Idiotic attempt at humour aside, streamlining my ability to organize and plan ahead was the main inspiration for starting up my blog again, so I will give you a fairly brief runthrough of how I get things done, with tips and software that can help make ANYONE more productive at their computer. If you spend any time at the computer whatsoever, then you will benefit from this post.
So let's go ahead and get to it. Here is my desktop, in all it's glory:
Click for zoomed in version.THE RUNDOWN
Samurize
On the left of the screen we have Samurize. The website describes it as an "advanced system monitoring and desktop enhancement engine for Windows 2000/XP/2003/Vista." In less vague terms, Samurize is a flexible and powerful tool for creating and designing (or downloading) perfectly customized desktop "widgets" so to speak, which can display anything (in beautiful ways) from your grocery list, to currently playing album art, to the amount of harddrive space you have left.
While my own config is still currently a work in progress, (notice the big gap right in the middle?) what I do have is a good showcase of the software's ability.
Here, from top to bottom, I have the date/time, harddrive info (using the Buuf icon set, by mattahan), a list of daily tasks and reponsibilities (because I need it ground into my head or I will probably get distracted), and the currently playing track in winamp, along with album art, track bar, song title, and artist.
Sunbird
Here is the centerpiece of my desktop, a very important piece of software indeed. Sunbird is an open source, extensible calendar created by the people behind the Firefox web browser. It is the central and most important part of my desktop because it is the central and key piece of software used in the creation of this blog! *Applause*
Here is the centerpiece of my desktop, a very important piece of software indeed. Sunbird is an open source, extensible calendar created by the people behind the Firefox web browser. It is the central and most important part of my desktop because it is the central and key piece of software used in the creation of this blog! *Applause*
With Sunbird I am able to keep tabs on multiple sets of events and todo lists, each with their own individual colors and settings. Most importantly, I am able to sync Sunbird up perfectly with Google Calendar (with use of this incredibly handy tutorial from one of my most favorite websites ever), putting all of my important dates and times on the internet to access at any time. This is how I am able to seamlessly integrate my Goals calendar with the right hand bar of this blog.
Glass2k
Of course, no calendar is useful if it isn't visible at nearly all times, thus bringing us to our next bit of software, Glass2k. Glass2k is a very simple and easy to use program that allows you to set any window to be semi to completely transparent through the use of very easy to learn hotkeys. How does this become useful in increasing productivity and organization?
Well, with Glass2k, I am able to make Sunbird, and any other desktop applications that I might have the need to keep open, be able to stay open and maximized without hiding or otherwise detracting from the background image. Aesthetics are very very important to me, and so Glass2k has become a mainstay in my software library as a nice way to establish an aesthetic, yet still functional workspace.
Executor
Our last piece of software is one of my favorites. Executor is a must for anyone that strives to speed up their ability to navigate their computer. Put simply, Executor is an easily accessible context menu that can be quickly accessed at any time through use of a hotkey. (Mine is ctrl+/) Once open just simply typing the name of any application, or preset keyword will find and open any program, folder, etc. that you might otherwise access through slow use of the mouse. In my current setup, a quick "Ctrl+/, net, [enter]" will open up my web browser.
Glass2k
Of course, no calendar is useful if it isn't visible at nearly all times, thus bringing us to our next bit of software, Glass2k. Glass2k is a very simple and easy to use program that allows you to set any window to be semi to completely transparent through the use of very easy to learn hotkeys. How does this become useful in increasing productivity and organization?
Well, with Glass2k, I am able to make Sunbird, and any other desktop applications that I might have the need to keep open, be able to stay open and maximized without hiding or otherwise detracting from the background image. Aesthetics are very very important to me, and so Glass2k has become a mainstay in my software library as a nice way to establish an aesthetic, yet still functional workspace.
Executor
Our last piece of software is one of my favorites. Executor is a must for anyone that strives to speed up their ability to navigate their computer. Put simply, Executor is an easily accessible context menu that can be quickly accessed at any time through use of a hotkey. (Mine is ctrl+/) Once open just simply typing the name of any application, or preset keyword will find and open any program, folder, etc. that you might otherwise access through slow use of the mouse. In my current setup, a quick "Ctrl+/, net, [enter]" will open up my web browser.
The use of Executor has completely removed any need I may have had for the Start Menu. (Which I have slyly removed through use of another program, called Start Killer.
So that's it. That's my desktop. Thanks for all your time and I'll see you tomorrow! Expect more posts like this in the future, as I compile more of the tricks, tips, and software that I have amassed and used over the years.
So that's it. That's my desktop. Thanks for all your time and I'll see you tomorrow! Expect more posts like this in the future, as I compile more of the tricks, tips, and software that I have amassed and used over the years.
