.
   Although I love boxed software and always prefer it over a download, I get nearly all my "secondary" software (the kind that I could do without if I had to) by downloading it from Web sites. Twice a day, I take a look at the new and revised downloads on Version Tracker, a Web site that presents a unified view of important downloadable OS X software. Make a bookmark for it at www.versiontracker.com/macosx.
   Two other good download sites are http://osx.hyperjeff.net/Apps, which tracks more OS X programs than any other site, and www.macupdate.com, which sometimes spots updates that Version Tracker misses.