DEWEYACCOUNTS  I could never get this program working for my purposes. I had a bunch of index.html files in folders and needed them to be renamed to the containing folder (e.g. The containing folder is "About" so rename the file to About.html) and then moved upwards in hierarchy.

After restarting, looking at the documentation (on the new folder feature), scratching my head, cursing and fiddling for about an hour or so, I finally downloaded "The Big Mean Folder Machine" and it worked perfectly so I purchased the entire bundle including "A Better Finder Rename" and "A Better Finder Attributes".  
(Version 2.3.5)

PROGRAMHAPPY  Developer, please make it so that we can

1. turn off auto-filtering altogether (I don't want a file to be automatically filtered away from the desktop 2 seconds after I place it there);

2. have multiple desktop folders (i.e., "Desktop 1" and "Desktop 2"), each having its own set of filters that we can independently choose to run automatically or manually.

If you make these changes, I will become a paying customer after my trial expires.

Thank you.  
(Version 2.3.5)

ZX  AppSweep should get an exclude list!  
(Version 2.3.5)

RON BELL  My configuration perhaps (Snow Leopard 10.6.1 on MB Pro Core 2 Duo), but version 2.3.4 loads with Hazel in stopped mode and clicking on the "start" button in the preference pane does not restart it. Anyone else having the same issue?  
(Version 2.3.4)

MARKOH  I just upgraded =) I can't remember the last time that I actually emptied my trash manually =D An excellent addition to OS X. Just one question: how often does Hazel shred a file for secure deletion?  
(Version 2.3)

PCHARLES67  Not sure I am using the full potential of this application since it is just there to clean up when I delete all the shareware I try out, but it seems to catch most of my deletions and that is good enough for me.   
(Version 2.2.4)

M A V I C  I've wanted something like this for years. When I heard Apple was implementing Folder Actions I hoped it would do something like this but it didn't. I was hoping Automator would, but it's difficult to use for something like this.

I've never liked the concept of stacks. Sure it's like my desk, but that's not a good thing. I'd much rather a computer be automated. When I set something on my desk, I'd like it automatically dealt with and filed appropriately. Hazel does this based on criteria I setup using the GUI.

Files downloaded from the internet are automatically sorted based on predefined criteria. Photos from an asset management tool are sorted and labeled - all automatically. Those disk images for software updates are disposed of after time.

Hazel is like a personal assistant for your computer. You tell it once what you want it to do, and it does it from then on.

I'm writing t his review after having used it for seven months on my PM G5 with 10.5 and 4.5GB of RAM. I've never had an issue with it. My machine has been up for nearly a month without a restart, and I leave PS, INDD, AI, Acrobat, Mail, a few browsers, BBEdit, Adium... open 24x7. I probably have 150 browser windows open right now. So it's not like I don't push this system, and Hazel performs fine.

Hazel is a great utility. I noticed an old Hazel log showed up in my trash, so that's what reminded me I had it. My desktop and download folders were all neatly sorted, and it's been so perfect and unintrusive I forgot I had it until I saw the log file. That's what prompted me to come write this review.

Sometimes it does take a few seconds for a script to run, but it's still makes the 12hrs+/day I spend on a computer so much easier.  
(Version 2.2.4)

DRDUL  I tried Hazel for a couple of days. I didn't encounter any significant memory usage or system slowdowns as others have reported. I did find that Hazel didn't work 100% of the time, occasionally missing files that were added to watched folders. I also found that in some cases, it took Hazel a over a minute to notice a change in a watched folder, and for one task I wanted to automate, that was far too long.

In the end, though, I simply didn't have enough need for what Hazel does. I also found that most of the things I wanted to do with Hazel required Applescript, as there aren't many built-in actions and rules other than moving files around and changing some of their attributes. The time I would spend learning and coding Applescript would be far more than the time Hazel would save me automating a few simple tasks, so I uninstalled it.  
(Version 2.2.4)

APPLEIIC  I've used Hazel for about 6 months now and while it's a nice idea, I didn't find it super useful. It does carry a slight memory load in the background, and being I have an Air with a 2GB cap, I just couldn't justify it. If you know your system well enough, you can do what Hazel does without too much effort.  
(Version 2.2.4)

CASTLE  I got Hazel in the recent MacUpdate bundle. I'd not have bought it normally, but thought I'd give it a go since it was essentially free. I rarely used it and quickly forgot about it. However, over the past month or two I'd been finding that my computer would become very unresponsive when it was under heavy strain - far more so than it used to when under the same conditions. I finally found time to troubleshoot the issue, and after a lot of trial and error I discovered that uninstalling Hazel significantly improved performance on my MacBook Pro. I'd forgotten it was there and it didn't cause any noticeable spikes in Activity Monitor, but uninstalling it made a HUGE difference to the speed of my machine.  
(Version 2.2)

MDOGNRDOG  If you have the chance, install Hazel very early in the process of setting up a new computer. If you put twenty minutes into thinking about where (and when) you want certain types of items to go in your workflow, and another fifteen minutes setting up Hazel to manage that workflow, you can really resist the natural tendencies of the Finder to have you build up undifferentiated piles of crap.

