What's On Your Desktop?
Posted: Wednesday, November 11, 2009
by Ronyae
Writings by Ronyae
Whenever I start-up my computer, I think of the Capital One commercial slogan, "What's In Your Wallet". The reason being, it's just as important to have the essentials on your computer's desktop, as it is to have a Capital One card in your wallet. Why you ask? Well, for one, your desktop is like the first impression of you.
Having a desktop fuller (with more icons) than your actual closet is a no-no. That shows clutter, and of course a sense of being overloaded. All of these programs on your desktop are holding up process, and progress.
(c)Yahoo Image
Imagine starting up your computer, and having to wait nearly thirty minutes for everything to run its start-up process; with certain programs, you will have to wait until it has finished starting up before another start-up program can begin. A perfect example is if you have an anti-virus program running along with another security program. Not saying that there are too many programs for security, because you can never have enough security, nor security programs. But, let's take a look at the other programs you have installed to be launched at start-up:
Yahoo! Messenger; Music Players; iTunes ... the list could definitely go on, but I don't have the time or space. But, I'm sure you get the idea. I used to have fits as my computer slowly went through its start-up programs. I got smart and decided to go into my control panel, and start disabling some programs to start-up when I started my computer. Amazingly, the computer did run a bit faster.
Do you really need the icons that are on your desktop? I mean, really. How often do you return to that file that you saved to your desktop for a particular reason ... and, the reason not being to store it forever. I have sat in front of other people's computers, and wondered how they can even find what they are looking for, when they have more than 15-20 icons/shortcuts on their desktops.
I make a rule to only apply shortcuts and icons for my general office needs: my writing tools, work stations, and of course my financial business for the office. I also have the essentials for composing pages, videos, and/or photo jobs. I'm sure there aren't many who are like me, when it comes to keeping the shortcuts and icons categorized. Yes, I keep everything all together: my tools for photo jobs are all in a row, then my work stations are located together, and so on.
Keeping your shortcuts and/or icons down to a minimum, will allow your beautiful wallpaper, desktop background to be seen, among other things. But, the best thing is being able to start-up your computer, and get to work ... and, quickly!
I submit this as a collection in reference to computer maintenance; your desktop tells alot about you. So, tell me, "What's On Your Desktop?"
(c)Yahoo Image
Imagine starting up your computer, and having to wait nearly thirty minutes for everything to run its start-up process; with certain programs, you will have to wait until it has finished starting up before another start-up program can begin. A perfect example is if you have an anti-virus program running along with another security program. Not saying that there are too many programs for security, because you can never have enough security, nor security programs. But, let's take a look at the other programs you have installed to be launched at start-up:
Yahoo! Messenger; Music Players; iTunes ... the list could definitely go on, but I don't have the time or space. But, I'm sure you get the idea. I used to have fits as my computer slowly went through its start-up programs. I got smart and decided to go into my control panel, and start disabling some programs to start-up when I started my computer. Amazingly, the computer did run a bit faster.
Do you really need the icons that are on your desktop? I mean, really. How often do you return to that file that you saved to your desktop for a particular reason ... and, the reason not being to store it forever. I have sat in front of other people's computers, and wondered how they can even find what they are looking for, when they have more than 15-20 icons/shortcuts on their desktops.
I make a rule to only apply shortcuts and icons for my general office needs: my writing tools, work stations, and of course my financial business for the office. I also have the essentials for composing pages, videos, and/or photo jobs. I'm sure there aren't many who are like me, when it comes to keeping the shortcuts and icons categorized. Yes, I keep everything all together: my tools for photo jobs are all in a row, then my work stations are located together, and so on.
Keeping your shortcuts and/or icons down to a minimum, will allow your beautiful wallpaper, desktop background to be seen, among other things. But, the best thing is being able to start-up your computer, and get to work ... and, quickly!
I submit this as a collection in reference to computer maintenance; your desktop tells alot about you. So, tell me, "What's On Your Desktop?"
This Article has been viewed 2,133 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
Top-level comments on this article: (8 total)Right now? A picture from Halloween night that I really must remove before the kids are home for the weekend. :) Seriously, your article makes great sense Ronyae. I'm not guilty of saving too many icons on my desktop but I really do need to start deleting some emails. Thanks for the reminder!Brianna, don't let me get on emails. I am so guilty.
I heartily agree! About a year ago, I removed all of my desktop icons except for My Documents and the recycle bin. Everything I use I have pinned to my start menu. I feel energized when I turn on my computer and am not greeted by a chaos of icons.I know it feels good, Maureen! A sense of Freedom
Ronyae, did you know that Norton and McAfee are so strong now that you have to disable them just to load a CD into the computer? Less is more. Thank you for the workspace tips!Yes, I do know, Deana ... and, that's only because I was a victim of their strongholds, myself. :)
I don't like clutter on my desktop either so I just keep the basics. I only have four icons. I really do need to check on how many startups I have on my menu though. Informative article. Thanks for sharing., Linda DGlad, I could be of help, Linda (smile).
I'm rather ashamed to say it, but my desktop is almost completely covered in icons... I do actually use pretty much all of them regularly, but its still a mess and obscures my desktop wallpaper, which is a rather beautiful image of the Crab nebula. I really should get around to cleaning it up a bit!Thanks for giving me the motivation to get on with some virtual tidying :)(taking my curtsy), You're welcome, Ben (smile).
One of the coolest things about Windows 7 (and Vista as well, to a degree), is that the desktop becomes an option more than a necessity to get to programs quickly. I don't even use it anymore. Instead, I use the search function, or the extremely dynamic Start menu that puts Windows XP to shame in every way.You don't have to maintain your Start menu...it does that on its own by only displaying what you actually use often instead of everything that either you or the software programmers thought you might want to use often.I'm glad to see the desktop go away. It's highly inefficient, and I think that once people get used to the way Windows 7 works, we'll see the desktop for what it is: a way for software developers to make sure their programs stay in your face.
Also, one thing that your article sort of made unclear that people should be absolutely clear on: the amount of icons on your desktop in no way affects how fast your computer loads or operates. Those are shortcuts to programs. It's the programs that are actually running that slow things down.Alright, and now we have it: a pub of Windows 7. I knew it would come sooner, or later. Thanks Anthony for sharing your review with us.
You seem to suggest that icons on the desktop alone will slow down your computer. This isn't so, but you are right about deleting unnecessary stuff in the StartUp folder. Too many applications needlessly cause themselves to be started with Windows.The other thing about the Desktop is that many people have no idea about the file system and directories, and simply store important documents on their desktop--not just shutcuts to commonly used programs. In fact, Windows encourages this by hiding the tree view in Explorer by default.Well, thank you for the more detailed information Andy. Very helpful for my readers.
I actually don't have a lot of icons on my desktop just the usual ones that basically come with the software. I may have one or that is a shortcut for Photoshop and the Explorer.
We want your comments! If you can read this, you don't have javascript enabled, so you can't use this comment system. Please enable javascript.