Some time ago I heard about iStat menus, but I never checked it out until recently. I really wish I would have found it sooner.

iStat menus is a little Mac application that sits in your menubar and provides various feedback about your Mac. The application installs as a preference pane where you can configure 8 difference items:

• CPU
• Memory
• Drives
• Network
• Temps
• Fans & Power
• Bluetooth
• Date & Time

Each item in the preference pane can be turned off or on with a checkbox. You can also configure font size, color and other properties for most of the items.

I currently have 4 items within iStat menus being shown in my menubar; CPU, Drives, Memory, and Date & Time. Perhaps most convenient is the Date & Time item. I’m frequently wondering what the date is, and iStat menus puts a little iCal like icon right in my menubar where I can see it. I no longer have to hover over my dock to check the date!

iStat menu is developed by iSlayer and is free. Donations are encouraged! You need Mac OS X 10.4 or higher.