I've got it sorting and prioritizing different document types upon download, color-coding items that are starting to get stale (that need my intervention), dispatching .torrent files to the appropriate directory where they will be processed by the BT client automatically, etc.

A very useful program.  
(Version 2.1.6)

RBTKID  I've been running Hazel for months now and it's made so well that I totally forgot I had it installed. I have it set up to manage my downloads and temporary files, and also to manage my Trash.

Support from the developer is outstanding. I've contacted him twice now and each time he has been patient and helpful. The first time he helped me to debug an applescript of mine, and the second time the problem was tracked down to a bug in another program - he said he would contact that program's authors to file a bug.

Outstanding service and great program!  
(Version 2.1.3)

GLOBETROTTERDK  Very responsive, helpfull and understanding developer. It would be nice to see more documentation and examples as to how Hazel can be used. If those two conditions were met, Hazel would be five stars in every category.  
(Version 2.1.3)

TOMECK  I agree with the previous reviews -- an absolute perfect and useful app!   
(Version 2.1.3)

FARIBORZ  This wonderful utility changes the concept of how you organize your files on a Mac. Since I bought it two weeks ago my Mac has changed into a very orderly Mac. Hazel takes care of all my files which are automatically moved into their designated locations withour further intervention. Words simply cease to express its usefulness! If you are looking for total order and peace of mind then you owe it to yourself to give it a try. Fariborz AMIRSHAHI - Verona (Italy)  
(Version 2.1.1)

JOE AARDVARK  Ok, when I first read the description, I laughed at the thought of paying for an application that emptied your trash for you.

I was wrong. This is really a great program, with a very clean interface, and tons of uses. Great work!  
(Version 2.1)

NIGHTONE  I love Hazel. My very favorite feature is the automatic App Sweeper. I can continue to drag things to the regular trash like always while having the functionality of something like an App Zapper. I wrote about Hazel on my blog last month. You can read my mini-review here:

http://www.switchedtomac.com/?p=100  
(Version 2.0.2)

REVGRIDDLER  This is the sort of program that you get so used to you forget what life was like before it. I do a lot of downloading, and Hazel quietly puts away all my stuff where it's supposed to go. I have it automating my torrent downloading, digital camera uploads, and basic file arrangement for me, all in the background where I don't even need to think about it. The "housekeeper" metaphor is truly apt, it's like I can just leave my stuff around and it comes in after me and puts it all where it's supposed to be.

If this weren't enough, the developer is incredibly cheerful and helpful if you have any problems (the background processes, at least as of 1.x, could get a little wonky here and there).

I recommend it anybody.  
(Version 2.0)

JT_XIII  At first, you don't know where it can be useful, but the more you use it, define rules, add complexity, the more you understand how much of a timesaver this software is. One more reason to stick with the mac.  
(Version 1.1.5)

GHP  A great app that does what it promises to do. It's easy to set up/configure, and then it just works. A great tool in keeping things properly in order, without any hassle.  
(Version 1.1.4)

GUEST  I encountered the same problem. It seem that Hazel yanks the temporary file that's created during the download (befor the download is finished).

Has anyone solved this problem?  
(Version 1.1.3)

BIRDS_EYE  I set a rule for Hazel to sort pdf's that I download, but Firefox then pops up with an error saying that it cannot download the file to the folder that contains the rule. Must be a bug or something.  
(Version 1.1.3)

SJK  The previous one-star "rating" isn't for the actual product but rather that person's lack of use for it.  
(Version 1.1.3)

RPPHOTO  Infinitely useful and timesaving app. Developer provides top-notch and timely support. One of those rare apps that becomes indespensable.  
(Version 1.1.3)

ANON BUD  I’ve used this for about a week and find it so much better than Chaos Antidote, which I’ve used for about a year. I’ll keep the latter to deal with any cleanup I need on starting up, but Hazel will do most of that in the background. Really remarkable and simple to use. Plus, I just love the name! Hazel is still one of my favorite TV shows–now “she’s” one of my favorite utilities!

I can’t believe that folks are comparing this with Spring Cleaning, which it useless bloatware and really hasn’t been able to do anything under OSX  
(Version 1.0.2)

MARK.ANDERSON  Love this app. 10 times better than Spring Cleaning. Perfect for those of us who want quick, but granular control over where our files go.  
(Version 1.0.2)

JIN  I actually prefer Hazel over TidyUp and Spring Cleaning because it runs in the background and I don't have to run it to clean up my folders. I constantly download files from various websites and some are work related so it's easy to set a rule to redirect them where I need them. Also the Mail-like Rules interface made it easy for me just pick up and use.  
(Version 1.0)