Best care practices for macbook pro

Question

Hi I would like to be more active in preventing issues on my macbook.  I use it constantly for school and work, and I rely on it heavily, and so I want to keep it running as best as possible for as long as possible, understanding that while some degradation is inevitable, there is a lot that is preventable.  I apologize if there is another thread like this, i did search, but didnt find anything.  thanks in advance for any feedback from those much more knowledgeable than myself.  I'm runnin:
MacBookPro8,1
Os 10.7.2
2.7 ghz Intel Core i7
4 GB 1333 MHz DDR3
Boot ROM Version:          MBP81.0047.B24
SMC Version (system):          1.68f98
I'm basically looking for tips on the best diagnostics software for my system, and the best implementation of the software (run it off an external? etc) and best practices for the keeping the computer running smoothly. Thanks again. -dL

Answer 1

Make redundant backups, keeping at least one off-site at all times. One backup is not enough. Don’t back up your backups; make them independent of each other. Don’t rely completely on any single backup method, such as Time Machine.
Keep your software up to date. Software Update can be set to notify you automatically of updates to the Mac OS. Some third-party applications have a similar feature, if you don’t mind letting them phone home. Otherwise you have to check yourself on a regular basis.
Don't install crapware, such as "haxies," “add-ons,” “toolbars,” “enhancers," “optimizers,” “accelerators,” “extenders,” “cache cleaners,” “defragmenters,” “firewalls,” “guardians,” “defenders,” “protectors,” most “plugins,” commercial "virus scanners,” or "utilities." With very few exceptions, this kind of software is useless, or worse than useless. The more actively promoted the product, the more likely it is to be junk. The only software you should install is that which (a) directly enables you to do the things you use a computer for: creating and editing documents, communicating, playing, and so on; and (b) does not modify the way other software works. Never install third-party software of any kind unless you know how to uninstall it.
The free anti-malware application ClamXav is not crap, and although not needed by everyone, may be useful under some circumstances, such as being on a mixed Mac-Windows enterprise network.
Beware of trojans. A trojan is malicious software (“malware”) that the user is duped into installing voluntarily. Such attacks were rare on the Mac platform until recently, but are now increasingly common, and increasingly dangerous. There is some built-in protection against downloading malware, but you can’t rely on it -- the attackers are always one day ahead of the defense. You can’t rely on third-party protection either. What you can rely on is common-sense awareness -- not paranoia, which only makes you more vulnerable. Never install software from an untrustworthy or unknown source. If in doubt, do some research. If a web page seems deceptive, it is deceptive. Any page that prompts you to install a “codec” or “plugin” that comes from the same site, or an unknown site, is untrustworthy. Software with a known corporate brand, such as Adobe Flash, must be acquired directly from the developer. No intermediary is acceptable, and don’t trust links unless you know how to parse them. Any file that is automatically downloaded from a web page without your having requested it should go straight into the Trash. Any website that tells you that you have a “virus” or that something is wrong with your computer is rogue.
Relax, don’t do it. Besides the above, no routine maintenance is necessary or beneficial for the vast majority of users, specifically not “cleaning caches,” “zapping the PRAM,” “rebuilding the directory,” or “repairing permissions.” Such measures are for solving problems as they arise, not for preventive maintenance. The very height of futility is running an expensive third-party utility called “Disk Warrior” when nothing is wrong, or even when something is wrong and you have backups, which you must have. Don’t waste money on Disk Warrior or anything like it.