Questions from newbie-How to mount network drive, Must Have Software

I have my new C2D MBP on order and am a switcher from Windows XP and
am wondering if there's any must have software out there, software
that many mac users have. I know with Windows there are a few like
this. Of course I know the mac has more built in programs and is
easier to use so I likely won't need as many programs to buy.
I am undecided if I'll go with Safari for web browsing or Firefox. As
well, for PIM use I'm not sure if I'll use Entourage or ical/address
book/mail
What I will get though are Office 2004 since I do a lot of heavy
office work as well as Macromedia/Adobe Suites since I do graphic
design as well as web design.
Beyond that, I want a program that does good desktop video editing, a
good newsgroup reader, probably will get toast platinum.
I will use my mac at home where I also have a home office and it's
kind of going to be for all kinds of uses, maybe even a occasoinal
game. I just want anything that will make my life even better wtih a
mac. it's coming on Tuesday and I can't wait!

One last kind of unrelated thing. With Windows you can map a drive to
a server computer. I do have a Windows based computer in my house I
use as a server. I hope to switch that to a Mac Pro someday but with
Xp I simply map it as a drive such as drive Z. Can I do the same with
a Mac? I do have a friend who has one but his only complaint is you
can select and log onto a server drive but as soon as you reboot the
computer this drive is gone and you have to redo it each time.