[cichlisuite]

Launchbar for launching apps, searching (local & net) & file browsing (pretty much replaces the finder for me).

TextExpander.

Spaces to keep apps/windows organized.

Hazel, watching my Downloads folder for routing mp3s automagically to iTunes, torrent files to Transmission, etc.

[cichlisuite]

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[tony_d]

Candybar, for system wide icons and the dock (I also use Docker, too.)
Displaperture, to bring back the curved edges of the desktop that Leopard removed (its the little things I like.)
BootXChanger so I can have a happy Mac at startup.
Visage, Choose my own login screen (it also does a lot of other things, too)
iStat in the menubar
You Control Tunes for iTunes control in the menubar along with scrolling song info.
I have also added sidebar separators and Application separators in the dock. And with Onyx I have a white menu bar.

[radneuerfinder]

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how you've customized OS X to:

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Organize and find files

My documents folder is cluttered by folders generated automatically by various applications, so I have created a "my documents folder" inside of documents.
I have created a "stack folder" to park things for the moment. I can access the stack in the dock, in the finder side bar, by keyboard (via Butler), it is even in the quick launch bar of my virtual Windows.

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Manage those files (moving, copying, renaming, deleting, archiving)

Years after the switch, I am still missing 'cmd + x' to move files in the finder.

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Manage file downloads (from e-mail and the Web)

Being offline, all my e-mail attachements are there, so they must be stored somewhere on the mac, it works without my attention. :-) My only complaint is, if I am writing notes to PDF attachements, OS X is promising to store the note, but it is not.
(Downloads are getting installed stored or deleted to keep the download folder empty.)

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Preview/view files

I really like to see the whole page/folder/view, so resizing to as-less-scroll-bars-as-possible by hand is my "tweak". I would love to have a automatic or a knob/shortcut for that. (The green bubble in the finder, in safari, etc. is not doing what I want.)

Launch applications

- always used apps: autolaunch (e. g. Skype, where I have a script to close the initial window)
- most used apps: in the dock
- all other apps: with Butler (launchers are great!!)
- if I don't know a certain app for a task, or I can't remember the name: I use a self created (uff) table of content for apps, where apps are sorted by topic: office, music, video, system utilities, etc., see: http://img483.images...607/dockks3.png

Arrange/tweak your workspaces so they're useful and attractive.

- I love to tweak menubars to a left to right workflow. E. g. in mail on the left I have 'new email' and on right 'send'.
- I have a lot of tweaks to overcome shortcommings of OS X. E. g. beside the spotlight field in the finder I have a button to EasyFind. E. g. togehter with Butler I managed somehow to create a button and shortcut to see all icons in the menubar: http://www.versiontr...fo/macosx/34271
- I couldn't live without multiple clipbords (Butler)
- I love to translate a word only by hitting the keyboard (Dictionary.app + http://www.tekl.de/e...an-English.html )
- I love to see a "real dashboard" to know how the mac is doing. Is it a fast download? Is my phone connected via Bluetooth, which app is consuming that mauch cpu? etc., see: http://img15.imagesh.../menubarlb7.png

[migs]

I have done very little to customize Tiger on my Powerbook G4. The biggest change I've made was just yesterday by using this idea from LifeClever to organize my desktop: http://www.lifecleve...in-your-sanity/
I also use Savvy Clipboard to manage copy/cut & paste.
I tried using Pathfinder but Finder is much quicker.

[wheat]

I've been using Macs since 1987.
I use Leopard now, and I rely on DragThing and Default Folder X.
I make the Dock as small as possible, remove all the icons, hide it and get it out of the way. In other words I practically never use or look at the Dock. DragThing shows me a menu in the upper right that displays running applications--much like the classic Mac Systems and OS.
I never use Spaces and rarely use Expose.
I have made some minor tweaks with TinkerTool and MacPilot, but nothing major.
I use ServiceScrubber and I have installed some third-party Services.
I haven't found Automater to be of much use, although I do understand how to use it and I have constructed some tasks.
I really don't use AppleScripts much at all.
I enable all the icons for any applications or system doohickies that can display an icon in the upper-right menu bar. I use more than one keyboard layout, too.

[JediTiger]

I use Launchbar and HotApp to launch apps, special folders, pref panes, AppleScripts and Launchbar for some drag n drop
Growl for systemwide notifications
Flip4Mac for Windows Media
Synergy for iTunes control
GimmeSomeTunes for artwork/lyrics
Caffeine to stop sleep/saver when needed
I have one Automator workflow for watermarking and processing images
The AppleScript above opens an app and several files I always have open.
All essential to everyday work

[SimoneUe]

LaunchBar to start apps and to open folders.
Default-Folders to browse to favourite folders or to open folders (opened with LaunchBar beforehand) when saving.
1Password in Firefox and Safari.
TextExpander for typos, regular expressions and foreign characters.
Dock: only got apps in there that I seldom use and cannot remember the name when using LaunchBar.
Downloads go to downloads.
Got a special folder "t" (for temporary) on the desktop. All the nonsense that would normally end up on the desktop goes in there, keeps the desktop clean and fast.
Spaces: I use dual-screen at home. When working with the MacBook at the university, I use spaces instead, basically one app per space.

