Hi Tim, Aliases on the Desktop would not make much difference. Perhaps I should have included a few more words like below, but I did not want Alan again accusing me of being Intimidating.
The larger the files, the longer the Mac will take to read them when it loads up, slowing down other services and processes that are starting at the same time. The obvious fix for this is to move the files back to your Documents folder and keep them there. A clear desktop = a happy Mac. If you must have icons or things on your desktop, try creating Aliases for them instead. I prefer to drag folders of documents I’m working on regularly onto the right side of the Dock where I can access/launch them quickly. Cheers, Ronni On 17/02/2011, at 2:32 PM, Tim Law wrote: > >> Keeping your desktop clean is really important because every icon, folder or >> alias on it is loaded into the RAM, slowing your system down. > > > So Ronni, are you saying that even tho an alias is just 'an alias' and only > takes up a few kb, that it still takes enough RAM to make a difference? > I assumed..... :-) that aliases wouldn't cause too much of a problem so > have a few on my desktop. > > I can understand that a full sized file or folder would take up a chunk of > RAM, but am surprised that an alias has the same/some impact. > > Great suggestion to use the Dock, thanks > > Tim > > > > > On 17/02/2011, at 2:18 PM, Ronda Brown wrote: > >> Hi Alan, >> >> I will only add one comment to Daniel’s excellent (as always) post. >> My comment is in regard to Q4 ‘Files on the Desktop’ and is in the colour >> ‘purple’. >> >> On 17/02/2011, at 2:03 PM, Daniel Kerr wrote: >> >>> >>> Hi Alan >>> >>> Some answers may be different for different people, but here's "my opinion". >>> (Each answer below your question) >>> >>> >>> On 17/2/11 1:52 PM, "Alan Smith" <sma...@iinet.net.au> wrote: >>> >>>> What is the short list of iMac "good practices"? >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> I have been trying to trace my iMac "sleep apnoea" problem by noting setup >>>> changes and their effect. (iMac wakes from sleep after a short period - >>>> usually less than 30 minutes.) I am finding lots of red herrings in my >>>> pursuit of the cure! Some of my tests give inconsistent results. I have >>>> removed external devices, reset most preferences to default, deleted some >>>> .plists, removed unused third party programs, etc etc. One problem is >>>> that it can take up to one hour to conduct just one test, which involves a >>>> change then watching for the result (usually a bright active screen.) I >>>> am >>>> not ready to beg WAMUG help on the Sleep problem (yet!) as there still >>>> seems >>>> to be too many variables. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> A basic problem is that I don't know what all the general iMac "good >>>> practices" are. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Q1. IMac is connected to router via an Ethernet cable. Should Air Port be >>>> turned off? >>> Don't really need to. Only don't need it on if you have them both connected, >>> ie you really shouldn't have a connection to your router via both Airport >>> AND Ethernet. It creates two IP addresses for one machine and can create >>> some "headaches". (eg you might have two Ips like 192.168.0.3 and >>> 192.168.0.4. It gets "messy"). But if not being used, no harm in having it >>> on (or off for that matter). >>>> >>>> Q2. Should iMac be Restarted after each software change such as a >>>> preference or program deletion? Most preference changes seem to take >>>> immediate effect but a Restart seemed to be necessary to activate the Magic >>>> Mouse defaults after the Magic Preferences (mouse) program was deleted. >>> Most software changes don't really need a restart. Only major updates, which >>> will generally tell you (eg Safari 5.0.3, OS 10.6.6. And some others). If it >>> doesn't tell you to restart, don't really need to on most occasions. >>>> >>>> Q3. Is it safe for deleted files to remain in Trash during the test >>>> period? >>>> For ever? >>> I don't know if I'd call it "safe". If you're not sure if you want it or >>> not, just create a folder on the desktop called "Undecided" or something. >>> Only put things in the trash you really don't want, and just empty it. >>> That's my "best practice". As I say