My computer desktop, vs. my real-life desktop:
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- When will AGI be achieved? Posted on April 24th, 2025 | 13773 votes
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- When will AGI be achieved? Posted on April 24th, 2025 | 49 comments
Desktop, can't see the bloody thing! (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Desktop, can't see the bloody thing! (Score:5, Funny)
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Living in the middle of tornado alley, I can say that if a tornado is coming, ignore the windows, no matter what state they are, and get to shelter!
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I hadn't considered the windows. I mean, yes, they are ON the desktop, but thats like, what I am doing right now. Its like the current open project. I was thinking about this more... when the windows are closed and its all those "desktop icons" which have been around for a while now (not sure how I feel about desktop icons, I seldom if ever actually use them...
Keep making them tho.... old habbits die hard. I used them a lot more in the past.
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Same, except my floor's clean too.
Oh, and my TV is missing.
I wonder where all my stuff went...
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Windows has a button for that (Score:2)
In one of the sections of the toolbar on my Windows desktop, I've got the "Show Desktop" application's button. It's useful for two reasons
I do have a b
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[ win key ] + D
That's a complicated smiley. Pope laughing?
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[win] + D = windy (say "win D" out loud)
So "windy" clears the desktop.... both in real life and on the computer. I wonder if this was someone's joke at MS?
d
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The Win key makes an excellent modifier for Xmonad.
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(Has Charlie Sheen been informed of this?)
Yeah, but he's angry and boycotting MS ever since Ballmer rejected his Windows 8 "Tiger Blood" proposal.
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That's how I am.
But I truly do use my desktop directory as a desktop, where I dump stuff I happen to be working on and unzip files I download, eventually organizing files that I keep for long-term into more permanent directories, cleaning up the desktop every once in a while of files I don't need anymore. It's convenient for this use because file because file browsers typically have a button to hop right to the desktop for easy access.
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That's how I am.
But I truly do use my desktop directory as a desktop, where I dump stuff I happen to be working on and unzip files I download, eventually organizing files that I keep for long-term into more permanent directories, cleaning up the desktop every once in a while of files I don't need anymore.
Same here.. I clean up by putting everything on the desktop into a folder called "stuff" before doing presentations so people don't see all the mess projected on screen...
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No Need For A "Desktop" (Score:2)
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My computer desktop is devoid of icons. I don't even keep the Recycle Bin on it. There's always a window or seven covering it, anyhow.
You realize the desktop is only two keypresses away, right? Win+D (or Win+M to minimize windows) and you're there.
I tend to use my desktop as a TODO list. In addition to a few icons for easy access (Computer, Documents, Recycle) every icon or folder on the desktop represents something I'm either working on, or is a reminder to do something.
I also use the desktop as my downloaded file folder. Downloading files to the desktop makes them easy to find, and also helps prevent forgetting about a longer-running
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Don't have a "Win" key on my IBM Model M keyboard :)
I can Alt-Tab and just click on the desktop so it's one more action.
[John]
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Then get the modern Unicomp copy of the Model M with a 104 layout, no coiled cord (which I think is my major complaint :)), a smaller footprint (the original Model M has 1.5 to 2 inches of space above the keyboard that does nothing) and USB support. Plus, they're available in black.
I've got an original Model M too (as well as two additional mech-switch keyboards:a Scorpious M10 and an old Smith Corona), but the Unicomp is everything good about the Model M with none of the bad stuff.
http://pckeyboards.store [yahoo.net]
Remap it (Score:2)
On ma keyboard
but I never use ma tilda.
Your mission for the remainder of the day is to get that song out of your head.
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I organize things in their named folders on OS X - documents, downloads, pictures, etc. My default sort mode for folders in Finder is by date modified, newest first. This keeps everything I'm working on, or stuff I just downloaded for example, right at the top so it's easy to find. OS X doesn't put folders at the top of the list, so it keeps everything, folders and files, that I've recently used at the top and easy to find.
