What I must do to optimize my Mac

[Ed4132]

Hi

I am new on Mac OS in the past I use Windows and there are a lot of Software to optimize Registry, Hard Drive, Defrag Hard Drive etc.

What I must use on Mac????

Thanks

 

[cmaier]

Hi

I am new on Mac OS in the past I use Windows and there are a lot of Software to optimize Registry, Hard Drive, Defrag Hard Drive etc.

What I must use on Mac????

Thanks

Nothing.

 

[GGJstudios]

... in the past I use Windows and there are a lot of Software to optimize Registry, Hard Drive, Defrag Hard Drive etc.

That's exactly why I got tired of Windows. Too much time, effort, and system resources being used to maintain the system, instead of actually doing what I needed the computer for.

What I must use on Mac????

Absolutely nothing. That's why I'm extremely pleased with Mac OS X. It's not perfect, but works extremely well without user maintenance. Unlike Windows, Mac OS X doesn't have a Registry, fragmenting problems, viruses or complex software installation/removal processes. You just use it! Enjoy!

 

[TonyK]

Registry, thing of the past. Hard drive, most say do nothing and so far I've followed that advice.

I do suggest getting ClamXAv for virus scanning selected folders, like email and downloads. There are not many nasty things for the Mac, but there are trojans and the like and ClamX helps find and eliminate them.

Take care,

Hi

I am new on Mac OS in the past I use Windows and there are a lot of Software to optimize Registry, Hard Drive, Defrag Hard Drive etc.

What I must use on Mac????

Thanks

 

[alienapp]

Its not exactly true that there is nothing you can or need to do in order to maintain your mac in tip top shape.

There are 2 things that I would recommend you to do.

1) Verify and repair permission of the partition os X is installed on. Generally after major updates.

2) Verify and repair disk. Also after major updates.

And that's about all the maintenance you'll need to do. Good luck with your mac.

 

[Winni]

Just because some people made a fortune selling useless disk defragmentation or registry cleaning software for Windows doesn't mean that you ever had to use them. In fact, NTFS does not need any more defragmentation than the Mac's file system. In fact, it has be proven again and again that it is actually counter-productive to defragment an NTFS file system - it takes care of itself very nicely.

And you certainly don't need to clean your registry. It's a hierarchical database and actually, the Mac would be better off it had something similar to that too -- the whole idea behind the registry is to have ONE place for all configuration data, and not thousands of them scattered all over the file system, as it is the case in Mac OS X.

And I cannot hear that virus myth anymore. Get real people. When you spend most of your time on warez or porn sites in the Internet, then it simply doesn't matter what operating system you use -- browser hijacking and all those other nasty little tricks work across platforms (which is the beauty of multi-platform browsers like Firefox and Safari, isn't it). The trojan hidden in the illegal iWork copy distributed through the Torrent networks demonstrated that your precious Macs in real life aren't any safer than any other platform - the problem sits in front of the screen. It's not the OS underneath it. The latest Windows releases are at least as safe as any Unix out there, but there are not safe from being used by idiots.

Now we come to really annoying feature of Windows: Regular updates that want to be installed. But you know what? Mac OS X and Ubuntu share this annoyance with Windows. It's the year 2010 and you cannot launch any program anymore without being asked to install an update for it. That utterly, completely sucks and is the biggest productivity killer that today's computer systems have.

You know why you folks hate Windows so much? Because OS X has so much in common with it. People usually don't hate the difference, they hate the similarity. And with Apple and Microsoft stealing so much from each other (yes, it goes both ways, but you all prefer not to notice that), both their platforms look and behave more and more alike every day.

Its not exactly true that there is nothing you can or need to do in order to maintain your mac in tip top shape.

There are 2 things that I would recommend you to do.

1) Verify and repair permission of the partition os X is installed on. Generally after major updates.

2) Verify and repair disk. Also after major updates.

And that's about all the maintenance you'll need to do. Good luck with your mac.

And isn't it fascinating that you actually never have to do something like this on a Windows machine? NTFS doesn't accidentally break its permissions. Actually, OS X is the only operating system that I know that has such a problem.

