MY DESKTOP
PART I
Here is what my current Windows Vista desktop looks like (11/22/08 ). Pretty neat eh? It took me a while and some work getting it to this point. If you want a killer desktop like this I'll give you the 411 on how you can do it , and provide links to various components. Most of the elements required graphics editing skills to customize things to my liking. The taskbar required patching Windows files and editing the registry.
Here is what my current Windows Vista desktop looks like (11/22/08 ). Pretty neat eh? It took me a while and some work getting it to this point. If you want a killer desktop like this I'll give you the 411 on how you can do it , and provide links to various components. Most of the elements required graphics editing skills to customize things to my liking. The taskbar required patching Windows files and editing the registry.
First: My Favorite Sidebar
Gadgets.
At the top is Rebel Shutdown, I customized it by changing the color of the icons and app border ( it comes in stark black and white ) to make it a bit more eye-pleasing. This gadget can put the system to sleep, lock, restart and shut-down with one click.
Second is Presto's Clock which comes very customizable. As you can see I like a very offbeat display without colons or spaces. You can set the font style, color, and display format for the gadget right from its toolbox. I haven't messed with it, but with some graphic editing you can change the background from black to whatever you want.
iStat Combo comes next and this is a great meter to keep tabs on RAM and dual-processor usage. The color of the status bars are the only thing that you can change here. You don't need to change it anyway ( unless you don't like black )
Wireless Network Meter is below that. I did some self-customizing with this. I made the background a solid black ( the black that comes initially is really grey ) and replaced a couple of icons to either side of the title with transparent png's to clean up the look. The only two remaining desktop icons hide behind this, the Recycle bin and a shortcut to reopen the sidebar if it's closed.
Finally, I have the AccuWeather Gadget which keeps me up-to-date on current conditions.
Windows Sidebar is great for keeping me up on how my system and wireless net connection are doing, and since I have no icon clutter the gadgets can sit there without it feeling like they're infringing on too much screen territory.
I do have 42 shortcuts on my desktop,which brings me to the question "Where are all the shortcuts?" I'll cover that on the next Page.
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