Disk Doctor by FIPLAB
The Disk Doctor by FIPLAB is a $2.99 disk cleaning utility app worth every penny. However, that’s not a lot.
I mean, the app was easy to use and cleaned up 5.6GB of my hard drive – which is great – but the experience left me wanting more.
The good doctor did deliver the basic hard drive liberating service as advertised, but why stop there? The app essentially removes files from the set of folders listed in its Mac App Store description:
Applications Caches, Application Logs, Browser Data, Mail Downloads Folder, Downloads Folder, Large Files – over 100MB for Mountain Lion Users only, Trash Can
… wait, “Trash Can?” really!? do I need an app to empty my trash can? I guess this saved me the 10 minutes time it would have taken to open each of these five folders and delete the files myself and the daunting task of sorting Finder on the “Size” column to “find” the Large Files.
Still, even at $2.99, I want to be wowed – at least a little bit.
THE GOOD.
- Easy to use: You’re never lost with the step-by-step guidance.
- Well tested: With 400,000 users and 2 yrs development, have confidence the app will not crash or run amuck.
- Performs as promised: While somewhat underwhelming, the app did free up 5.6GB of hard drive space.
THE OPPORTUNITY FOR IMPROVEMENT.
Let’s be positive, there were a few misses but these can easily be corrected.
Not enough file context: You’re expected to decide on permanently deleting files based on three fields: Name, Size, Date Last Modified. This does not work for most usage scenarios, case in point, photos and videos. Most often these files are unceremoniously dumped onto our computers from cameras and phones and the names are pretty much useless. Fast forward 8 months later when the good Disk Doctor is asking me to decide on permanently deleting them and I haven’t a clue. See what I mean?
How could this be better?
For one, the addition of Date Last Opened would help. Since most photos and videos are not “Modified” these files snap back to the date they were dropped onto the computer; and the “Last Opened” date will give a better sense of recency.
And more importantly for files and videos a thumbnail would make this step actually usable – so I’m not flying blind on my deletion decisions.
THE FUTURE.
Again, let’s be positive and discuss the features I was expecting; compelling reasons why I would pay more than $2.99 for the Disk Doctor app. It would be nice to see:
- A basic chime when the scanning is complete. Since I closed all other applications to let the good doctor work, I was left to stare at the progress bar – and was over that in about 30 seconds then it was forgotten…
- A list of duplicate files – would be nice.
- A more granular classification of browser data perhaps break out cookies from sites not visited in the past 6 months but don’t force me into a decision to blow away all browser data or not.
- A look into applications to find known memory hogs, those always running in the background, those forgotten apps not used in a while (like I have something called Toast Titanium not used in over 3 years, next!).
- A basic disk defragmentation .. hold on.. I know… Mac users (a.k.a fanboys) constantly debate the need, but Randy Singer makes enough of a point here (http://www.macattorney.com/ts.html#6) to look into this as an option. (Look at me sharing the love to another blog.)