Post by: Gary S on August 21, 2003, 09:24:22 AM
I'm set up for multiple users in OS10.2.6 and I was just wondering something.
My son likes to leave files on his desktop, currently he has about 17MB of files laying around on it.
I like to keep my desktop clean, except for what I'm working on.
Does anyone know if there are any detrimental affects to having a large amount of files
left on the desktop in OS X?
Post by: pendragon on August 21, 2003, 09:42:49 AM
Harv
Post by: kelly on August 21, 2003, 10:26:48 AM
It's just another User's Folder.
Only problem I see is if they're created on the Desktop and left there.
If they're Documents for example.
They'd be better off in the Users > Documents Folder for Back Up and such.
Post by: Gary S on August 21, 2003, 11:09:00 AM
I'm trying to get him more organized.
I think he thinks it's cool to have stuff on his Desktop.
Post by: giantmike on August 21, 2003, 11:40:18 AM
Say I'm writing a paper for a class. It sits on the desktop until I'm done, so that I can quickly open it up. I don't have to dig through a bunch of folders for it.
Also, I'm currently trying out the program DVD Cache. It's sitting on my desktop, until I determine if I really need it. If I don't, in the trash it goes. If I do, I'll put it in my Applications folder.
There are software programs that can help you get organized, but I prefer running as few applications as possible. Maybe you son feels the same way
Post by: Bruce_F on August 21, 2003, 12:53:01 PM
)I used to keep my computer desktop as cluttered as my office desktop. There's something about having a file sitting there in the open. I think it stands as a reminder that a project is unfinished and it's time to get to work!
A few months ago, I was reminded (a TS post, I believe) that keeping a backup is crutial to one's sanity.
I dusted off Retrospect Express and went to work on my backup plan. Retrospect has many options for backing up files but one method caught my eye... Back up Documents Folder
Now, that's where all those files that used to be on the desktop live. I moved all my important files to one place to make the backup process quick and easy.
I still let the most currently used files stay on the desktop. But each time I run a backup, those file are swepted up and moved/copied to the Documents folder.
So, Gary, ask your son how he would feel if his computer decided to go south. Would he be upset if he lost those files?
Post by: etaoin on August 21, 2003, 02:10:51 PM
Under OS 8 and 9, disk fragmentation was an enemy to well-behaved Macs. This could result from files being strewn willy-nilly on and off the "desktop" for a period of time. This discovery lead us to become strong believers in partitioning disk drives. Our B&W G3's at work are partitioned into four spaces -- SYSTEM (about 1Gb just for the System Folder), SCRATCH (1Gb for Photoshop, Illustrator and Virtual memory to use), APPS (2Gb for applications only), and USERFILES (the remainder of the drive where the user is supposed to store their stuff.)
Our preaching this gospel further said that if you absolutely MUST have files on the desktop, first store them in USERFILES and then make an alias to the desktop. That keeps transient file traffic off the SYSTEM partition and significantly decreases fragmentation, which the System Folder does not like.
This has worked well for several years and has reduced our tech support calls measurably. If there is a problem, 10 minutes running Disk First Aid, Disk Warrior and Plus Optimizer on the SYSTEM partition and the user is back in business and the errors have magically disappeared!
Now, back to OSX. Because this is UNIX based, are these "rules" obsolete now? Does the system suffer from disk fragmentation like OS9 did? Thanks.
Post by: tacit on August 21, 2003, 02:39:28 PM
In OS X, the Desktop is actually just a folder in the Users folder. It is no different from any other folder, except that anything you put in it shows up on the Desktop.
In OS 9, the Desktop is a special folder at the root level of a disk. Every disk has its own Desktop. Doesn't matter what kind of disk it is--every hard drive, floppy disk, CD, Zip disk, even removeable volumes like USB Flash disks have their own Desktop.
When you put a file "on the Desktop," that does not necessarily mean it is on the boot volume in OS 9, because every volume has its own Desktop.
Post by: Gary S on August 21, 2003, 02:56:33 PM
If it causes any more fragmentation than usual...I'm not sure.
Post by: ljocampo on August 21, 2003, 05:35:37 PM
Post by: RHPConsult on August 21, 2003, 05:47:30 PM
QUOTE
I noticed that what tacit says is true . . .
This is an operating principle of TS!
Gary S:
If there is anything "detrimental" about having a crowded DT, my spouse would have been completely detrimentalized years ago!
Post by: Bill on August 21, 2003, 06:19:45 PM
QUOTE
It's just another User's Folder.
Post by: bellbram on August 23, 2003, 11:28:04 AM
Post by: kelly on August 23, 2003, 11:56:59 AM
The only caution I've heard is not putting an Alias of the Hard Drive in the Apple Menu.
Could slow down your machine.
Might not even matter with faster machines.
Post by: ljocampo on August 23, 2003, 05:38:31 PM
From the above discussion, it seems that there really isn't a desktop at all!! It's just an illusion because everything is in the desktop folder (for us geeks, that's DIR).
Kelly: I have put HD icons in my toolbar, they become alises automatically, and have never slow down my system or screwed it up.
Post by: kelly on August 24, 2003, 10:32:17 AM
I think Windows has a Toolbar. Or is that Taskbar?
Some kind of Bar.
macs have an Apple Menu and a Dock.
And no. I don't think adding a Hard Drive Alias to the Dock will slow things down.
That caution was for older machines and OSs.
True or not.
Post by: ljocampo on August 24, 2003, 05:19:21 PM
In Jaguar, every window has a toolbar at the top of it. Yes Apple does call it the toolbar. You can put anything you like there and it will show up in every window's TOOLBAR. B)
Post by: kelly on August 24, 2003, 07:33:18 PM