 

[Mac Player]

OS X doesn't break permissions accidentally.

 

[al2o3cr]

And you certainly don't need to clean your registry. It's a hierarchical database and actually, the Mac would be better off it had something similar to that too -- the whole idea behind the registry is to have ONE place for all configuration data, and not thousands of them scattered all over the file system, as it is the case in Mac OS X.

Spoken like somebody who's never had to reinstall because of a crash while updating the primary registry hive. The Windows registry is an absolute abomination, in large part *because* it's so centralized. One file for all config == one point of failure to bring the whole machine down.

 

[CylonGlitch]

In fact, it has be proven again and again that it is actually counter-productive to defragment an NTFS file system - it takes care of itself very nicely.

Very true, you don't need to defrag.

the whole idea behind the registry is to have ONE place for all configuration data, and not thousands of them scattered all over the file system, as it is the case in Mac OS X.

This is a totally crappy system, even Microsoft knows it, they are trying to give developers more and more ways to not use it. One place for everything = disaster when any app can go rouge and take the whole damn thing out. Additionally, one hard drive glitch, and your system is gone. Not to mention that it grows extremely fast and becomes so large that it takes longer and longer to process read/write requests to it. Also ties the applications to their current installed location. It makes sense for the system to have a resource list of some type, but not something open to the entire computer. Very, very poor design.

The latest Windows releases are at least as safe as any Unix out there, but there are not safe from being used by idiots.

What a load of fud. Seriously, cross platform hacks are not the same on all systems, in fact, most do NOT exist on other systems. Pick a site, any site that has a hack on it, such as refusing to close windows, adding software such as browser bars, etc . . . try them on different OS's and you'll see that they don't work on anything but windows. iWorks was a trojan, someone had to download and install it -- you can't fix stupid. But that was one of the worst that Macs had; yes, malware can be installed if you want it to be installed. But Windows as safe as Unix, you're kidding yourself. Windows 7 is a great step forward, granted I like the OS better then I thought I would (I used it daily), but it still is no where near as safe as other unix systems.

It's the year 2010 and you cannot launch any program anymore without being asked to install an update for it. That utterly, completely sucks and is the biggest productivity killer that today's computer systems have.

In the last week my windows machine has updated almost EVERY SINGLE DAY (it's an XP machine)! Even worse, is the annoying as heck prompt "The machine needs to be rebooted, reboot now or later." popping up every 10 frick'n minutes while you are working! GRRRR! I get it, it needs to be rebooted, but NOT NOW, I'm busy, so ****! Totally stupid design. At least with Unix and Mac you don't get these annoying prompts or when you do get one saying there are updates, you can clear it and that's that.

You know why you folks hate Windows so much? Because OS X has so much in common with it. People usually don't hate the difference, they hate the similarity.

Most people don't HATE windows, they just find it annoying. I use it all the time, and I find 7 to be a decent OS. But some of the stuff MS has done has pissed me off and some of the design ideas are just not my style. I prefer OSX, which isn't perfect, but it fits me better. To me, everyone should use what they like better. Heck I knew a guy who wrote his own OS from scratch and used up until the Windows 2000 generation only leaving it because it couldn't keep writing drivers for the hardware. Hey, he liked it, that's all that mattered.

 

[GGJstudios]

And you certainly don't need to clean your registry. It's a hierarchical database and actually, the Mac would be better off it had something similar to that too -- the whole idea behind the registry is to have ONE place for all configuration data, and not thousands of them scattered all over the file system, as it is the case in Mac OS X.

Try spending a few years cleaning the Registry of several hundred Windows users and see if you feel the same way. The Registry certainly DOES need to be cleaned. Application installation/removal on Windows is horribly inefficient and has the potential of rendering a system unbootable. Uninstalling software frequently leaves traces behind, both in files scattered across the hard drive, as well as multiple entries remaining in the Registry. The more crap in the Registry, the longer boot-up takes, since Windows reads the Registry during boot-up. Then there are the error messages that can pop up during boot or during app launching, because an entry in the Registry is corrupt.

