The New, Improved CleanMyMac 3

[bobmmor]

Hi all, Macworld is advertising The New, Improved CleanMyMac 3. My question is does iMac need programs like this? It was my understanding that Macs clean them selves and don't need this stuff. Also what are anyones thoughts on Macworld

Thanks for any input Bob

 

[vansmith]

A Mac is still just a computer in that it requires maintenance. That said, all you probably need is OnyX which is free and, in using the automation features, does anything you'll probably ever need.

 

[pigoo3]

You don't want to use:

- CleanMyMac 1
- CleanMyMac 2
- CleanMyMac 3

Just use Onyx as Vansmith advised.

- Nick

 

[harryb2448]

Even up to series 23 for starters!!

 

[Rod]

You are bound to get some mixed replies on this issue. I can only speak for myself. i have used Clean My Mac since inception across desktop and laptop Macs and I have never had a problem with it but like all tools it can be misused but that applies to Onyx which I have also used. Clean My Mac 3 is however a potentially more dangerous app than the previous versions because it allows you to run what it calls Maintenance scripts. These are combined task programs to repair permissions, empty system caches and reindex Spotlight and Mail data bases. It also instals a toolbar menu which offers to Force Quit unresponsive apps and free up system memory.
So a little bit like Onyx it can do a basic (default) set of tasks very well using default settings but once you start mucking around with advanced setting thers no telling what you might do albeit accidentally.
What Clean My Mac does very well is the "Smart Cleanup" which empties all your system Junk including iPhoto, Photo, iTunes and Trash bins. It does a good job of removing apps and all associated files for that app and provides a good review of old, large and unused apps that you may have forgotten about using a number of different filters like size and last used dates.
For all other actions like Force Quit and Permissions Repair I prefer to use the native software.

 

[imfromwales]

On the topic of Onxy, what are the differences between Onxy and Maintenance? Both by the same dev(s)?

 

[Rod]

Sorry I don't understand the question. Onxy performs a series of tasks on the Auto setting which because of the interface are a little difficult to interpret whereas the Clean My Mac interface lists it's tasks like removing "broken" preferences, unneeded binary files etc. and shows progress bars for each task as it works through the list. Onyx may do many of the same things but it does not present that info in the same way. However Onyx is a free app whereas Clean My Mac is not so you'd expect a more user friendly interface which is exactly what you get.
I am not promoting either but they (in my experience) are the only safe repair/maintainence style apps on the market, there may be others but like the insidious MacKeeper some may do more harm than good.

 

[pigoo3]

On the topic of Onxy, what are the differences between Onxy and Maintenance? Both by the same dev(s)?

- "Onyx" is just the name of the app.
- "Maintenance" is a thing you do to a computer.

So one term is a name…and the other term is an activity. Onyx is a maintenance program.

- Nick

 

[MacInWin]

Nick, the developer of Onyx actually has another product named "Maintenance" so that's where imfromwales is getting the question.

Titanium Software - Home

 

[pigoo3]

Nick, the developer of Onyx actually has another product named "Maintenance" so that's where imfromwales is getting the question.

Thanks Jake…missed that. I can see how that would be confusing!

- Nick

 

[imfromwales]

Yeah, sorry for the misleading question. As MacInWin said, the dev has another app called "Maintenance", which is why I'm confused what the difference is between that app and Onxy

A description of Onxy (from the dev's site)
OnyX is a multifunction utility for OS X which you can use to verify the startup disk and the structure of its system files, to run miscellaneous tasks of cleaning and system maintenance, to configure some hidden parameters of many of Apple’s applications, and more.

A description of Maintenance (from the dev's site)
Maintenance is a system maintenance and cleaning utility for OS X which you can use to run miscellaneous tasks of system maintenance: repair permissions, run periodic scripts, rebuild the databases, delete Application, Font and System cache, and more.

As you can see, the sound very similar...

 

[pigoo3]

Yeah, sorry for the misleading question. As MacInWin said, the dev has another app called "Maintenance", which is why I'm confused what the difference is between that app and Onxy

Knowing what I know about Onyx…and reading the description of "Maintenance"…it sounds to me that "Maintenance" has a subset of features of Onyx.

So if I'm correct…"Maintenance" could be also be called "Onyx-Lite".

- Nick

 

[RadDave]

Knowing what I know about Onyx…and reading the description of "Maintenance"…it sounds to me that "Maintenance" has a subset of features of Onyx.

So if I'm correct…"Maintenance" could be also be called "Onyx-Lite".

- Nick

Well, that was my thought too and a clever name, i.e. Onyx-Lite - believe that I asked the same question last year and likely Jake responded stating to use one or the other but no need for both; so, for the OP, just stick w/ Onyx - Dave

 

[pigoo3]

Well, that was my thought too and a clever name, i.e. Onyx-Lite - believe that I asked the same question last year and likely Jake responded stating to use one or the other but no need for both; so, for the OP, just stick w/ Onyx - Dave

I think that Onyx has a lot of features that we here at Mac-Forums don't use or discuss much (if at all).

When we recommend the use of Onyx (and simply press the "Automation button")…most of the default items that Onyx does when the Automation button is pressed seem to describe what this "Maintenance" app does.

So I'm theorizing that "Maintenance" is a stripped down version of Onyx. Which is not necessarily a bad thing. Since the features of "Maintenance" seem to be the features of Onyx that most of us are using 99% of the time.

I think that a 2nd way to confirm this "theory" would be if the apps from Titanium Software were "purchase only". If this was the case…I bet Onyx would have a higher price…and "Maintenance" a lower price.

But because the Apps from Titanium Software are free (donations gladly accepted)…can't really use this to confirm things.

- Nick

 

[pigoo3]

Guess what?? I just did a bit more "digging" at the Onyx website (Titanium Software). If you click on the "Info" link at the top right of the home page…this is what it says:

"Info

OnyX is the main application. The Maintenance and Deeper applications are parts of OnyX. Maintenance is similar to the OnyX Automation pane, and Deeper is similar to the OnyX Parameters pane.

Then if you use OnyX, the Maintenance and the Deeper applications are useless!"

- Nick

 

[harryb2448]

'Maintenance' can be looked on a a light form of Onyx without the long delays some tasks take.

 

[Rod]

Now I understand too. I had not noticed that Titanium had a app called Maintenance and I also notice they also have an app called Deeper. Does anyone have any experience with this personalisation utility?

 

[pigoo3]

I looked at them a few years ago, and to me it seemed like Onyx did the same as the both of the other two apps combined.

Covered earlier in the thread:

"Info

OnyX is the main application. The Maintenance and Deeper applications are parts of OnyX. Maintenance is similar to the OnyX Automation pane, and Deeper is similar to the OnyX Parameters pane.

Then if you use OnyX, the Maintenance and the Deeper applications are useless!"

http://www.mac-forums.com/forums/os...-new-improved-cleanmymac-3-a.html#post1654777

- Nick

 

[Tainui Tony]

Any thoughts on Mackeeper?

 

[MacInWin]

Any thoughts on Mackeeper?

Yes, none of them good. Avoid like the plague.