iDefrag 2 works like a charm

[OnceYouGoMac]

It took all night, but I had major fragmentation and now it is all nice, neat, and compact. I know Mac defragments in the background, but I can tell you by looking at the logs that it does not do the absolute best job of it, and that your drive does indeed have fragmented files. But make sure it is version 2 to avoid having to make a bootable disk.

 

[chscag]

Thanks for posting this. I guess you took our advice and upgraded to iDefrag 2.0. ;D

Regards.

 

[technologist]

I'm glad that the software adequately satisfied your OCD tendencies. At $30, it's probably a lot cheaper than therapy. Glad it worked for you.

Your Mac, however, doesn't care about how "nice, neat, and compact" things are. It's a computer, it doesn't get confused by chaos.

 

[Doug b]

I'm glad that the software adequately satisfied your OCD tendencies. At $30, it's probably a lot cheaper than therapy. Glad it worked for you.

Your Mac, however, doesn't care about how "nice, neat, and compact" things are. It's a computer, it doesn't get confused by chaos.

OS X may not care, but the speed in which it communicates with the fragmented data on your HD might take a bit of a hit after extended periods of time. Especially when HD space is running low and especially if you're one to move or delete very large files on a consistent basis.

Thanks for the heads up!

Doug

 

[firesidedog]

Now I am a bit confused. Does one really need to defrag a mac?

 

[technologist]

OS X may not care, but the speed in which it communicates with the fragmented data on your HD might take a bit of a hit after extended periods of time. Especially when HD space is running low and especially if you're one to move or delete very large files on a consistent basis.

"Might" and "bit" being the operative words. You're looking at such small time savings (fractions of a second here and there) that you'll never get back the hours it takes to defrag.

Unless, as you said, you're working with lots of multi-gigabyte files. Basically, you'd have to be capturing and editing video on your Mac to see that happen. In which case, you really ought to look into a separate scratch disk.

Defragging won't make a noticeable difference if your Mac is running out of space. It's a drop in the bucket; if your hard disk is filling up, it's time to get a bigger one, end of story.

Mainly, defragging is about human sensibilities. The type-As among us like to have their bits and bytes in neat little rows with every extent butting up against the next. Never mind that that has nothing to do with the way computers run. Defragging tools show us a scary picture full of angry colors. Using something that turns those angry blocks into orderly rows gives us a comforting feeling.

 

[mrplow]

Technologist . . . I agree on the whole.
But defragging does help resolve the 'cannot create partition' error

 

[technologist]

Technologist . . . I agree on the whole.
But defragging does help resolve the 'cannot create partition' error

Indeed, it can be a useful way to solve certain problems, if you're experiencing them. But if it ain't broke....

 

[OnceYouGoMac]

I have some very large files, and I can tell you that, once they are defragmented, they open faster, and I can manipulate them faster. It is not "OCD," but Newtonian Physics.

 

[baggss]

But if it ain't broke....

Hey, if it makes all the Windows switchers here feel better because on Windows they always "had" to do it, more power to them....and more money to the folks making the software...

Something about a horse and water applies here....

 

[OnceYouGoMac]

Now wait a minute. Are you denying that, with very large files, it is faster to have the pieces of the file closer to each other on the hard drive? On what scientific grounds do you deny this?

 

[baggss]

Now wait a minute. Are you denying that, with very large files, it is faster to have the pieces of the file closer to each other on the hard drive? On what scientific grounds do you deny this?

I'm not denying anything. I've been using Macs for years with files both large and small and never found a reason to defrag OSX. I honestly believe that most of this desire stems from people still thinking like they are using Windows. Yes that's a generalization and it may or may not apply to you. The time you save would likely not be enough to open your next beer. Either way if it makes you happy to defrag your drive, go right ahead. It's your money and time, use it as you desire.

 

[OnceYouGoMac]

Well, here is my point, friend. I understand your point of view, and I could be wrong, as I often am. But, I frequently work with video files that are 40 - 100 gigabytes each. When they become fragmented, there is a noticeable slowdown. When I defragment them, they speed up. Now granted, they do not speed up and save me hours and hours of time. Ok, that is a fair point. But in terms of speeding up, they really, truly do. That is all I am saying.

 

[baggss]

Well, here is my point, friend. I understand your point of view, and I could be wrong, as I often am. But, I frequently work with video files that are 40 - 100 gigabytes each. When they become fragmented, there is a noticeable slowdown. When I defragment them, they speed up. Now granted, they do not speed up and save me hours and hours of time. Ok, that is a fair point. But in terms of speeding up, they really, truly do. That is all I am saying.

Ok. If it makes you feel happy and more productive then I guess it's all good. Either way though, the average user will never need to do it (IMO you are not an average use based on the above, as I said the generalization may or may not apply to you) but most of them will buy the software because they always had to do it before. The Horse and water analogy still applies

Enjoy your nice neat hard drive friend.

 

[Doug b]

Well, here is my point, friend. I understand your point of view, and I could be wrong, as I often am. But, I frequently work with video files that are 40 - 100 gigabytes each. When they become fragmented, there is a noticeable slowdown. When I defragment them, they speed up. Now granted, they do not speed up and save me hours and hours of time. Ok, that is a fair point. But in terms of speeding up, they really, truly do. That is all I am saying.

Don't worry about it dude. You proved your own point. Some people would rather not agree simply because it's in their nature to stand their ground rather than see the truth, which is that they're not always right. That said, if it works for you, that's all that matters. Not everybody works with the file sizes you do, so naturally they won't see a difference. And others who might *work with such files* but refuse to use such tools, can only have an opinion. And you know the ol' saying... Opinion's are like belly buttons. Everybody has one.

Doug

 

[technologist]

..., I frequently work with video files that are 40 - 100 gigabytes each...

What you have to understand is, this makes you a very rare case. Most people don't work with DV, and many people who do don't do so often.

Also, as I said before, using a separate scratch disk for those kinds of files will keep your boot disk free and clear.

 

[Doug b]

What you have to understand is, this makes you a very rare case. Most people don't work with DV, and many people who do don't do so often.

Also, as I said before, using a separate scratch disk for those kinds of files will keep your boot disk free and clear.

What ? So you don't acknowledge the entire segment of professional videographers or photographers or producers, directors etc which are out there using OS X in the professional world ? Um, the world of OS X users does reach beyond this forum.

Just sayin'. And even if one does use a massive sized separate scratch disk, it's still prone to the same issues which would slow down the work flow when using it. Sure, it will free up performance for the rest of your OS X tasks, but that's a separate issue.

Doug

 

[the8thark]

Yes but you can periodically erase the scratch disk. Thus eliminating fragmentation issues. That is if you save all your files to your main HD and just use the 2nd one as a work in progress scratch disk.

 

[OnceYouGoMac]

Sorry to cause a scuffle lol...I was just saying that I like iDefrag 2. *shrugs*

 

[baggss]

Yes but you can periodically erase the scratch disk. Thus eliminating fragmentation issues. That is if you save all your files to your main HD and just use the 2nd one as a work in progress scratch disk.

That's just crazy talk. ;D

Don't worry. Some people just can't admit when they're wrong so they just keep on arguing becasue they have to prove they are right no matter how silly it gets.