Hello,

I apologize for the off-topic question, but I value the opinions of this group very much.

I've gotten tired of all the folders and documents I have spilled across my Windows desktop, and so I'm looking for a good, cheap desktop shell (think that's the correct phrase for the type of utility I'm looking for). Thank you for any advice you can give.

Steve Z.

Steve,

Do you mean you're considering replacing the application that manages your desktop and task bar (where the start menu lives)? In Unix, that's more or less the window manager (Gnome, KDE, etc. and their various skins/themes). In Windows, that's rather a niche market. I looked into it a number of months ago, but decided against it -- I felt it was too far from mainstream for my taste. I'll try to scan my notes a bit later today for any leads that might be helpful to you.

In the meantime, I hope a description of my desktop might prove helpful.

I try to keep my desktop clean and simple; I've only got four folder links, two app shortcuts, and two document links on the desktop. I limit myself to these maximums. The four folders are Recycle Bin, files, more apps, and my Windows Mobile My Documents. Files contains symlinks (um, shortcuts) to commonly used locations, and used to exist as a task bar toolbar; I realize now it's abandoned, and should be deleted. More apps contains links to apps that aren't on my quick launch bar, are used occasionally, and are difficulty to find in Start -> All Programs. The two app shortcuts are to apps (currently PageFour and IdeaMason) I'm evaluation for inclusion on the quick launch bar. The two documents are miscellaneous "to be read" items that have no place in UltraRecall or Surfulater.

I use a two-unit-high task bar at the bottom of the screen. The upper half contains the overpopulated quick launch bar and ClipMate QuickBar. I use the quick launch bar and the five soft-assignable keys on my MS keyboards for all of my commonly used apps. The quick launch bar is organized by frequency of use: Thunderbird and Firefox are on the left, followed by my file manager (xplorer2), text editors (including EditPad), and CLI stuff (cmd and putty); the PIMS are in the middle. Graphics, photo, and music apps fill out the visible area; secondary programs cascade up the screen as necessary by clicking on the >> icon.

The bottom half of the task bar contains the currently running programs and the Windows Desktop Search bar, a vestige of my long eval of OneNote 2007 (which I eventually uninstalled); I realize it's another item that should probably go, as I don't use it.

The only other prominent part of my desktop is my collection of (currently) three Notezilla notes. I try to keep thee from proliferating as well.

I feel the Windows desktop, while not terribly elegant, is rather robust and quite flexible. Keeping it uncluttered requires discipline, but I've found it quite manageable.

I hope you find this helpful; I enjoyed writing it.

Regards,
Wes

Wes,

Thank you for the detailed reply. It is helpful to learn what others do. Here's my situation: Being a software junkie, I have way too many applications installed on my machines (mostly my home machine, because I have a little more discipline at the office). But even though I have more applications installed than I use, there are several applications I need frequently. I don't like using the Start button menu... too cumbersome, and I've tried limiting the number of icons in the quick launch bar (but maybe I should rethink this). So I've had icons all over my desktop. I do organize them, keeping application launch icons in one section, documents (usually items I'm currently accessing frequently at the moment -- once I'm done with them I move them to other folders), and various folders. Recently I've just felt like this all is too much of a mess, so I'm hoping to find an application that helps me organize it a bit, keeping the desktop neat, but continuing to provide quick access. I have found one nifty little program called Approach -- when it is running, if you click on a folder and keep the button depress a few seconds, instead of the window opening, a small menu opens from which you can select. To make use of this, I created folders for each type of application I have (Writing Aids, Info Managers, Graphics, Office, Utilities), and put the application shortcuts in them. That seems to work okay, but I'm wondering if there's a more elegant solution.

By the way, I'm interested in what you think of PageFour.

Thanks, again.

Steve Z.

Stephen Zeoli wrote:

By the way, I'm interested in what you think of
PageFour.

I've not yet spent enough time with it to have a strong opinion, but my first impression is very good. I've got an article to write, and intend to write it in PageFour. As the article has no deadline, I've not yet started working on it. Such is my life; it seems I only work on priority one items both at work and in my personal life anymore.

Once the article is done, I intend to start using PageFour for fiction: that may develop into a novel, but it'll initially be backstory for a game long back-burnered.

