Thanks Ronni, I had wondered if the OSX went and found the original to the alias and loaded that file into RAM, hence your concerns.
But now I understand that better - ie. if anything NEEDS to be on the desktop, best be aliases. Ta Tim On 17/02/2011, at 3:02 PM, Ronda Brown wrote: > 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> -- 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>
