Gadgets

[Dymetrie]

Since I upgraded to Vista I've been utilising the sidebar for some funky little tools.

http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o237/dymetrie/Sidebar.jpg

First off is the 24 clock (I likes it!)

Secondly is the Everest sidebar plug-in which gives me temps and other info about how my poota is coping with everything I put it through.

Thirdly is the UK Radio player. One click and I have some lovely music :)

Finally I have a weather gadget to show me what the weather is like (just in case I can't be arsed looking out of the window to my left :p).

So what gadgets do you use? Or do you shun the sidebar as bobbins?

[Will]

I hate having a cluttered screen, but since upgrading to a bigger widescreen format I might try it - though it's very unnecessary as I have everything I need around me. I can look out of the window for the weather, I have a remote control for the radio, and I know my PC's running cool and it's speed is not changing, lastly I know the time by looking at the clock on the bottom right, or on my watch or my phone. It's extra clutter that I don't need, but then again I have a clear desk policy I've always had, same goes with my desktop. I don't even have the recycle bin icon on it.

[Dymetrie]

Agree with you on the 'nothing on the desktop' thing.

Ideally I'd like a weather thingummy which gives predictions as well, that'd be more worth it :)

[Will]

If it was part of the desktop background like w98 active desktops had, it wouldn't be so bad - having a live desktop (but it would mean no icons on it so you could interact with it.

[Desmo]

I did use the sidebar for a while but it got in the way a bit. Might give it another whirl as I sometimes see things that could be handy.

I'm another clean desktop type. The only things I have there are recycle bin and any files I'm currently working with or have downloaded. Once I'm done with them after a couple of days, they're gone.

[After_8]

I want to use the sidebar, I really do. Unfortunately I can't find anything useful for it. I already have a clock in the taskbar, I don't care what the weather is since I can't change it and if I have to go out, I have to go out. I don't care what my CPU temperature is since I know that it has a safety feature that'll cause it to shut itself off if it gets too hot before it breaks anything.

I've tried on several occasions to use sidebars, docks, and other nifty little tools but ultimately, I just don't think they're very useful so they always get neglected.

[Feek]

I use the UK Radio Player and the Eve character tool thing (three instances). That's about it.

[Stan_Lite]

I did use the sidebar for a while but it got in the way a bit. Might give it another whirl as I sometimes see things that could be handy.

I'm another clean desktop type. The only things I have there are recycle bin and any files I'm currently working with or have downloaded. Once I'm done with them after a couple of days, they're gone.

Similar here. I used it for a bit but I hardly looked at it and I like a clean desktop too - I don't even have the recycle bin there (never use it so removed it from the desktop with TweakUI).

[Will]

I want to use the sidebar, I really do. Unfortunately I can't find anything useful for it. I already have a clock in the taskbar, I don't care what the weather is since I can't change it and if I have to go out, I have to go out. I don't care what my CPU temperature is since I know that it has a safety feature that'll cause it to shut itself off if it gets too hot before it breaks anything.

I've tried on several occasions to use sidebars, docks, and other nifty little tools but ultimately, I just don't think they're very useful so they always get neglected.

Ditto.

[Mark]

At work, I have the Windows clock (would like the 24 one tbh but don't have time to find such things at work), some windows random picture thingy to take up space, the Windows CPU monitor (would like the Everest one but I don't know how much crap I have to install to make it work, and being a Dell, it probably still won't work), local weather (so I know how much my unmentionables are going to get frozen when I finally escape the office - usually around midnight) and finally the FTSE100, 250, and my employer's share price, so I know if I'm about to lose my job. ;)

[CliffyG]

I turned them all off, prefer a clean desktop.

[Darrin]

Only thing on my desktop is Rainlendar. Everything else is either in the taskbar or is hidden.

[Will]

Windows+R is all I need! :p

[Desmo]

I've tried on several occasions to use sidebars, docks, and other nifty little tools but ultimately, I just don't think they're very useful so they always get neglected.
Actually, this pretty much sums it up for me.

[LeperousDust]

I want to use the sidebar, I really do. Unfortunately I can't find anything useful for it. I already have a clock in the taskbar, I don't care what the weather is since I can't change it and if I have to go out, I have to go out. I don't care what my CPU temperature is since I know that it has a safety feature that'll cause it to shut itself off if it gets too hot before it breaks anything.

I've tried on several occasions to use sidebars, docks, and other nifty little tools but ultimately, I just don't think they're very useful so they always get neglected.

I'm exactly the same.

[Feek]

I was much the same but I now find it handy to have the character readouts on screen and the radio player is great - Just a click and I've got the wireless on.

It's a case of finding stuff that's useful to the individual and there's a LOT of tat out there.