to clients who put things in the trash, >>> but won't empty it "just incase". Someone else may not know your "just in >>> case" and empty it. Then it's gone. You wouldn't put something in your green >>> curbside bin,.."just incase". Once that's gone, it's gone. :o) >>> So personally, I'd say best practice is not put it there unless you really >>> really don't want it. I like my trash can empty all the time, then I know if >>> something has gone in there I didn't put there, so I can see. >>>> >>>> Q4. Are files (or copies) left on the Desktop (or in Trash) completely >>>> inactive (if I don't open them)? >>> Yes, anything not open isn't being used. So fine sitting there. >> >> A desktop is exactly what it sounds like: a place to store temporary >> projects. Once you’re done working on a project, store it in a folder. >> The folder system is really well done on OSX, just go to Macintosh HD > User >> > YourName and you’ll find 8 different folder categories, ranging from music >> to documents. >> Use these to store your files. >> >> Keeping your desktop clean is really important because every icon, folder or >> alias on it is loaded into the RAM, slowing your system down. >> >> If there is a certain folder or file you need to access regularly, leave it >> where it should be and slide it into the right side of the OSX dock; this >> will create a stack, a feature that is incredibly useful. >>>> >>>> Q5. If iMac is Shut Down (Apple menu) then can iMac ONLY be "turned on" by >>>> using the power switch? >>> Generally yes. Unless you have the setting in Energy Saver for "start up >>> after power failure". There is also one to start up at "Set times". >>> Sometimes, some programs can turn it on too, eg eyeTV I think can do it as >>> well. >>> But yes generally, only the button will wake it up. >>>> >>>> Q6. Is it advisable to remove external power from iMac after it is Shut >>>> Down? >>> I never unplug my machines from the mains at all. Not even in a power storm. >>> I have Belkin Surgeboards on them all, so they protect it. (And have good >>> insurance and warranties to cover if something does go wrong). >>>> >>>> Q6. What is signified when the iMac wakes within a few seconds of an >>>> Apple>Sleep command? >>> Something is sending a command back to it to wake it up straight away. >>> Normally Console can tell you what it is (Utilities - Console). >>>> >>>> Q7. When advice is to "remove all external devices" does this include >>>> Ethernet cable (and Air Port) for internet? >>> Not generally. External devices are hard drives and printers. If you want to >>> check everything, then yes, unplug it all. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Regards, Alan >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Alan Smith >>>> >>>> iMac 21.5" Nov 2009 >>>> >>>> Intel Core 2 Duo 3.06 GHz / 4 MB >>>> >>>> OSX 10.6.6 Snow Leopard >>>> >>>> Time Machine in 1TB WD My Studio Firewire >>>> >>> >>> >>> Hope that helps a little. >>> >>> Kind Regards >>> Daniel >>> --- >>> Daniel Kerr >>> MacWizardry >>> >>> Phone: 0414 795 960 >>> Email: <daniel @ macwizardry . com . au> >>> Web: <http://www.macwizardry.com.au> >>> >> >> Cheers, >> Ronni >> >> 17" MacBook Pro Intel Core i7 >> 2.66GHz / 8GB / 1067 MHz DDR3 / 500GB Serial ATA Drive @ 7200rpm >> >> OS X 10.6.6 Snow Leopard >> Windows 7 Ultimate (under sufferance) >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- >> Archives - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/archives.shtml> >> Guidelines - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml> >> Unsubscribe - <mailto:wamug-unsubscr...@wamug.org.au> > > > > > -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- > Archives - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/archives.shtml> > Guidelines - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml> > Unsubscribe - <mailto:wamug-unsubscr...@wamug.org.au> Cheers, Ronni 17" MacBook Pro Intel Core i7 2.66GHz / 8GB / 1067 MHz DDR3 / 500GB Serial ATA Drive @ 7200rpm OS X 10.6.6 Snow Leopard Windows 7 Ultimate (under sufferance) -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List -- Archives - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/archives.shtml> Guidelines - <http://www.wamug.org.au/mailinglist/guidelines.shtml> Unsubscribe - <mailto:wamug-unsubscr...@wamug.org.au>
