Object Desktop (includes windowblinds) - modifying windows

[dk_art]

Well with all the talk in the XaraX board about maybe allowing XaraX to have skins, I checked out www.stardock.com to check out their products. I ended up downloading the various items like ObjectBar, Windowblinds, DesktopX and found them a facinating addition to the windows interface. With DesktopX you can have totally different desktops with customized animated buttons and other various items. Object Bar allows making new menu bars (etc). I now have a new task-like bar set up with exactly the items I want and the bonus is it works better than the WindowsXP task bar which when docked to the top of the screen (my preference) sometimes gets program window top-bars hidden under it making it annoying. I also have two buttons on this bar for closing all windows and showing them. My plan is that I can now make a really useful desktop with functionality and be able to reach it at the tap of one button. As it stands with normal WindowsXP, I'd have to minimize 6 or so windows in the taskbar just to see my desktop. Hence the fact that I don't even use my desktop for any purpose and never have (at present it's got one icon on it ... recycle).

http://www.stardock.com/products/odnt/

http://www.wincustomize.com/skins.asp?library=3

http://www.lotsofskins.com/

At any rate, I'm sure many will feel it's an unwanted grasp at computer resources better put to use for serious work , but I liked the whole thing so much I bought the Object Desktop suite. If you have a ton of ram it's probably not too big a deal.


I just found out about this new app for doing similar things to windows. Check out these themes with working desktop buttons and functionalty

http://www.astonshell.com/themes/index.html

David K ... www.dkingdesign.com

[dk_art]

Well with all the talk in the XaraX board about maybe allowing XaraX to have skins, I checked out www.stardock.com to check out their products. I ended up downloading the various items like ObjectBar, Windowblinds, DesktopX and found them a facinating addition to the windows interface. With DesktopX you can have totally different desktops with customized animated buttons and other various items. Object Bar allows making new menu bars (etc). I now have a new task-like bar set up with exactly the items I want and the bonus is it works better than the WindowsXP task bar which when docked to the top of the screen (my preference) sometimes gets program window top-bars hidden under it making it annoying. I also have two buttons on this bar for closing all windows and showing them. My plan is that I can now make a really useful desktop with functionality and be able to reach it at the tap of one button. As it stands with normal WindowsXP, I'd have to minimize 6 or so windows in the taskbar just to see my desktop. Hence the fact that I don't even use my desktop for any purpose and never have (at present it's got one icon on it ... recycle).

http://www.stardock.com/products/odnt/

http://www.wincustomize.com/skins.asp?library=3

http://www.lotsofskins.com/

At any rate, I'm sure many will feel it's an unwanted grasp at computer resources better put to use for serious work , but I liked the whole thing so much I bought the Object Desktop suite. If you have a ton of ram it's probably not too big a deal.


I just found out about this new app for doing similar things to windows. Check out these themes with working desktop buttons and functionalty

http://www.astonshell.com/themes/index.html

David K ... www.dkingdesign.com

[stlewis]

why Mr Gates thought that the desktop was a sensible place to put files - indeed it gets covered up. Nor why his products have, until recently, by default sprinkled work files in amongst the software. Who keeps food in the same drawers as knives and forks?

I have - for years - had a folder called 'Desk'. On here I put files I am working or links to them. All my data files are in 'a folder called 'Data', graphics in 'Graphics', and 'Library' primarily has text files, although some sub-folders relate to a client - then they tend to have the data and graphics related to them. I have other top level folders too, but you get the gist.

I also long ago abandoned the Programs part of the Start Menu - who thinks of tools alphabetically, and by company, for God's sake? I have a parallel structure called 'Tools' which has subfolders for types of work eg Data, Graphics, Text, Web Development, Games etc. And a special one for the most commonly used tools. And the most important of these folders are on my Taskbar - one click away.

I played with making a wood background when the html formatting of folders was possible but it looked naff. So all of mine are grey. No screen saver, no wallpaper. Dull but functional!

www.bricksandbrass.co.uk

[gidgit]

I find that resizing the icons to the min..(16), then organizing them along the two sides and the top of the screen in categories worx great... ie...office and related icons down the left side, graphic apps in categories along the top, utilities and folders down the right side...

I make the windows fit within the center area with about one inch all the way around thus I am able to double click down from full size and easily access all of my shortcuts...

As for Window Blinds and the like... they were cool to look at and all, but made things hesitate somewhat soooo, back to basics... but hey, if it worx for you... [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif[/img] ... [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

You can do some pretty cool things to your enviroment in Linux, but... where are the apps?
[img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]