Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!tank!ncar!mailrus!ames!coherent!dplatt
From: dplatt@coherent.com (Dave Platt)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac
Subject: Re: DiskExpress Version 1.5
Keywords: DiskExpress
Message-ID: <14185@coherent.com>
Date: 17 Nov 88 18:47:26 GMT
References: <1746@cadre.dsl.PITTSBURGH.EDU> <88Nov16.150749est.9522@neat.ai.toronto.edu>
Reply-To: dplatt@coherent.com (Dave Platt)
Distribution: comp
Organization: Coherent Thought Inc., Palo Alto CA
Lines: 36

In article <88Nov16.150749est.9522@neat.ai.toronto.edu> dudek@ai.toronto.edu (Gregory Dudek) writes:

>   How does the Quick optimization actually do differently, as compared
> to the standard optimize?  The flyer didn't explain what it avoided
> doing to get so quick.

"Quick optimize" copies fragmented files (only) to unfragmented free
space;  it does not move unfragmented files around in order to
defragment the free space or to pack all of the files at the beginning
of the volume.  The net effect is that you end up with a disk that has
no fragmented files (unless you were _very_ low on free space) but whose
free space is still fragmented.  There's a _big_ reduction in the time
needed to defragment the disk this way... since only fragmented files
are copied/moved, much less data must be shuffled around.

It's a fair tradeoff.  You can gain much of the benefit of
defragmentation by running a quick-optimize defragmentation every few
days (it takes only a minute or so), and running a full beat-the-disk-
to-death defragment-and-prioritize every few weeks.

>   It's $10 for the upgrade PLUS $10 shipping and handling.  Given that
> the new product lists for only $39 and the upgrade doesn't actually DO
> anything different in the long run (besides some slightly nicer displays)
> the price didn't seem worthwhile to me.  I do love DiskExpress, however,
> and I'm not faulting the makers, it's just that the product is so
> cheap already that paying 50% more for a upgrade that does essentially the
> same stuff doesn't cut it for me.

Please check the flyer again... I believe you misread it.  The upgrade
is $10, but the shipping&handling is only $3.  DiskExpress 1.5 lists for
$49.95;  it's probably available on-the-street for $40 or so.

I find the upgrade worthwhile at this price, although not essential...
I already have a copy of PowerOp!, which defragments files in the "quick
optimize" style.  I do like the "Show free space" display in DiskExpress
1.5, though.