A Neat And Tidy Post About The Best Disk Defragmenters

SmartDefrag rocks! Find it for FREE at CNet.

CaliforniaKid

Macs, in most cases, automatically defragment files in the background. However, as your drive gets to about the 80% full level, a Macintosh can benefit quite a bit by using a good defragmentation program. iDefrag is the only really good one for the Macintosh. See:
OS X Routine Maintenance
[www.macattorney.com]
Item #6 and Note #1

RandySinger

@elgilicious:

They actually have a command line defrag tool for Linux "Linux File-System Defragmenter" it's on sourceforge.

You can also defrag a Linux partition from Windows using 3rd party software.

No one is safe from the mighty defrag!!! MUAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!

@TheSonOfKrypton: Oh, why the hell not?

What's a disk defragmenter? My free operating system doesn't have one. //Linux user

Anyone else hypnotized by the Win95 disk defragmenter while watching the squares change colors and eventually all turn the same color? No? Ok...

@Frizzaper:

Actually, I use diskeeper on windows 7 and it has improved disk performance quite a bit.

I think a good defrag program that collects data and organizes the clusters properly is good for any operating system.

@met2art: Some guy up there suggested Drive Genius 2. Downloading it now.

@TheSonOfKrypton: My observations are based on the technical details of the file system, and observations from industry colleagues who use Macs. I don't have an OS X system, but try to keep pace, as much as possible, with the technologies of various platforms, so that I'm able to make informed decisions on what hardware/OS will best serve my needs, and also just because I'm a geek. :) Although I'm a Windows guy, I've had to sit down to a Mac to work on projects, and it pays to keep an open mind, even if you're not thrilled with the company who makes the product. In the end, it's just a tool, not a religion or ideology.

Admittedly, it's unlikely that most average users will need to defrag often with OS X, but it would be a fallacy to declare, unequivocally, that it's absolutely unnecessary. Even Apple themselves waffle on this point. I'm of the opinion that a manual (or scheduled) defrag is a better option that having it integrated into the file system and OS. On the other hand, adaptive clustering is quite brilliant.

@TheSonOfKrypton: Due to the way Mac's file system works, yes they don't fragment quite as much. But you also pay a read/write speed price for that anyway. SSD's have already pushed the limit of the OS X file system, while Windows drive speed just keeps on goin up!

@met2art: Hey man, I can't argue with logic....And you used a shitload of it....So then what defragmenter do YOU use on OS X? I haven't defragged a day in my life since I got this laptop in Nov of 2006....So whaddya use?

@TheSonOfKrypton: Although HFS+ does a great job of on-the-fly optimization and tries to avoid the need to defragment, it is not beyond reproach. The hot file adapative clustering is fairly adept at keeping things speedy, but over time, can diminish in efficiency. Furthermore, eventually it can actually reduce the size of available contigious space, and actually increase the potential of large-file fragmentation, despite its own best efforts.

The optimization system, being entirely different, has its own pros and cons. While making system-file access quicker, it can create potential slow-downs via incremental system updates as frameworks need to be rewritten.

In such instances, the system does an admirable job of maintaining a semblance of order, but can still benefit from either a reinstall, after a backup, or utilizing a degragmenter that respects the optimization process. OS X is tidy, but given enough time, and enough heavy file usage, no system is perfect, and even OS X can benefit from a defrag or reinstall.

@Frizzaper: Ahhh....Touche good sir. Took your operating system long enough....

@TheSonOfKrypton: What is a defragmenter? //Win7 user

Frizzaper

@crsrc: Yes, Macintosh computers can benefit from an occasional defrag.I said it. What do you think happens when the procare members bring in their computers for "maintenance"? A good cleaning, a defrag, and some updates. And fix permissions.

@TheSonOfKrypton:

It's the thing that puts your files in the proper order on your hardisk to improve performance...you know, so you don't have to wait for the pin-wheel to stop spinning...

@XuanDawkins: Fail. Next time reply TO my post, not above it....

@appletoad: wait a minute. what's this defragmenting on a mac you speak of?

crsrc

Those were all for windows. Wtf. I just use Drive Genius 2 on my macs.

Apple will tell you, when Apple thinks you need to know. //PC user

XuanDawkins

@ellito:
It would be more along the lines of:
'
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would'veb outdefragme eenwith perpos outanysp
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>>
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Well,aproperpostaboutdefragmenters
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What's a disk defragmenter?? //Mac user

No defrag software for Macs and no anti-virus. I feel left out.

CraigJ

" Great. " It looks like this sentence is fragmented. Would you like to defragment it? (Y/n)

Well,aproperpostaboutdefragmenters
would'vebeenwithoutanyspaces,innit?