Best Desktop Customization Apps For Mac 5,0/5 3121 reviews

Jan 07, 2020 The best Mac apps for 2020. Think of Alfred as Spotlight with a dash of Siri. It’s an application launcher, but it can do a lot more than just that. Google Chrome. Download and install the best free apps for Desktop Customization on Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android from CNET Download.com, your trusted source for the top software picks. Dec 31, 2019  The best Mac email app for an organized inbox: Edison Mail Some email apps simply move spam messages and newsletters into a separate folder. Sure, you don’t see them in. Here is a list of Best Free Desktop Customizer Software For Windows. Sometimes, it gets bothersome to see unnecessary and unorganized stuff filling up your desktop. So, to easily organize and customize your desktop, here is a list of desktop customization software to follow.

  1. Best Desktop Customization Apps For Mac Free
  2. Best Desktop Customization Apps For Mac Windows 10

BestMac DesktopiMore2020

The Mac lineup isn't all about MacBooks. There are also excellent desktop models! Our favorite desktop solution for 2020 is the iMac 5K, which is packed full of terrific features at a reasonable price. There are other desktop Macs worth considering depending on your needs.

Best Overall: iMac 5K

Featuring an aluminum and glass enclosure with a five millimeter-thin profile, the iMac 5K ships with a matching Magic Keyboard and Magic Mouse 2. For 5K, Apple offers an excellent lineup of three 27-inch iMac versions, starting with the entry-level model that includes a 3.0GHz 6-core 8th-generation Intel Core i5 processor with a Turbo Boost up to 4.1GHz, 8GB 2666MHz DDR4 memory, Radeon Pro 570X with 4GB of GDDR5 memory, and 1TB Fusion Drive storage.

For more money, you can increase your RAM, processor, and storage.

The latest 5K iMac was released in March 2019 and at least doubles the performance over the previous models. As part of the upgrade, the all-in-one computer also delivers up to 50 percent faster graphics performance, which is perfect for pros with graphics-intensive workloads.

Pros:

  • Beautiful Retina 5K 5120-by-2880 P3 display
  • Three base choices

Cons:

  • Price can rise quickly with add-ons
  • 8GB of memory might not be enough
  • Apple could release an upgrade as early as spring 2020

Best Overall

iMac 5K

Look at that display!

Forget 4K, when you can have 5K. Great internals and a robust display in one package.

Source: iMore

The iMac 4K is only available with a 21.5-inch display, which is something to consider before making a purchase. The least expensive model offers a 3.6GHz quad-core 8th-generation Intel Core i3 processor with 8GB 2400MHz DDR4 memory, configurable up to 32GB, 1TB hard drive, and Radeon Pro 555X with 2GB of GDDR5 memory. The more expensive version includes a 3.0GHz 6-core 8th-generation Intel Core i5 processor and other extras.

Like other Macs, the iMac 4K ships with macOS Catalina, which includes an all-new Music app alongside apps for Apple TV and Podcasts. The update is also the first to include Mac Catalyst, which allows developers to move iPad apps to Mac with ease.

Jan 30, 2020  Password manager apps for iPhone makes logging into websites easier, faster and secure. Here's a list of the best password manager apps for iPhone in 2020 (that are also cheap/free). Jan 15, 2020  Passwords that are easy to remember and used multiple times are for suckers. Writing them down to type back in, or copy-pasting them each time is not only a hassle, it's a disaster waiting to happen. Here are the best password manager apps for Mac. Best free password app for mac and iphone 6. Jan 10, 2020  Best password manager apps for iPhone and iPad in 2020. Free with in-app purchases - Download now. LastPass specializes in automatically organizing your entries for you. It has three main categories: websites, form fills, and secure notes, which are used for such things as driver's license numbers and credit card information. The best password managers for 2020 and how to use them. But the free Dashlane app limits you to one device and 50 passwords, and the Premium subscription is more than similar plans to from.

When looking at the 21.5-inch iMac lineup, avoid the least expensive model. It's the one without 4K. Like the 5K iMac, the iMac 4K was last updated in March 2019, which means a hardware update could arrive soon.

Pros:

  • Less money than 5K versions
  • Two main choices for 4K

Cons:

  • Avoid the least expensive 21.5-inch option
  • Can't buy 4K 27-inch iMac

Best Entry Level

iMac 4K

Budget choice

You get Apple's impressive 4K Retina display on this iMac model. Inside you'll find less expensive parts than the 5K option.

Source: iMore

In late 2018, Apple released the fourth-generation Mac mini, nearly four years after the last model was revealed. The least expensive model offers a 3.6GHz quad-core 8th-generation Intel Core i3 processor with 8GB 2666MHz DDR4 memory, and 128GB PCIe-based SSD storage, while the more expensive version starts with a 3.0GHz 6-core 8th-generation Intel Core i5 processor and 256GB PCIe-based SSD storage.

If you're looking at a Mac mini, you are already aware that you need to add a monitor, keyboard, and mouse. In that situation, we recommend upgrading the memory from the minimum. Ideally, you should start with the more expensive version, if only because you'll get more storage too.

Pros:

  • Least expensive solution
  • Works great with all types of monitors

Cons:

  • Remember, no monitor or accessories
  • Can get expensive quickly

Best for Hobbylists

Mac mini

Look, no monitor!

Mac minis are a great solution if you already have a terrific monitor and other accessories. Otherwise, stick with iMac.

Source: iMore

First introduced in late 2017, the iMac Pro includes an 8-, 10-, 14-, or 18-core Intel Xeon processor, 27-inch (diagonal) Retina 5K display, AMD Vega graphics, up to 256GB ECC memory, and 10 Gigabit Ethernet. In other words, this is one powerful machine!

