Starting with a fresh MacBook Pro, what does it take to get it fully tuned to UI perfection? I have cataloged my efforts. What applications? What command-line tools? What subtle, pedantic, and mysterious tweaks?

First Things First

What shall we christen him? Above even processor speed and RAM since antiquity, names have mattered. Names spark imagination alluding to the unfathomable potential of our magical metal glass boxes. My desktop iMac is called Bloom. His Time Machine drive: Daedalus. Melody’s MacBook Pro is Artemis. Therefore, this fresh one shall be called Apollo. (When necessity dictates acquisition of a new iOS device, she will, most naturally, be named Lyra.)

• After the fancy Snow Leopard animation, create an account to get started.
  • User name: wtaysom — Scarily this moniker uniquely identifies me on the web. Sorry uncle Bill. (Besides us two, Google knows of no other living William Taysom.)
• Register AppleCare — Despite the sturdier unibody, still worth the insurance.

Background Utilities

Dropbox

With two primary computers, syncing is essential. Sharing is a bonus. No other service is nearly as satisfying.

• Preferences
  • ✓ Use black and white menu bar icons

MercuryMover

The best way to precisely move and resize windows. Complete with undo and redo.

• In System Preferences
  • In Universal Access
    • ✓ Enable access for assistive devices
  • ✓ Enable MercuryMover
  • ✓ Check for Updates

SymbolicLinker

If you ever use the Terminal, then you should never use aliases. Better to give Finder the ability to make symbolic links. Extra helpful for syncing ~/.* via Dropbox.

Hex Color Picker

If you see colors as six digit numbers, then you deserve a corresponding color picker.

Next Time?

Setup docked applications one by one: first that famous Finder face followed by the cool metallic Chrome web browser.