If you like to learn new things that enhances your online time or makes better use of your time, then I call you a "power user." I am one of that type too! :) One of my webinar outlines goes into different ideas under this theme and hopefully in the near future it will be the theme of an upcoming virtual classroom course. (My current course "Graphics for Bloggers 101" is currently being recorded. It is a 10 module course with just 2 more recordings to go.)

Anyway, what are some "power user" ideas as regards to your desktop? I'll outline a few in this post and then cover the other ideas in a part 2 post soon. (These tips are Windows, not Mac, oriented, but there might be some common concepts here all the same...)

Idea #1 - Vertical Taskbar

Who says you have to keep your taskbar in horizontal mode across the bottom of your screen? The first time I saw somebody with a vertical one, I thought immediately how I liked it. It gives you more available vertical free space for when you are looking at documents. If you right-click on any blank part of your taskbar, you can make sure "lock the taskbar" is NOT turned on. Then you are free to move it. You can drag it to either side (or the top or bottom) of your screen.

Idea #2 - Keep Upper-Left Drop Zone Free

Whenever you save a file "to your desktop", Windows puts the file in the first available spot that it can find in the upper-left portion of your screen. If you don't keep this area cleaned out, you will be forever spending (wasting) time looking for that newest file. Keep your files moved out of this space and you will no longer have to "go find it." I'm a big believer in keeping your desktop clean of clutter. Put your files into organized folders!

Idea #3 - Create a Fun Background

Now if you are still using a stock background or just a plain color, this idea is for you. Picasa (free google app), has a collage tool where you can pick a few photos and arrange them how you want (including easy size and rotation tools). In my post, Picasa Collages, you can learn more specially how to do this. You'll notice as one of the images that I use in my desktop collages is a screenshot of a couple of months from the calendar for easy reference. (note: www.timeanddate.com is one such site where you can get calendars, simply do a screen capture then crop it)

There you have it, three ideas to ponder. If you like any or all of the ideas, I'll be happy to hear it! :)

About the
Author
  is a Technology Manager residing in NYC who specializes in applied technologies in the fields of Architecture and Real Estate. Craig focuses on finding the best uses of tech as can be used to help a business be more successful. He is keen on always seeing the perspective and viewpoint of his audience and he tailors his teaching to be easily understood. He teaches by means of this blog, online courses and webinars, as well as one-on-one remote sessions with persons located throughout the country and beyond.

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21 Comments on Power User - Desktop Ideas (Part 1)

20 Most Recent Comments Displayed Show All

DEC
18
2011
492,313 Points 10 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

HI Craig,

I find this post fascinating.  The fact that I am just a novice I am always looking for better ways to improve my processes.  I will definitely try to keep track of this series...afterall, I could learn a few tricks. 

6:41pm • #2
323,281 Points 10 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp

Interesting ideas about the drop zone  I do try to kep my desk top clean.  I might even try a vertical task bar and just see what happens.  Thanks Craig!
6:59pm • #3
520,070 Points 25 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

craig,

 

I use to use Picasa.  Unfortunately, I switched to Apple hardware across the board this year.  Gonna do any Apple seminars?

 
7:15pm • #4
222,237 Points 70 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Dianne - desktop clutter is a common nemesis! :) thanks for the kind words

C. Lloyd - I like the always improving attitude - glad to see you

Rich - if you go vertical, you can always go back if you don't like it - I haven't gone back

Larry - more and more RE is going mac - someday I need to get one so I can cover the other side of the story better! Picasa does work in mac version also happily to report! :)
7:32pm • #5
201,876 Points 2 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

My real desk may get cluttered,.  My computer desktop, never.  Can't stand too much stuff there.
8:03pm • #6
626,083 Points 16 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Craig, this is funny, I discovered the vertical taskbar somewhat inadvertently last year as I was playing around with my new toy, and I fell in love with it. Haven't changed it back since.

Now the other stuff? I'll have to find some free time to mess around with all that.
10:30pm • #7
DEC
19
2011
122,064 Points 8 Featured Posts

Craig, thanks for those great suggestions. I have first discovered the vertical bar on my son's laptop. I thought it was a good idea. LOL leave it to a 7th grader HA.

