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I'd like to know how using the application Hazel compares to using the built in folder actions. What are the advantages / disadvantages of each?

Thanks for the article. Folder Actions definitely don't get enough love. I have one routine Folder Actions script which I have shared on Macworld before (no, I didn't write it, but it gets used every day). I move anything that gets downloaded as a disk image from my Downloads folder into a folder I keep called Installers. (I actually put it in a subfolder called Unfiled within that, since I do organize them somewhat because I run a computer lab with tons of software, but you get the gist.) Here's a link to the article in which it appears:
http://www.macworld....anagefiles.html

Thank you. What I need is a folder action for a folder containing thousands of sequentially numbered pictures. They were shot using a robot to make Gigapan pictures and it shoots two similar pictures of each motive before moving on to the next. Back home I need to sort out the number two-shots (e.g. all the odd- or even-numbered pictures) and move them to another folder.

Some years ago I had a Folder Action: When I added files to a specific folder the files were moved into a subfolder with the current date. But this Folder Action made my MacBook so unbearable slow that I turned of Folder Actions and my MacBook was as snappy as before. Therefore I always hesitate to turn Folder Actions on again. Are Folder Actions still having an effect on the speed and responsiveness of a Mac?

It should be noted that you can write your own folder actions as workflows (which may be composed of any combination of AppleScripts, shell scripts, and configurable Automator actions) using the Automator application.

This is in reply to your article in the October, 2012 Macworld. You struck a nerve with me. I've been trying unsuccessfully to have folder actions launch a program, and feed the filename of the file added to the folder (downloads in this case) to my program. I've spent several hours with automator and although I can get it to start the program, can't get it to feed the filename to the program. Is this possible? (Basically downloading QFX files from my bank and wanting to feed them to my checkbook program automatically. (I have a programming/tech support background).

Thanks!