Thank you for the detailed reply. It is helpful to learn what others
do. Here’s my situation: Being a software junkie, I have way too many
applications installed on my machines (mostly my home machine, because
I have a little more discipline at the office). But even though I have
more applications installed than I use, there are several applications
I need frequently. I don’t like using the Start button menu… too
cumbersome, and I’ve tried limiting the number of icons in the quick
launch bar (but maybe I should rethink this). So I’ve had icons all
over my desktop. I do organize them, keeping application launch icons
in one section, documents (usually items I’m currently accessing
frequently at the moment—once I’m done with them I move them to other
folders), and various folders. Recently I’ve just felt like this all is
too much of a mess, so I’m hoping to find an application that helps me
organize it a bit, keeping the desktop neat, but continuing to provide
quick access.

It sounds like you need a program launcher of some type. I've no advice off the top of my head. I scanned my software evaluation database, and I didn't find any relevant notes.

I have found one nifty little program called Approach—
when it is running, if you click on a folder and keep the button
depress a few seconds, instead of the window opening, a small menu
opens from which you can select. To make use of this, I created folders
for each type of application I have (Writing Aids, Info Managers,
Graphics, Office, Utilities), and put the application shortcuts in
them. That seems to work okay, but I’m wondering if there’s a more
elegant solution.

That does sound useful. I'd have a difficult time using it though, as I often have so many apps open I don't want to dig down to the desktop.

My recommendation to you would be to find some way of putting them in the task bar. Maybe you could create one parent folder, put your current folders in it, and create a tool bar for it.

1. Right-click on the task bar -> toolbars -> new toolbar
2. Select the parent folder holding your subfolders.

That should create a toolbar on your taskbar (unlock the task bar to place it to your liking) that has flyouts of its contents. This worked on my Latitude D600 with XP Home, but has never worked on my D620 running XP Pro. I doubt it has anything to do with Home vs. Pro, but I never seriously tried to debug this. YMMV; I hope it works for you.

Regards,
Wes

Wes Perdue wrote:

My recommendation to you would be to find some way of putting them in
the task bar. Maybe you could create one parent folder, put your current folders in it,
and create a tool bar for it.

1. Right-click on the task bar -> toolbars -> new
toolbar
2. Select the parent folder holding your subfolders.

That should create a
toolbar on your taskbar (unlock the task bar to place it to your liking) that has
flyouts of its contents.

Wow! I never knew that trick. I believe that will help a lot! Thank you.

I've been intrigued by PageFour. It seems simple and clean.

Steve Z.

Stephen Zeoli wrote:

I've been intrigued by PageFour. It
seems simple and clean.

Steve Z.

I'll second that. I installed PageFour when it was on Giveaway of the Day a week or two ago, and was very favorably impressed by its usefulness and elegant design.

That much said, I will probably not use it too often, because I'm already using MyInfo in very much the same way, and there doesn't seem to be much that PageFour can do that MyInfo can't.

However, if you're strictly looking for a writing tool, not a full-fledged information manager, PageFour is half the price of MyInfo and well worth a test.

Here's a couple of ideas.

i use my desktop as

1. a temporary download bin until I decide where to put the stuff
2. A place to temporarily store program install files until I decide to install or to more permanently store (or dump) them
3. A place for new program shortcut icons so I don't forget I have them.

To keep things in some(!?!) semblance of order, I have folders on the desktop to store some things. For example, a folder contains the setup programs I haven't decided about. (I download them to desktop and then drag them to the folder.) Same for a folder that contains the shortcut icons for the newer programs I'm not used to using yet or may never use.

I use a LOT of keyboard shortcuts, which seem to work if the corresponding shortcut icon is somewhere in the Start menu or on the desktop (under Win XP):

CTRL+SHFT+... for program launches
ALT+SHFT+... for folder or file launches
CTRL+ALT+... for system stuff

For example, I can get to the desktop fast by using CTRL+ALT+D. I put the shortcut icon for this on the desktop Its properties are:

Target: "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\Show Desktop.scf"

Start in: "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\Show Desktop.scf"

Well, ... it works for me,...sort of.

-c

Stephen Zeoli wrote:

I don't like using the Start button menu...
too cumbersome, and I've tried limiting the number of icons in the quick launch bar
(but maybe I should rethink this). So I've had icons all over my desktop.

Steve,

Try Launchy. Alt-space and type in the first couple letters of the program. Works like a charm and only requires a few keystrokes most of the time. Best of all its free.

http://www.launchy.net/

Tom S.

Thanks for all the good and interesting advice. I have learned a few things. This is why I value the people on this forum so much!

Steve Z.

Steve,
Have you tried a program called True Launch Bar? It's not very expensive, looks nice, is very customizable and hides out of sight 'til you need it. They also make a free version with fewer options. I've never liked the clutter of lots of icons all over the desktop. I much prefer a nice screensaver/wallpaper program with constantly changing pictures on screen. Then when I need the Launch bar I just bring it up.