[mrbach]

Used to use stuff like Default Folder, Quicksilver,Growl.
Handy stuff, but seemed to cause problems during OS X updates. Now I just use OS X as is. Flock as a browser keeps most of the YouTube,Facebook and Blogger stuff straight. Firefox and Safari do the rest of my browsing.
Keeping it simple works best for me.
The only thing I use is Suitcase Fusion for font management.

[Jaddie]

I use DragThing to access my most frequently accessed applications, documents, and folders. I also use Default Folder and Spell Catcher. Spell Catcher does a heck of a lot more than just check spelling. It auto-expands text and performs more than a handful of useful text manipulations, too.

I tried LaunchBar and believe I'd like it a lot, but I can't figure out how it provides faster access than DragThing to my most frequently used applications, documents, and folders.

I've used DragThing, Default Folder, and Spell Catcher for over ten years. These are truly magnificent productivity enhancers.

--Jaddie

[demiphonic]

Organize and find files – Nothing special, but I favour ‘List View’ as it’s easier to find files/folders quickly… & I use large icons cause I’m running a 13” Macbook.

Manage those files (moving, copying, renaming, deleting, archiving) – Basic commands such as commandc & commandv for copy & paste. Command+B for bold etc. I delete programs with AppDelete & drag files & folders to Trash.

Manage file downloads (from e-mail and the Web) – I use the Opera Browser for many reasons but I do love the fact that a “Transfer Tab” pops up when I download something. It shows me the progress & when done I can launch the file right from that window & not have to go into the Mac itself.

Preview/view files – I use the quick look feature a bit &/or Command+I to get info like file sizes etc.

Launch applications – I launch From the Dock & if it’s not there I gotta spotlight the Applications folder (lame I know lol) but I haven’t decided to learn Quicksilver yet :p

Arrange/tweak your workspaces so they're useful and attractive. – My desktop is spick & span the only thing that’s there is “Macintosh HD”. I pimped my Dock the old fashion way using the Terminal (to refresh). It now has a dark wooden deck feel. The default blue/ grey folder colours really don’t agree with me so I used FolderTeint to change them to a Tan shade.

Automator workflows or Applescripts? - Nope

Other Notes:
I use iStat Pro to check system performance,
OnyX to keep thing running smoothly,
Growl to manage all my Apps.
I keep Translator & Thesaurus widgets.
Perian & Flip for Mac WMV to add more functionality to QuickTime.
I’ve never really used Spaces or Time Machine. (but I do back up regularly)
I love the gestures on the trackpad but in general I hate trackpads so I use my VX Nano mouse.
I arrange Apps in my Dock by Type. For example Opera & Firefox – VLC Player, QuickTime, DVD Player – Design Programs are together etc.

[folklore]

Org and find - I still file things in logical folders by project. I use the Finder to browse/move/copy/rename/etc, though I've put a handful of folders in the Dock.
My Dock is the stock reflective one, along the bottom. I don't hide it, but I do turn off the magnification crap.
Downloads to into my Downloads folder. I haven't cleared that out in... uh... awhile.
Quicklook for previewing files. Apple's Preview app for everything it can read - it's very fast to launch compared to other apps (e.g., Acrobat).
Launch applications - Spotlight or the Dock. In Leopard, at least, Spotlight is plenty fast as an application launcher.
My menu bar has loads of stuff in it - Adium, Dropbox, Shimo, TextExpander, Chronosync, Modem/Bluetooth, Displays Prefs, Time Machine, MobileMe Sync, Airport, Character Palette, Volume, Battery status, MenuCalendarClock for iCal.
I've added a handful of Quicklook plugins... the one for zip files is all I can specifically recall.
Spaces is a neat concept, but I've never found a use for it.
I don't use Automator or Applescripts at all.
I mostly use TextExpander for characters like © α ±, ∞, β, etc. I know some of them have key combos that I can press, but I find it easier to remember my TextExpander snippets. I also use TextExpander for TinyURL - it's great for that.

[nathanator11]

Launchbar, quicklook, applescript, and lots lots more

[Jason Snell]

Oh, okay. :-)
I replaced the stock calendar with MenuCalendarClockiCal.
I replaced the battery menu extra with SlimBatteryMonitor.
I replaced iChat with Adium.
I replaced the VPN client with Shimo.
I use LaunchBar to launch apps and DragThing to connect to servers.