Geared towards highly professional creatives, the iMac Pro can easily cost you five figures, depending on your configuration. Only buy this model if you need the expanded resources, like the color black, and a no-brainer, have a budget to support the purchase.

The biggest issues facing would-be iMac Pro buyers is two-fold. First, the product hasn't been updated in three years, which makes a refresh likely. Second, with the Mac Pro (see below) now on the market, the choice isn't nearly as simple anymre.

Pros:

  • Lots of customization
  • Memory up to 256GB
  • Only iMac that comes in black

Cons:

  • Extremely pricey
  • Not for most buyers
  • Hasn't been updated since 2017

Best for Most Pros

iMac Pro

The one for massive projects

Get your boss to buy you this one -- or get it yourself if you're the boss!

Source: iMore

No doubt, the Mac Pro (2019) is the best professional-graded computer Apple has ever created. Made in the United States, the Mac Pro has been designed for maximum performance, expansion, and configurability. It features Xeon processors, an Earth-shattering high-performance memory system, eight PCIe expansion slots, and graphics architecture that supports what Apple calls the world's most powerful graphics card. There's also the all-new Apple Afterburner accelerator card that lets you playback as many as three streams of 8K ProRes RAW video simultaneously.

On the downside, no doubt, is the price and the unproven aspect of the machine. The 2nd generation cylindrical Mac Pro (2013) was largely forgotten by Apple soon after its arrival. Will the new model go down the same path? Only time will tell.

Pros:

  • Workstation-class Xeon processors up to 28 cores
  • High-performance memory system with a massive 1.5TB capacity
  • Apple Afterburner accelerator card

Cons:

  • Recommended Pro Display XDR monitor adds to the price
  • Overkill for most folks
  • Unproven since it's so new

Most Niche

Mac Pro

It's a Pro Mac!

Google

Get this Mac if you want everything and have the resources to build the best machine to suit your needs. Otherwise, stick with iMac as your desktop app.

Bottom line

For 2020, we recommend the iMac 5K as our favorite Mac desktop. The model includes lots of great features for everyone in your household and most professional buyers. The entry-level model includes a 3.0GHz 6-core 8th-generation Intel Core i5 processor with a Turbo Boost up to 4.1GHz, 8GB 2666MHz DDR4 memory, Radeon Pro 570X with 4GB of GDDR5 memory, and 1TB Fusion Drive storage. If you can, upgrade the memory to the maximum of 32GB and enjoy it!

Credits — The team that worked on this guide

Bryan M. Wolfe is a dad who loves technology, especially anything new from Apple. Penn State (go Nittany Lions) graduate here, also a huge fan of the New England Patriots. Thanks for reading. @bryanmwolfe

We may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Learn more.

Buyers Guide

If Apple's upcoming Pro Display is too Pro for you, there are alternatives

The Thunderbolt Display is kaput. Here are our favorite alternatives.

-->

You have the following options to customize your image. Depending on which options you’d like to use, you’ll employ the associated method or choice of methods to apply the customization.

FeatureUnattendModification file
TaskbarsubsetTaskbarLayoutModification.xml
Start layoutsubsetLayoutModification.xml
Out of Box Experience (OOBE)subsetOOBE.xml
DarkmodeyesUnattend.xml
Get Help appyesUnattend.xml
ColorsyesUnattend.xml

Best Desktop Customization Apps For Mac Free

Note

All desktop customization options listed above are supported in Windows 10 in S mode. To learn more, see Windows 10 in S mode manufacturing overview.

In this section

These are some common ways to customize your desktop device. You will also find the technical reference for Unattend and WSIM.

TopicDescription
Customize the taskbarYou can pin up to three additional apps to the taskbar by adding a taskbar layout modification file, for example, TaskbarLayoutModification.xml. You can specify different taskbar configurations based on SKU, device locale, or region.
Customize the Start layoutLearn how to customize the Start menu with a group of your own tiles.
Customize OOBEWhen customers turn on their Windows PCs for the first time, they will see the Windows Out of Box Experience (OOBE). Customize OOBE to determine how much work customers must do to complete the OOBE screens before they can enjoy their PCs running Windows 10.
Customize the Retail Demo Experience (RDX)Showcase your new devices on the retail sales floor with a rich, engaging videos and experiences.
Customize the Windows power sliderThe Windows Performance Power slider enables end customers to quickly and intelligently trade performance of their system for longer battery life. You can set the default slider mode for both AC and DC, and configure the power settings and PPM options that are engaged in each power slider mode.
Set dark modeThis personalization setting for end users allows them to express preference whether to see applications which support the setting in a dark or light mode. You can set the dark mode as the default for apps using Unattend.
Customize the Get Help appThe Get Help app empowers customers to self-help with troubleshooters, instant answers, Microsoft support articles, and more, before contacting assisted support. You can customize the Get Help app to surface your support app or support website.
Customize SIM card slot namesYou can customize the names of SIM card slots on the device to more easily differentiate between them. For example, if the device has both an embedded SIM slot and an external SIM slot, customizing the names will help your customers understand which is which.
Customize a Specific Absorption Rate mapping tableYou can configure and store a Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) table for mobile broadband modems in the registry. When a mobile broadband modem is connected to the Windows device, Windows automatically uses the table to map the mobile country code (MCC) of the modem's registered mobile operator (MO) to its appropriate SAR back-off index, and configures the modem with it.
Pen and Windows inkYou can create an advanced Pen settings app, or link to your own apps, in the Pen and Windows Ink settings.
Windows SIM Technical ReferenceSettings reference for Windows System Image Manager.
Unattended Windows Setup ReferenceSettings reference for Unattend.

Best Desktop Customization Apps For Mac Windows 10

Related topics

Coments are closed
Scroll to top