optimizer necessary?

[drdon]

I'm running the newest OS X (10.3.4). When new software downloads the system announces that it is optimizing and I do use Onyx to optimize and to repair permissions every so often. Do I need a utility like TechTool?

DrDon

[MacHeadCase]

Hi drdon!!!

Do you mean disk defragmentation or system optimizing?

For system optimizing I use Alsoft's DiskWarrior.

As for disk defragging, the jury is still out on that one. Some people claim that Unix doesn't need any disk optimizing, others say that their Macs slow down to a crawl because of disk fragmentation... It would seem like in Panther it isn't as bad as in Jaguar (10.2) and that Apple made sure that Panther would check and repair on itself a little bit better than Jag.

But rumor sites write that Tiger, the next Mac OS X generation, will contain disk defragging... So my question is... If Unix doesn't need disk defragging, why will Tiger have it then?

[mac_man_luke]

Nortons Utillities is good for Disk Defrag but you have to have the latest version to work with panther.

[MacHeadCase]

Ack! No Norton's please! I used to help write the news at another forum and the stuff I read about Norton's and completely mucking up HDs and systems!... People lost all their data and it was impossible to get it back!

To the point where Symantec offered to replace Mac users' Norton's with the upcoming version CD free of charge!!! Recently Symantec announced it was no longer going to develop Norton's for Mac. So don't go compromising your Mac!!!

Disk defrag would have to be Micromat's TechTool Pro 4.

Alsoft is also in the process of writing from scratch their defragging utility DiskExpress Pro to make it compatible with OS X.

[mac_man_luke]

I have used nortons for many years and never had a problem - just havent got round to upgrading to nortons 8 just got 7

[hulkaros]

Norton Utilities where nice and great for pre Jaguar and Panther era... For Jaguar and Panther use other disk utilities!

Keep away from whatever Norton for your Jaguar/Panther setup!

Peace!

[Randman]

Norton has a horrible way of messing up OSX. One of the reasons production of it has stopped. DiskWarrior is my choice by TechTool is also solid.

[diablojota]

I definitely have to second Randman. Avoid Norton's like the plague...