The Mac OS X approach of having an application being a package, with all it's required files contained inside, means you can drag a .app file to the Applications folder to install, and drag it to the Trash to uninstall. That is SO much cleaner and more efficient than Windows! Granted, some apps leave .plist files, in case the user decides to reinstall, but that's nothing compared to the garbage in files and the Registry on the average Windows system.

And I cannot hear that virus myth anymore.

It's not a myth. The only way you can prove it's a myth is to name ONE virus that runs on current Leopard or Snow Leopard systems. Just ONE! There ARE none.

The trojan hidden in the illegal iWork copy distributed through the Torrent networks demonstrated that your precious Macs in real life aren't any safer than any other platform

No one ever said there weren't trojans that a user can install on Mac OS X. No OS is safe if the user is determined to make stupid decisions, such as installing pirated software or software from torrent sites. In the same way, no MacBook Pro is well built, if the user chooses to slam it repeatedly against a brick wall, or run over it with a car.

The latest Windows releases are at least as safe as any Unix out there, but there are not safe from being used by idiots.

Not true. While any OS is vulnerable to trojans that the user actively installs, Windows has the added vulnerability to millions of viruses that exist in the wild that WILL run on current Windows systems. Mac OS X has no such risk at this time.

Now we come to really annoying feature of Windows: Regular updates that want to be installed. But you know what? Mac OS X and Ubuntu share this annoyance with Windows. It's the year 2010 and you cannot launch any program anymore without being asked to install an update for it. That utterly, completely sucks and is the biggest productivity killer that today's computer systems have.

Mac OS X doesn't share the constant updates issue that Windows does. Whether individual apps have updates or not is a function of those apps, not the OS. Every app I've run on Mac OS X that notifies that an update is available, also gives me the choice to install it later, and doesn't keep bugging me while I'm using it.

You know why you folks hate Windows so much? Because OS X has so much in common with it.

I don't hate Windows, but I greatly prefer Mac OS X. The reason isn't emotional. I don't own either company and I don't wear any Windows or Apple t-shirts. My choice comes from which OS allows me to be more productive and spend more time using the computer for my purposes, rather than spend excessive time maintaining the system. Mac OS X wins, hands down. No contest. Not even close.

NTFS doesn't accidentally break its permissions. Actually, OS X is the only operating system that I know that has such a problem.

Mac OS X doesn't accidentally break its permissions, either. Applications create such problems, not the normal functioning of the OS. I've been working 14+ hours a day, almost every day, for closing on 2 years on the same MBP. In that time, I've repaired permissions exactly: once. That's it.

 

[sehnsucht77]

Nothing.

there is always something you can do to streamline an OS but the larger clientele of the Apple brand don't take the initiative to know what they are...

 

[nospeed411]

You know why you folks hate Windows so much? Because OS X has so much in common with it. People usually don't hate the difference, they hate the similarity. And with Apple and Microsoft stealing so much from each other (yes, it goes both ways, but you all prefer not to notice that), both their platforms look and behave more and more alike every day.



And isn't it fascinating that you actually never have to do something like this on a Windows machine? NTFS doesn't accidentally break its permissions. Actually, OS X is the only operating system that I know that has such a problem.

No it just constantly blue screens it self into a slow painful death. Sorry dude but as a recent convert back to Macs and a long time Winders user...I completely disagree. Sounds to me like your toes got stepped on a little and you need to vent. I suggest you have a warm glass of milk and a reality check.

 

[GGJstudios]

only a n00b would think that is true. there is always something you can do to streamline an OS but the larger clientele of the Apple brand don't take the initiative to know what they are...

The OP referred to what MUST be done to optimize a Mac. The answer is: nothing. Of course, each person may want to add tweaks, customizations, etc., but Mac OS X doesn't require anything to function efficiently for the average user, unlike Windows.

