[Macworld]

Post your comments for How have you customized OS X? here

[heimi]

- LaunchBar
- Google Desktop
That sorts me out for all my searching and launching needs!

[jgwc]

- quick silver

- path finder
pretty much does it all?

[wyomason]

Default Folder X
Fantasktik

[jadco]

- multiple dock icons for launching apps
- Default Folder
- Special documents folder holds all work documents organized hierarchically by client and by precedent/template
- Extensively customized MS Office Project Gallery templates for new document creation
- MS Office toolbars for opening commonly used templates
- Quickeys toolbars with buttons for repetitious tasks
- all important files automatically backed up to iDisk daily using ChronoSync (for offsite storage and remote access) and to an in-office Time Capsule using Time Machine

[barrett]

- QuickSilver, although my use of it barely scratches the surface.
- TextMate Quick Look plugin.
- Growl
- Ogg Vorbis QuickTime plugin for iTunes (tsk tsk Apple)
- Last.fm plugin for iTunes
- GimmeSomeTune plugin for iTunes (album art and song lyric fetching)
- NowPlaying plugin for iTunes (to publish what I'm listening to to my blog - blog.websitesbybarrett.com/itunes)
- iStat menus to monitor performance or see when Parallels is honked (ps I hate parallels)
I have some Automator workflows for image manipulation (folder actions) and also to mount network drives at the office.

[2fast4DOS]

-Growl
-CandyBar Icon Replacements (with downloaded icon sets)
-iStat
-Stack of the Application Folder
-1Password integrated into Safari and Firefox

[Dequis]

Quicksilver
Afloat
Candybar
ForkLift
Some features of MacPilot

[adobephile]

Default Folder
Suitcase Fusion
LaunchBar

[501user]

"... how do you use and how have you customized, enhanced, or replaced such staples of the OS as:"
Desktop
Haven't replaced it.
Dock
Haven't - although I have made the icons smaller.
Finder
Haven't replaced that either, although ForkLift is on hand.
Menu Bar
Does "I've put a shortcut to Keychain Access in there" count?
Quicklook
No plugins
Services
I've added none, although some apps have added themselves.
Spaces
Tried. It sounded really good, but I found I couldn't get on with it in practice. It's turned off.
Spotlight.
Not replaced either. Nor Have I enhanced it (although I believe Houdah software does a plugin). I dislike Spotlight and rarely use it.

[depotdave]

ASM in menu bar
TinkerTool to disable 3-D dock
TinkerTool to add up/down scroll bars at top/bottom of windows
TinkerTool to change all default fonts to Lucida Grande

[estumpges]

Although I used to use more free 3rd party apps for customizing OSX, since installing Leopard, I've been relying mostly on built in functionality as opposed to 3rd party apps. I've found that this minimizes bogging down of the system by potentially poorly written free software. Leopard offers pretty much everything I need to keep my files organized, back up my system, and launch applications.
I use the finder to organize and manage my files. I've set up the sidebar to display Documents, Music, Pictures, Movies, Downloads, and Public in the Places section as opposed to the generic home folder. This offers quicker access to my files. I use the Cover Flow view and Quick Look a lot because I like to have a visual of the documents I'm dealing with.
I use Time Machine with my Time Capsule to back up my system. It's painless and has worked great for me.
I set the dock to auto hide and use it to launch the applications I use most often. In the stacks section, I have my Documents, Downloads, and Public folders. I've been a huge fan of stacks since Apple added the list view.
Spotlight is my method of searching for files and launching less used applications. It's really fast and does a great job most of the time.
In terms of workspaces, I set them up based on general tasks. I currently have them divided into internet apps, contact/email/calendar apps, productivity apps, music apps, photo apps, and video apps. I wish Microsoft Office 2008 played nice with Spaces but I use iWork most of the time anyway so it's not a huge issue for me.
I use the menu bar to manage my wireless networks, MobileMe syncing, and bluetooth. Additionally, I display the Input Menu for quick access to the character palette and the keyboard viewer. I also use the menu bar for iChat.
I have a few gripes with Leopard and I have yet to find any third party software that addresses my issues...
1. Leopard won't let me rename servers that appear in the Shared section of the Finder. I have a Canon MP970 printer on my home network and the memory card reader shows up in the Shared section as the printer's IP address in the finder. I'd like to be able to change the name to something more meaningful but haven't had any luck. Windows makes it easy to change the name of a mapped network drive. Hopefully Snow Leopard will offer more flexibility when it comes to managing networked items.
2. Leopard's window management is dismal. It's a hassle for users like me who like to run apps full screen. The green plus button in the upper left hand corner of apps is pretty much worthless. I can see how some users like to be able to set the windows to display the content width of a page. I just wish Apple would add a third mode to this button that would make apps run in full screen. Baring this, I at least want the ability to set up an app window the way I like it and have it open the same way every time. iWork, Address Book, Garage Band, iWeb are just a few apps I can name off the top of my head that will not let me run in full screen mode automatically. Apple really needs to address the unpredictability of window management in OSX. I far prefer the Windows approach in this area.

[Ventzi_Zhechev]

— MenuMeters for monitoring memory, HDD, CPU, net usage
— iMote for quick control of iTunes (although I don’t need it as much with the new keyboards)
— Growl for timely notifications by various programs
— SallingClicker for seamless integration with my Sony Ericsson K750
— iScrobbler for LastFM updating
— KeyCue to remind me of forgotten keyboard shortcuts
— Perian for QuickTime
— ClickToFlash — an indispensable tool to keep Flash from killing my browser at inopportune times and from eating up my RAM

[Axl]

Organize and find files - Finder / Pathfinder / spotlight
Manage those files (moving, copying, renaming, deleting, archiving) - As above
Manage file downloads (from e-mail and the Web) - A whole big messy mix of trix
Preview/view files - Quick view rules! - or Preview
Launch applications - Spotlight / Dock / drop apps on menu bar in Finder
Arrange/tweak your workspaces so they're useful and attractive. - Minimize buttons and floaties (Basic in PS is great), keyboard shortcuts
Put another way, how do you use and how have you customized, enhanced, or replaced such staples of the OS as:
Desktop My relationship to the DT is like that of the relationship between an incurable alcoholic and alcohol
Dock - There but mostly ignored
Finder - Finder needs to be Pathfinder as done by Apple
Menu Bar - Just the way it is
Quicklook - The most awesome thing about the OS. Use it ALL the time
Services - not ever on my radar
Spaces - didn't get on with it but I am sure I am missing out - It confused me
Spotlight. - use it as is
Also: Do you use Automator workflows or Applescripts on a regular basis to handle basic housekeeping? What about text expanders/keyboard macros? Nah