Trata esto o intenta esto?
He aprendido que "tratar de" y "intentar" tienen significados similares. Pero no entiendo la diferencia entre "trata esto" y "intenta esto". Es/esta(?) uno mas commonly used (not sure how to say that in Spanish) que el otro? Gracias!
6 Answers
After reviewing the dictionary here is what I have concluded.
Some of this has already been mentioned, either outright, or by example by other posters (primarily Dani and Polenta)
Here is my effort to pull it all together for the original poster (I hope she is still reading) 
Tratar de + infinitive is used to try to do something.
I saw no evidence of any "tratar de esto" or "tratar de algo" in the dictionary. (Yes, I know that wasn't the original question, but I think it comes into play when trying to fully explain the answer.) When one wants to say I tried (a noun) (esto) (algo) other verbs such as probar are primarily used.
Intentar + infinitive is used to try to do something.
So Intentar + infinitive and Tratar de infinitive can both be used for "I try to do ...."
I found only one example of Intentar esto (or algo) in the dictionary. (without a preposition)
Hemos intentado un acuerdo. We've tried o attempted (formal) to reach an agreement; This would be an example of Intentar esto/algo.
Tratar esto not only possible, but heavily used, but it normally deals with treating something, it has nothing to do with trying something.
Hay que tratar a los animales con cariño.
Animals should be treated lovingly. (Literal: One should treat animals with caring)
So in summary:
Intentar + infinitive or tratar de + infinitive can mean the same thing in English / used interchangeably.
Intentar esto/algo can be used for in limited cases, such as attempted (to reach) an agreement...note that in this use there was only the one verb. The literal translation was "We tried an agreement" or "We attempted an agreement" I don't think one could use intentar, tratar de, or tratar (without de) with the meaning... I tried a new car unless you inserted the infinitive for "to drive" - conducir or manejar.
So my research up to now says:
Intentar esto (direct object noun) is rare. (Intentar un acuerdo example)
Tratar esto is very common, but means something is treated - nothing to do with trying something.
Tratar de and Intentar are only similar in meaning when followed by an infinitive and then they both are used as trying to do something. (the meaning of the other verb in the infinitive provides the "do / what is done".
I learned from reading Dani's comments that tratar de is generally only use with an infinitives. I already knew that tratarse de (or sobre) can mean "about something"
I also learned that in most cases, intentar should only be used with an infinitive. Usage with a noun / direct object seems quite limited.
If one wants to say try esto / algo, one should use probar which is also uses for "to taste" and to "try on" an article of clothing. (or possibly some other verb, experimentar, for example)
Tratar could be treat, deal, try.
El dolor de cabeza se trata con aspirina o algún analgésico. (tratar or treat)
El libro trata sobre la historia del Antiguo Egipto. ( tratar, deal with, be about)
Juan trata de ser un buen alumno. ( tratar, try, make an effort, make an attempt)
I think that the use of intentar is similar to tratar in the last sentence as in try, or make an effort. not with the others.
Juan trata de ser un buen alumno.
Juan intenta ser un buen alumno. (no "de")
@latte_art, @DilKen and @polenta1, I know that tratar without the 'de' means 'to treat' (i.e. yo lo trato bien a el) but from what I've read when not used with an infinitive, as is in the case of 'esto', adding the 'de' after 'trata' is grammatically unsound.
This is what somebody said on Duolingo but I am still confused regarding the usage of 'trata esto' vs. 'intenta esto' specifically in the context of a lack of infinitive:
It is the thing, that sometimes some verbs need some prepositions with some objects. Mainly when you're dealing the verb as transitive (that means, a direct object/accusative case is needed), there's no need for the "de" preposition; as you can see, "trata esto" has the conjugated verb TRATA and the direct object ESTO. But why? "Esto" is a demonstrative pronoun, so it falls within that category: nominal pronouns (this, that, these, those, etc). You're trying SOMETHING. When you deal "Tratar" as intransitive, a preposition (in this case "de) is needed, as the action isn't really being "delivered" over a patient, but rather the action introduces the following clause. This also leads to the difference between Dynamic (state of doing) and Stative (state of being) verbs, and how in Spanish a verb can be both depending on usage and objects/cases, but that's... another story.
Pretty much, it's correct "I try it", but not "I try do it" because, well... In the second case, the following "clause" isn't fulfilling as direct/accusative. In Spanish the distinction is between Direct (Object) when without a prepo, and Nominal Pronoun when with a prepo (because it really needs it -- it isn't the object after all).
I tried to explain it as good as i could, excuse me if i rambled a little, but some things were necessary to introduce, otherwise you were gonna go and crash further ahead in the language. Please do ask, i'll try to clear whatever doubt surges
My question is, after concluding that the 'tratar de' rule cannot be applied to the 'esto' case, is 'trata esto' correct? If so, is there any difference in connotation and usage between 'intenta esto' and 'trata esto'?
El verbo tratar lleva la preposición DE:
Trata de convencerlo (Try to convince him).
Intentar no lleva preposición:
Intenta convencerlo.
Por lo que sé, intentar y tratar de tienen el mismo significado,
The main reason you use "de" after "tratar" is when an infinitive follows. If a noun follows you don't need "de."
It's only "tratar de + infinitive" and "intentar" that have similar meaning. When used transitively with a noun, "tratar" has a different meaning, as has been well stated above, especially by Polenta.
"Yo intento tratar bien a todos a menos que me insulten."
"I try to treat everyone well unless they insult me."
"Try"and "treat" and there is no "de".
