Just a list of the Apps that I insist on having on all my Macs, which are currently:
Macbook Pro 15" 2.66Ghz, 8Gig Ram, 750 Gig HD
Macbook Pro 13" 2.25Ghz, 4 Gig Ram, 320 Gig HD (which has replaced the Macbook Air as my home/mobile web device)
Mac Mini 2.0Ghz, 4 Gig Ram, 500 Gig HD
Mac Mini 2.0Ghz (Media Server), 4 Gig Ram, 640 Gig HD
Mac Mini 2.16Ghz 2 Gig Ram, 500 Gig HD (x 2)
Mac Pro 8 Core 2.26Ghz, 16 Gig Ram, 4 x 1TB HD's
Xserve Twin Dual Core 2 Ghz, 8 Gig Ram, 2 x 80 Gig HD + 1 x 500 Gig + Apple Xserve RAID via Fibre Channel
My Image for these machines (Apart from the server) contains the following essential apps:
Yazsoft Speed Download (http://yazsoft.com/products/speed-download/information/): Amazing app that integrates with Safari and is also a nice FTP/iDisk client.
Cocoasoft Pathfinder (http://www.cocoatech.com/): This is what the Finder should become...
Acrylic Wallet (http://www.acrylicapps.com/wallet/): I keep ALL my secure info in this App, and it syncronises between all the Macs and my iPhone.... Love it!!
Blacktree Quicksilver Nahh scrub that. Replaced with Launchbar as it's still supported and can be made to act just like Quicksilver.
Conceited Software Linkinus (http://conceitedsoftware.com/products/linkinus): Lovely/Polished IRC Client.
JollyfastVNC (http://www.jinx.de/JollysFastVNC.html): Just as it says..super speedy, lightweight VNC Client.
Evernote (http://www.evernote.com/): This holds all the other info I can't keep in wallet easily. And just like it syncs great between Computers and iphone etc...
Adium (http://adium.im/): THE Messenger client on the mac. Integrates with skype via 3rd party addon.
TimeMachineEditor (http://timesoftware.free.fr/timemachineeditor/): Make Time Machine work when YOU want it too!!
Micromates Textmate (http://macromates.com/): Quality Super Text Editor at a great price...
Put these on your Mac and watch it fly!!!