This way I don't have to deal with the desktop, though stuff does seem to end up ther
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You realize the desktop is only two keypresses away, right? Win+D (or Win+M to minimize windows) and you're there.
I don't use the desktop, except to show off my photography to my colleagues as I'm logging in.
Two keypresses away is two more than clicking a button on the taskbar, if I'm already holding the mouse; and slower than typing "fir<tab><enter>" if I'm already at the keyboard. It also messes up my workflow, as all the windows are no longer when I left them (I minimise windows only if I won't use them for a while. I middle-click-titlebar-to-lower things I'm working on).
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It also messes up my workflow, as all the windows are no longer when I left them
Nope. Windows-D, do stuff on the desktop, Windows-D and your windows are all exactly where you left them. Or, at least, they were with Windows 2000 (the last version I used). Same with OS X's reveal desktop action (which I leave configured as a hot corner action, so I just do a down-left swipe on the trackpad and the desktop appears / disappears).
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I thought the same way...
To you sir I recommend the newest version of gnome. (I swear they made that out of our reasoning exactly.
I love it [gnome.org]! (It takes some getting used to...but it really doesn't. For all you linux fans out there try a live cd, I dare you.)
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Interesting. I need to try some different options myself.
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That is if you want that type of GUI. I have other installs with different configs...
how old are you?
Early 20's... haha you got me. Honestly I am newer to Linux (love it) and still have much to learn... but there is nothing wrong with me marveling at the newest gnome3 - I am easily amused.
Plus it is user friendly interfaces like this that allow my mother to even try Linux, and having an interface to welcome new users is never a bad thing. (My comment was for less experienced users as myself)
In the end of the day
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Yeah since me posting that I have removed gnome3.
To me the desktop was an essential feature no matter how accessible. Old habits don't die as I grew up when I was younger with a Windows installation(s).
Gnome3 is particularly tailored and you do have a valid point, unless your trying to do exactly something specificly tailored to the UI, well your fresh out of luck.
Gnome3 appeared to have no options for doing anything with the panels
My biggest complaint also: I like my stuff where I like it if you know what I mean. But honestly I bet there will be many tweaks in the future
Mac Rulez (Score:2)
Same, dunno why some people insist on putting everything they ever use in the most inaccessible place on the screen
Inaccessible? It's right there at your fingertips: 4-finger-wipe-up!
The only problem is that those icons cover my kids in front of their huge igloo in our backyard.
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I use it as one big temp directory. The computer has a temp directory for things it's working on, I have the Desktop for things I'm in the middle of. It's handy; it can be reached both directly (through key combos) and readily through any file open dialog.
What I don't understand is why people insist on using it as a messy quicklaunch page. Programs you actually use, sure... but everything in the world?
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For me it's the start of a workflow process. I keep multiple workspaces available on my home machine. When I flip to a new work space there are usually a few things that I will want to possible kick off. It's typically links to various drives or folders that I will possibly want to open. Also, for folders that I typically copy stuff to a lot, I keep the icon (a symlink to the folder) on the desktop just so that I can drag stuff to the folders when I'm working (I don't keep the windows maximized, so the
Physical desk is a quagmire (Score:2)
I cleaned my desk at work a couple months ago and found stuff from 2003 which was when I moved to that desk. It was awesome to have a clean desk. Felt empowering. Empowering enough that it was covered with junk again in about two weeks.
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I cleaned my desk at work a couple months ago and found stuff from 2003 which was when I moved to that desk. It was awesome to have a clean desk. Felt empowering. Empowering enough that it was covered with junk again in about two weeks.
Let's see ...
et cetera.
"Desk"top (Score:5, Funny)
What is this desk you speak of? My computer is perched atop an amorphous, self-leveling pile of miscellaneous items.
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>an amorphous, self-leveling pile of miscellaneous items.
Yeah, but is it Copy-on-Write?
