Before you go any further, you need to understand that
there’s no magic optimization bullet. Nor can you wave a magic wand
and say the correct words to optimize a system instantly. Optimization
requires time and doesn’t always result in higher system speed or
better user productivity. Sometimes optimization means that you don’t
buy a new machine this year — that you can wait until next year or
even the year after to make the purchase. Optimization could mean
finding the data you need more quickly, not the ability to perform
tasks with that data faster.
It’s important to understand that optimization depends
on goals and produces specific results that might incur a penalty
in another area that doesn’t matter as much. For example, you might
decide to get rid of a background application, such as a search toolbar,
to save memory and processing cycles. The system generally runs faster
because it has more resources to perform tasks. However, one task
is a lot slower as a result — the loss of the search toolbar means
you can’t find information as quickly. When you search for something
just once or twice daily, the loss of the search toolbar probably
isn’t a big deal, but if searching is a main part of computing experience,
the loss of the search toolbar can be significant.
Optimization takes many forms, and you always base optimization
on need rather than perception. When you tell someone that the computer
is slow, just how is it slow? Do you mean that applications run slowly
or that you can’t find a file as quickly as you should? Someone who
works with documents all day needs to find files quickly, but speed
is unlikely to cause problems because the computer is probably spending
most of its time waiting for input. An analyst (perhaps someone in
the insurance industry) needs great access to statistics, so a high-speed
Internet connection and optimized network resources are important,
but again, local machine processing speed probably isn’t as important.
Part of the optimization process is considering your
needs, not what you perceive as fast. Optimize the machine to meet
your needs and it will seem fast even when it isn’t from someone else’s
point of view. Optimization is a long-term and continuous process
that makes the computer easier and faster for you to use based on
specific needs and requirements.