Existing users, 
Something you might want to consider: iDefrag will not run on a Mac that is running from a cd or dvd. In order for iDefrag to run it must be able to write its licensing key to a specific location in the copy of the Mac OS you booted on. It can't write to a cd or dvd and consequently it can't run when you boot from a typical cd, dvd, TechTool eDrive, etc. Consequently, the only way to iDefrag your normal boot disk is to create an additional bootable partition and start from that or create a "special" boot cd using Coriolis' CDMaker app. That's probably why CDMaker exists at all. That's a lot of garbage to deal with when the real problem is Coriolis System's excessively restrictive licensing scheme, which can prevent legitmately licensed users from performing legimate activities permitted by Coriolis' own license agreement.
Another thing to consider: iDefrag "optimization" really doesn't optimize that well. iDefrag "optimizes" by cramming all your system files together, app files together, data files together, which is a step in the right direction but not true optimization. True optimization involves putting all your Photoshop files together, all your iTunes files together, all your Final Cut files together, so that each application has the files it needs located nearby on the drive. iDefrag just doesn't do that. "Copy/format/copy back" processes do.
iDefrag
Defragmentation & disk optimization.
Version: 1.7.1
A warning about iDefrag
Feedback Type: Usage Tip
Contributed by: jchayes369 Sunday, October 11 2009 @ 11:27 AM PDT
Product Platform: MacOSX
Used Product For: Over One Year
Recommend Product: NO
Comments
A warning about iDefrag - iGreg
I am one of those a long time ago that recommended to iDefrag that they include an Optimization feature. The words defragmenting and optimization have sometimes meant different things to different people. It is my understanding that defragmenting means the piecing back together of separated files into their complete contiguous file, & optimization means both to defragment files AND pushing all files together to get rid of separated free space. iDefrag seems to do both. Also, I believe iDefrag can still be run from the boot up drive that is in use for basic defragmenting.Saturday, October 17 2009 @ 05:31 PM PDT
A warning about iDefrag - iGreg
Slight correction. It was not the "optimization" I requested long ago, it was the "Full Defragment" feature. Recalling from my memory, I think the author recommended running Metadata and then Optimization to do a thorough job. I suggested there be a single choice that will do both and he created the Full Defragment.Sunday, October 18 2009 @ 10:36 AM PDT
A warning about iDefrag - dennbe
Thanks for that insight to iDefrag. Can you suggest a good Defrag program that is better for OSX up to Snow Leopard?....DennisSaturday, November 07 2009 @ 10:47 PM PST
A warning about iDefrag - Alastair_Houghton_882
:: Something you might want to consider: iDefrag will not run on a Mac that is running from a cd or dvd
Yes, it will.
:: It can't write to a cd or dvd and consequently it can't run when you boot from a typical cd, dvd, TechTool eDrive, etc.
Obviously we can't support user-created CDs/DVDs over which we have no control (booting from CD means OS X is running in an odd configuration, and the specifics very much depend on how you make the disc, which is why we provide CDMaker to make discs that are set up to run our software).
To be clear, if you're suitably technically competent, there is no reason you can't get iDefrag or iPartition running from your own CD/DVD or eDrive. If you aren't competent enough to work it out for yourself, though, this isn't something we officially support and you should just use CDMaker.
:: Another thing to consider: iDefrag "optimization" really doesn't optimize that well. iDefrag "optimizes" by cramming all your system files together, app files together, data files together, which is a step in the right direction but not true optimization.
Rather than misleading other people by making inaccurate statements about what the optimization routine in iDefrag does, why don't you ask us? Your description, for what it's worth, is incorrect.
If you're interested in having your disk laid-out the way you propose, iDefrag lets you choose to do just that, by writing your own custom "class set" file that tells it how you want your files arranged. If you think you need a custom class set and are having difficulty working out what to do, that is certainly something we can help you with.
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Wednesday, October 14 2009 @ 09:57 AM PDT