file organization

[caligurl]

i just got my first iMac and i want to get it set up neatly.

on my PCs i always put certain folders in the root (i.e. photos, iTunes) rather than buried within other folders. i did this cuz it ended up being neater and less keystrokes when saving/finding stuff.

is there any reason not to do this on my new iMac? am i better off using their folders they've established?

thanx (and be gentle... i'm a mac newbie!)

 

[dXTC]

I was in your situation not too many years ago; I got my first Mac in 2007. However, instead of worrying so much about where the file was and/or what it was called, as I had done in Windows XP, I saw the future of file organization: metatags. I let iTunes and iPhoto worry about file storage maintenance, and concern myself more with the file's metadata (for example, the "Get Info" choice in iTunes). The only storage maintenance I perform is for other files and media, and for searching for those later there's Spotlight.

 

[BrianBaughn]

Keep the root of your drive cleaner by not adding anything to IT.

If you want quick access to a specific folder, add it to the sidebar or dock.

Some apps may get wonky if file, folders or apps are moved to non-default places.

 

[satcomer]

i just got my first iMac and i want to get it set up neatly.

on my PCs i always put certain folders in the root (i.e. photos, iTunes) rather than buried within other folders. i did this cuz it ended up being neater and less keystrokes when saving/finding stuff.

is there any reason not to do this on my new iMac? am i better off using their folders they've established?

thanx (and be gentle... i'm a mac newbie!)

Get an idea about moving iTunes Music folder by the the article/video How to move an iTunes library to an external drive.

 

[samh]

i just got my first iMac and i want to get it set up neatly.

on my PCs i always put certain folders in the root (i.e. photos, iTunes) rather than buried within other folders. i did this cuz it ended up being neater and less keystrokes when saving/finding stuff.

is there any reason not to do this on my new iMac? am i better off using their folders they've established?

thanx (and be gentle... i'm a mac newbie!)

Yes, you are better off keeping user files in their user folder.

 

[Gregg2]

I agree with the above. I know I've read the reason behind conforming to Apple's setup, but I can't remember....

 

[colourfastt]

Coming from the DOS world (actually pre-DOS: punchcards) I was pretty anal about my files and folder structure. After switching it was hard to let that mindset go. Since I have, I don't care where my files are kept, i.e., I let iPhoto manage and I don't care about where the individual images are. For other files I let the apps deal with them and if I need to find a find one later I use Spotlight .. after all, that's why we have it.