 
12:19am • #8
364,941 Points 6 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Excellent tips Craig. I read this yesterday and immediately rushed off to implement them as I am definitely one of those people who spends way too much time looking for files after downloading them.  Love the vertical bar too, much more intuitive to use. My desktop looks great now.  

Came back especially to comment and thank you. This is a post that deserves to be featured. I'll click and see if we can get you there.:)
10:52am • #9
222,237 Points 70 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Marge - well at least one of the desktops is clean LOL - glad to see you

William - I agree, mistakes sometimes are the best 'discoveries!'

Susanna - that's cool, thanks for visiting (kids!)

Denise - wow, fantastic to hear applied and benefitted, thanks so much for coming back to say so :)
1:17pm • #10
661,892 Points 17 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Craig - You have been quiet for a little while - hope it means we have great courses coming our way!   Love these little tips - anything to help organization is a definite plus!
2:20pm • #11
222,237 Points 70 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

hi Dagny - second half of 2011 had lots of drama - blogging slowed down a bit, tis true :( - let's see what good stuff 2012 brings! :)
8:12pm • #12
171,130 Points 1 Featured Post Outside Blog

Great post.  All the tips are awesome.  Look forward to more information from you.
10:44pm • #13
DEC
20
2011
222,237 Points 70 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

thanks Luis, glad you think so and stopped in to visit! :)
3:43pm • #14
DEC
21
2011
126,787 Points

Nice tips, thank you. I use 2 screens (makes it easier to copy and paste clauses to contracts etc). I have dual sceen wallpapers 1080 x 3840 but I never thought of dropping a calender on them.

http://www.dougbelcher.com

 
5:18pm • #15
DEC
23
2011

Hey Craig

 

Excellent excellent  post man.

 

I found it very helpful after reading your post       .

Thank you so much for sharing.   I bookmarked this post for future reference.

 

Best wishes to you
1:46pm • #16
DEC
24
2011
318,691 Points 6 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor

this is awesome!  my desktop looks NOTHING like this, so I'm definitely going to bookmark and update my computer before the new year.

thanks again for all the great tips!
11:00am • #17
DEC
25
2011
470,404 Points 24 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Hi Craig,

  Just Stopping By to Thank you for a Pfanntastic Year in the Rain and
To Wish You and your Loved Ones

Merry Christmas

11:56am • #18
222,237 Points 70 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Douglas - dual screen is the way to go glad to hear you have that setup - the calendar is a very helpful desktop reference - thanks for the visit

Jimmy - I'm glad you enjoyed - thanks for your kind words

Kerry - so glad to hear that - I've enjoyed your very nice website and have bookmarked it too!

Pfanns - so kind of you to stop in with holiday greetings - you guys are Pfanntastic! :)
10:56pm • #19
JAN
02
2012
299,908 Points 7 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp

Hi Craig, I came back to this post because I had some time to "cleanup." There is a lot of good stuff here! But, I couldn't get the calendars to work on the desktop. They looked like little icons, and I couldn't get them to the size like yours. Any thoughts on what I am doing wrong? I used picasa and picnik for the collage and I tried saving them separately, nothing worked. Thanks.
5:43pm • #20
JAN
03
2012
222,237 Points 70 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master
That's great that you had some cleanup time. I'm not sure why the calendar part of your collage did not work. Let's see if these notes help

1. Find a calendar page (like timeanddate.com) and do a screen capture of the calendars page and then crop out everything but a couple of months to create a calendar graphic

2. In picasa collages, add the calendar graphic to the canvas

3. In picasa, you grab a graphic on the canvas and rotate, move and size it. Make sure it is a big enough size to see it well. 

4. Save the collage. Export it to a good size for the desktop (usually 1600 pixels wide)

The above sounds like a good outline for a short youtube video tutorial. I think I might make one sometime over the next week. Meanwhile perhaps my notes will help.

thanks for reading my blog :)
10:09am • #21

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