Apple computers better known as Macs are increasing in popularity.   Not long ago Mac's were thought of as appropriate computers only for graphic designers, photographers, teachers, and not serious business people.   Today Apple Computer with their award winning line of Mac computers is garnishing desk share from long time software giant Microsoft.  

Serious business people are turning to Apple and Mac computers to rid them of them of the woe's associated with PC use.   Search engine juggernaut Google and even the United States White House staff use Mac computers.

With the growing popularity of Mac use in business I think it makes sense to compile in one place a handy list of the most useful Mac applications for business use.   Below is my entire collection subdivided by business use category.   I will update the list regularly so if I missed your software, product, of service let me know and I'll take a look.  

So here is your ultimate to "how to" guide to using Mac computers in everyday business.  

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Microsoft Office Products for Mac

Microsoft Office for Mac: Many people still don't realize that Microsoft Office fully integrates with the Mac. Documents sent to you from a PC will open and document you create on your Mac and send to PC users will open on their computer.

Office for Mac includes Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and Entourage (the Mac version of Outlook)

Apple iWork

Apple iWork: Designed by Apple and better than Microsoft Office. Microsoft's upcoming 2008 version of Office for the Mac copies Apple iWork in every way. Everything you create in iWork can be saved as a Microsoft Office document to send to PC users. iWork includes Pages (replaces your need for Word), Keynote (use this instead of Powerpoint), and Numbers (no need for Excel).

I've made thousands of dollars using the professional quality newsletter templates provided in iWork Pages.

Accounting & Finance

Accounting & Bookeeping

Quickbooks Accounting Software Products: QuickBooks is the leading choice for fast, easy financial management. I've used Quickbooks for years with great success.

MYOB Accounting Software Products: Streamlined and intuitive, FirstEdge for Mac is designed for the needs of small and home-based businesses.

Quicken Mac: Quicken for Mac offers comprehensive personal financial management.

Virus Protection

VirusBarrier by Intego: I've never run virus protection on my Mac computers. I'm not recommending that you do the same. If you choose to run virus protection fellow Mac users recommend this as the very best for Mac.

General Productivity

Email Marketing

Email Ripper: Rip email addresses from web pages in a few simple steps and then send them a message.  I use this software extensively to help build my business. 

Calander & Contact Management

Daylite Contact Management for Mac: Daylite 3 Productivity Suite helps businesses organize themselves with tools such as shared calendars, contacts, tasks, projects, notes and more.

Nisus Writer: You have something to say and you need a word processor that will help you say it. Express Yourself with the affordable, easy to use writers word processor: Nisus Writer Express! With so many new features, our legendary user interface, Microsoft® Word compatibility and a low price of just $69, this new release is something you can't afford to miss.

Utilities

Stuff It Expander: Stuffit does for the Mac what winzip does for PC's. You can compress and decompress anything...even photo's.

Marketing & Sales

Design, Layout & Publishing

Adobe Photo Shop Elements: Adobe® Photoshop® Elements 4.0 software combines power and simplicity to help you do it all. Edit and enhance your photos by fixing common flaws instantly or using advanced options for more control. Keep every photo at your fingertips.

Adobe Dreamweaver: Dreamweaver is the industry-leading web development tool, enabling users to efficiently design, develop and maintain standards-based websites and applications.

I use Dreamweaver extensively. It's easy to use and comes with loads of templates for novices.

If you're not an expert and want to design your own website I suggest you Learn HTML. I learned everything I needed to know in one weekend of reading and saved countless thousands of dollars by not having to pay web designers and made thousands more because I could design for other.  You'll find that there are hundreds, if not thousands of books to choose from.   I read  The Complete Idiot's Guide to Creating a Web Page.  I read the 4th addition.  At the time of this post it's now in the 6th edition. 

Mac Blogs

Official Google Mac Blog: Yes, Googles uses Macs and has the never to blog about it.

Mac User: News, info, and opinion by Mac users, for Mac users.

Cult of Mac: The Cult of Mac is a source of news for the Macintosh and iPod communities, written by Leander Kahney, managing editor at Wired.com and author of two award-winning books about Mac and iPod culture. This is one of my favorite mac blogs.

Mac Magazines

Macworld

MacLife