Icons from edge to edge . . . (Score:3, Interesting)
I always get a little twitchy when I'm looking over a colleague's shoulder at their computer screen and there's nothing but icons for documents and shortcuts as far as the eye can see. I don't keep anything on my work computer desktop apart from My Computer, My Network, My Documents (which is mapped to c:\data), and the Recycle Bin. That way if I want to copy something to the desktop, do some work, and then delete it or move it somewhere else, it's easy to find.
My physical desktop is also pretty neat and organized, but that's mainly due to the workspace cleanliness kick our CEO is recently on.
Reduced of all unnecessary bits (Score:2)
Regardless of which desktop, I only have the screen, the start menu (for windows) and trashcan. Add in the app bar for the mac and that's it.
My physical desk at work has a phone and a notebook for taking notes during meetings in addition to the four computers and monitors.
At home I have a bit more going on but only because I have an electronics workstation, guitar center, gaming workstation, work workstation with an extra monitor (for when I'm on call), gateway, my music and gaming laptop, and my main syste
"A bit neater" (Score:2)
My computer desktop generally only has 0-4 icons/shortcuts on it at any time. Normally I would have said my real desktop was "significantly neater", but I just cleaned up my real desktop the other day (throwing away mail from 2 years ago is fun) and it takes time to properly cultivate a messy desk.
Every file is a potential time bomb (Score:2)
At least for my job, every file is a potential time bomb just waiting to go off. File organization is key to CYA. It doesn't matter how trivial or temporary the file might be, I put it where it's supposed to be, immediately juuuuust in case.
Clients just can't wait to bitch and moan at us if we ask them for information that was contained in one of a few hundred files they sent us over the past 3-4 weeks. If it's somewhere in there, anywhere in there, they'd rather complain that we have it than actually tell
I've got UNUSED ICONS on my DESKTOP! (Score:5, Funny)
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Sometimes I have to use windows for a presentation and it displays this obsession with the icons on the default desktop on the machine I am using. It keeps popping up this window promising to help me clean up unused icons, sometimes once every five minutes or so. I would hate to be the engineer who specified that. He probably has to take out the rubbish every half hour at home.
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Currently on my desktop: (Score:3)
versus
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Imagine the top 10cm or so of this [tootoo.com] being cut off, so the rest can be sliced into wafers.
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GUi vs. command line-based OS (Score:2)
On my main Linux machine(s), I keep my desktop 100% clear; I even disable the normal icons to eliminate all clutter. My general principle is also to use lots of virtual desktops set to hotkeys and eliminate the taskbar (I use the same workspaces for the same applications, so I can reach them much faster).
On Windows machines and even Macs, my desktop tended to get a bit cluttered. Any OS where the primary file management/file picking scheme is to use the GUI means that the desktop is one of the easiest pla
You insensitive clod! (Score:2)
Spotless (Score:2)
Even before I moved to KDE 4, I had a serious aversion to icons of any kind on my desktop. I have search and a file manager and a menu, icons on the desktop always seemed superfluous to me. So when KDE 4 rolled out and everyone was all "ZOMG WHERE R MY ICONZ?" I saw it as an idea whose time had come years before.
These days I have a few widgets on my desktops, one for the weather, a time tracker, a media player, and a system monitor. That's it.
Not spotless (Score:3)
To contrast with my previous comment about my computer desktop, my physical desk presently contains:
A 17" flatscreen monitor ...and the crown jewel, an IBM Model M keyboard, made in Rochester MN on November 17, 1991, and built to last. This keyboard will be old enough to drink next year. I'm going to throw it a party.
2 speakers
A desk caddy containing the following:
* 4 pens
* a mechanical pencil that I've never used
* a pack of graphite for said
* a pack of mechanical pencil erasers
* a pocket sewing kit that I've actually been looking for weeks, how the hell did that get in here?
* a stick of krazy glue
* a 1Gb SD card
* 3 pink erasers for no good reason
* 4 sharpies, various sizes and colors
* a fingernail clipper
* a phillips screwdriver
* a cigar cutter
* a bottle opener
* 2 books of matches
* a pocketknife
* a multitool
3 empty bowls
a coupon for 2 medium 3 topping pizzas for $20 at my local pizza place (they never ask for the coupon! it's like endless coupons! it's beautiful!)
