Simple Mac speed-up tip for desktop pack rats

And also: Guess what else is on the desktop: The HD. Now, I have around 40 gigs on my harddrive. If #7 is correct, no computer that has been in use for a while would be usable.

Regarding #7 -- That comment makes no sense. For example, I spent all weekend with a 17.8GB file on my Desktop. If what you say is true, my machine would have been completely unusable, and I would have had about 10 or so swap files in /var/vm. Neither of those things, of course, happened. My machine was fine, swap was normal, and I noticed no increased RAM usage. And just to test it further, I just moved the huge movie file back to the Desktop. Before adding to the desktop -- free memory was around 229MB. After adding it to the desktop -- free memory dropped to ... about 228MB. But this difference is negligble, and supports the theory that the size of the object has absolutely nothing to do with memory usage. OS X doesn't care how large something is until you *open* it. So the answer to the question "If you have one file @ 500 MB on your Desktop or 50 files @ 1K which one is going to use more memory to load the desktop?" is simple: 50 files @1KB each will use more memory to load on the Desktop, since each file is its own separate window that must be managed and allocated RAM. -rob.

Well MacOSXHints has it wrong. Sorry guys, what is slowing down your machines is the size of the Desktop memory being used up and having to hit the swap file. If you have one file @ 500 MB on your Desktop or 50 files @ 1K which one is going to use more memory to load the desktop?

Quickest way to fix this is to download Tinkertool & select the "Turn off Desktop" option. I'm an incurable desktop packrat and this has truly improved the speed of my startups. I can't drag anything onto the desktop anymore though, but I just drag it into an open finder window. Thank you, Tinkertool!

Just to be clear... are we talking icons, or all files located on the desktop. I have one folder on my desktop that I dump a lot of things in to. It's just one icon, but it contains many items... Is that going to strain my CPU?

Nonsense. A cannon would do as well as a catapult. Better, even if you don't mind the scorch marks on the debris.

Crap, I knew I'd have to clean up my desktop some day.

I have noticed some speedups after I periodically use Eole to clean up the desktop. Looks like I need to move some more stuff... But I think the only thing that'll speed up my iBook is a catapult.

Oooooohhhhh yeah, I've noticed the same thing... Now I have as few things occupying my desktop. I also like being able to view some of the gorgeous desktop pics I like to swich off on. It does make startup a bit faster!