 

[TonyK]

Spoken like somebody who's never had to reinstall because of a crash while updating the primary registry hive. The Windows registry is an absolute abomination, in large part *because* it's so centralized. One file for all config == one point of failure to bring the whole machine down.

BTDT and hated every moment of it. Or a corrupted profile. Yuck to both things. Much prefer plist files, which are very much like the older INI files where each application is responsbile for its own preferences.

Just because some people made a fortune selling useless disk defragmentation or registry cleaning software for Windows doesn't mean that you ever had to use them. In fact, NTFS does not need any more defragmentation than the Mac's file system. In fact, it has be proven again and again that it is actually counter-productive to defragment an NTFS file system - it takes care of itself very nicely.

Then why does Windows come with "defrag"? Why did MS purchase a company that made de-fragmentation tools and incorporate that in to Windows?

And you certainly don't need to clean your registry. It's a hierarchical database and actually, the Mac would be better off it had something similar to that too -- the whole idea behind the registry is to have ONE place for all configuration data, and not thousands of them scattered all over the file system, as it is the case in Mac OS X.

Just as OS X's plist files need to be removed, if for nothing else to reduce clutter, the same is true for the registry and even more so. The large the registry gets, the slower Windows will perform. Also, if an application or driver does not install cleanly, it will corrupt the registry and there goes the house of cards. BTDT on both the registry and my profile. Never a pretty sight.

And I cannot hear that virus myth anymore. Get real people. When you spend most of your time on warez or porn sites in the Internet, then it simply doesn't matter what operating system you use -- browser hijacking and all those other nasty little tricks work across platforms (which is the beauty of multi-platform browsers like Firefox and Safari, isn't it). The trojan hidden in the illegal iWork copy distributed through the Torrent networks demonstrated that your precious Macs in real life aren't any safer than any other platform - the problem sits in front of the screen. It's not the OS underneath it. The latest Windows releases are at least as safe as any Unix out there, but there are not safe from being used by idiots.

Un-safe computing is un-safe computing. The user gets what the user sows. I still stand behind using ClamXav for my email and download folders. That is all the protection I need. In FF I use plug-ins to warn me away from un-safe sites and generally practice safe computing/browsing.

Now we come to really annoying feature of Windows: Regular updates that want to be installed. But you know what? Mac OS X and Ubuntu share this annoyance with Windows. It's the year 2010 and you cannot launch any program anymore without being asked to install an update for it. That utterly, completely sucks and is the biggest productivity killer that today's computer systems have.

Any system needs updates. Simple fact of computing life. Windows though needs more frequent updates to critical system areas, at least in my experience. Those updates sometimes have severe, adverse impact on the system and can cause all sorts of problems for the user. Apple is not perfect and Ubuntu took one of my systems out. Of the 3, I prefer to use Apple at home.

You know why you folks hate Windows so much? Because OS X has so much in common with it. People usually don't hate the difference, they hate the similarity. And with Apple and Microsoft stealing so much from each other (yes, it goes both ways, but you all prefer not to notice that), both their platforms look and behave more and more alike every day.

And if YOU LOVE Windows so much, why are you here, in a Mac forum? I don't HATE Windows. I prefer to NOT use Windows at home. During the day I'm a professional Windows developer. Realistically I am not going to be able to part ways with Windows. Fine with me, I've got the best of both worlds, professional Windows developer; Mac home user.

And isn't it fascinating that you actually never have to do something like this on a Windows machine? NTFS doesn't accidentally break its permissions. Actually, OS X is the only operating system that I know that has such a problem.

No, back around 2000, I had an update corrupt my registry. That was under Windows 2000 I believe and it was painful.

The OP referred to what MUST be done to optimize a Mac. The answer is: nothing. Of course, each person may want to add tweaks, customizations, etc., but Mac OS X doesn't require anything to function efficiently for the average user, unlike Windows.

True, out of the box, nothing has to be done. The same is true for Windows and Ubuntu; out of the box. Yet all would be wise to at least use ClamXav and perform regular maintenance. I find the maintenance of my OS X system to be easier than it was under Windows. That is just a personal preference/observation.