2 more Sharpies
another pen
a copy of Jon Stewart's America
4 empty coffee cups
3 empty Fat Tire bottles
an empty Pabst can
an empty canteen
a business card wallet (also empty)
a tape dispenser
a half eaten bag of chips
a burned CD with no label on it
a small plush Tux
a small ceramic Buddha
a small pewter statue of Thor
a dead dog's skull (long story)
a 2011 desk calendar
another fingernail clipper
a tiny flathead screwdriver
an ashtray
a USB powered desk lamp and fan ($5 off woot)
a yellow legal pad
a studio microphone
a 1Gb flash drive with the plastic case broken off
an empty pack of cigarettes
a blue Bic lighter
a trackball mouse
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another fingernail clipper
You should organise your stuff alphabetically. When I did that with my books I found out I had two complete copies of The Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy.
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Organizing by size is a lot more fun. I did that a few years back. started with the tallest pieces of furniture and other items to the left of the front door and looped around the apartment. Items that contained other items had the smaller items sorted from largest to smallest with the largest items to the bottom left and the smallest to the top right.
Yes, this system was considered weird by just about everyone I knew and the only excuse for it was that I had been really bored...
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Okay, okay :)
I actually found it in my front yard when I was an undergrad in 2000. Completely bare, no meat on it, no dog attached. After all this time I am not rightly sure, but it's entire possible that I was hallucinating at the time. Which would make sense in the narrative, because I promptly declared it my pet, named it Doghead, and brought it inside.
Doghead was a centerpiece/drinking buddy/conversation piece/paperweight in every place I lived in from 2000 until I left my college town in 2004. We were
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Oh, I forgot to mention, if you'd like to see the Dog himself, it's set as my avatar on identi.ca. http://identi.ca/buffalopete [identi.ca]
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I think my desk is smaller than yours. I've also only been using it for a few months.
* 4 thick, useless books (VB5?), supporting
-- 2 17" monitors
-- Chip and PIN reader
-- Box of mini screwdrivers
-- Bits of paper
-- Jar of ink cartridges
-- Roll of duct tape
-- Promo CD I was given last night
-- Samples of a machined part my software provides output for
* Box of tissues
-- Slightly-used tissue
* Local map
* Pack of sunflower seeds
* USB fan
* Emergency deodorant
* Map of the city centre
* Lego toy car (someone brought th
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I suspect I can guess the year that'll be on its headstone.
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I realize some people like to age their liquor, but why on earth would you drink your keyboard?
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i lol'd.
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A package of erasers for the mechanical pencil that I don't use :)
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I had an electric eraser at one time. A starting at 6" length of eraser material that fed through the motor and collet. Was used to alter drawings made on vellum. You might still find such in old engineering files or museums (eraser and/or drawings).
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Totally not, thanks.
What is a "Computer Desktop"? (Score:2)
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Geez man get a 320 at least. I hate the keyboard in the VT-100. Oh my fingers!
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Our not-at-all state-of-the-art compute nodes have an IPMI web interface, which includes a gizmo which can hook into the console video and keyboard lines, and allow you to redirect the console via a Java WebStart viewer. So yes, you can restart the node, and change BIOS settings and stuff, all remotely. I recently did this for one of our nodes, and realized afterwards that, although I had been in its guts at a very low level, I nevertheless didn't actually know where in the rack the node was located.
There i
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Walked away from the RL desktop (Score:2)
Awesome WM... (Score:2)
...has no desktop.
My ~ is pretty organized, unlike my physical desktop.
Well, depends on what desktop... (Score:2)
Clutter... (Score:2)
At work my Windows machine's desktop has a lot of stuff, but well organized. Since I almost never, ever maximize windows, I keep various useful icons around the edges... I don't need to see the whole icon, or the text with them, since I use them enough to know which is which, a few pixels each will do...
On the left edge I have one to launch JBoss, another to launch our bug tracking system, another for my team's wiki, another link for our continuous integration server... At the top I have several icons fo
Depends which one... (Score:2)
My work PC's desktop is a total mess. My physical work desktop isn't too bad.
My home laptop's desktop is fairly clean. My gaming PC's desktop is super-clean. My phone doesn't have a desktop you can put files on, it's just for launcher icons and widgets, similar to Android.
Missing option (Score:4, Funny)
Just the desktop/ (Score:2)
unfair advantage (Score:2)
Missing Option: (Score:2)
Just as messy.
My Real Life Will Be Messier... (Score:2)
KDE4 (Score:2)
I use KDE4 which doesn't have desktop icons by default, so I voted "Why would I have a computer desktop"
My desk? (Score:2)
You mean the clutter obscured by my monitor?
The modern generation, and me. (Score:2)
Ya know, this is unfair, my real life desktop doesn't have a snap to grid feature. Also, my teenage daughter looked at me as asked, "What's a real life desktop?". I said it was that flat thing on top of your desk that you toss stuff on when you run out of room on the floor.
If I had QuickSilver..... (Score:2)
If I had quicksilver for "real life", my desktop (and workshop, closets tool shed etc) would really be a whole lot neater.
Big Difference (Score:2)
Desktop(s) (Score:2)
Desktop desktop: A pineapple image, some random iWork document I don't need, a folder called "bullshit" filled with other bullshit folders, a few screenshots, a python script that should be on the server...
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I wish I could run openbox [openbox.org] on my physical desk.
Just gimme virtual desktops, and an infinite capacity trash can.
And a physical desk implementation of the controversial debian package "hot (something)" (was it babe?) the system load viewer where her clothing choice reflects CPU temperature or idle percentage, or whatever it was.
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...is approximately as organized, but both are quite well organized.
I guess I am compulsive obsessive because for whatever reason, if things around me are not completely organized and spotless, I get distracted and it affects my productivity.
Even if I am in my room and know that there are dishes in the kitchen sink that are not clean, it bothers me and I need to make sure everything is quite clean and organized. This extends to everything -- I nitpick Powerpoint presentations if all text is not perfectly al
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I guess I am compulsive obsessive because for whatever reason, if things around me are not completely organized and spotless, I get distracted and it affects my productivity.
For what its worth I know somebody who is obsessive compulsive and with him it is more like he doesn't leave the house because it takes too long to check all the locks N times.
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My desk is a mess -- papers everywhere, random components we manufacture which I shouldn't have but think are cool, books, ... but I know where everything is. The same applies for my bedroom, my desk at home, all cupboards and drawers in my house, etc.
In fact, I have all the odd stationery on my desk (somewhere). No one else knows where it is; but they ask for the long-armed stapler, or the double-sided tape, and I hand it to them. I tell them to keep it, but they bring it back, because "you always know whe
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Vs is short for "versus". It's not meant to be "is".
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/versus [reference.com]
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Or about them either.
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I like my desktop like my women... bare. ;p
My wife's desktop is covered with stuff.
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workspace?
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On linux though, my desktop is mostly clean (coz no "Show Desktop" hotkey): gnome-panel with mintmenu and application switcher on top, and AWN dock on the bottom. MintMenu > Windows Start menu, so I am okay.
Super D doesn't work for you? Yes super is also known as the windows key.
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Hmmm um... seriously or is that a joke? Seriously.... I always kind of envisioned such a system being pretty awesome and not too hard to setup... tho never actually did it.
So um... anyone have any experience? Is it as cool as it seems it would be?
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The even horizontal distribution greatly increases your search times. It would be far more optimal if you were to divide your documents into separate stacks. This way if you know which stack a document is in, your search is limited to a fraction of the total. Knowing approximately when you last used it narrows the search even more, allowing you to bypass more recently-used documents. Given enough use, your most-used documents will filter to the top, optimizing your searches by grouping your most-needed pape