Dashboard = dead

[michaelrjohnson]

Well, that's because I killed it.

When Tiger was released, I thought that Dashboard was just a stupid gimmick. I figured I'd never use it. But I found some widgets that were useful to me, and I probably used Dashboard every 15 minutes thereafter. But I thought, heck... Do I really need all of these? So I terminated the Dashboard about 4 months ago, and have not looked back since.

It begs the question, though, how useful is the Dashboard... really? I'm sure there are quite a few Dashboard-fiends here on MR, and there are those who truly find it useful. But for how many Mac users has the Dashboard changed their lives?

[spriter]

I probably used it for a total of 1 hour in the past year. On my old iBook, I didn't have the memory to run it, so it was disabled. On my MacBook I've looked at a few widgets but nothing more. If it was desktop based (without hacks and was below all but the wallpaper) I'd probably use it.

[yellow]

While I use it at work for quick/dirty calculator work and dictionary use.. I've always found it to be a resource drain. But that's just me.

[celebrian23]

I never used it past the first week I got my mbp. I don't use the calcultor widget, because I put the calculator in my dock, and it's more convienent. I never use the dictionary, and I don't need a weather forcast. So at first it was like cool...but I have no use for it.

[Applespider]

I find it pretty useful. I tend to have a couple of weather widgets, the conversion widget, a photo one and one that tell me the size of my trash folder open much of the time. I've also got a couple of puzzles that I play on occasion.

I find it easier to hit F12 and see what's there quickly rather than wandering off to a website and entering the numbers there. I'm more likely to do it than when it's online.

Would I miss it unbearably if I didn't have it? Probably not but I like it. And I'm quite happy that it's hidden away - I wouldn't want them on the desktop or sitting under it.

[michaelrjohnson]

...I've always found it to be a resource drain. But that's just me.
That was part of the motivation to kill it, initially. I can't say I've noticed any increase in performance, but loading the few widgets I had was taxing on my PB every time I invoked it. It's not just you.

[Demoman]

I suppose it depends on how a person wants to organize their world. I use it constantly.

[Sharewaredemon]

I had a fairly substantial amount of widgets in use when i first got Tiger, but not I have only a few.

Basically the only widget I really care about is the conversion one.

Otherwise I'll take the calculator app over the widget any day, seeing as I can switch between that and an app a lot more easily than using Dashboard.

Day in History Widget is cool as well but no needed.

Also, Desksaver is a great widget to have if needed.

But all in all, I'd say that I certainly would be fine without Dashboard.

[michaelrjohnson]

If most folks could get along without Dashboard, then what's the future?

Will the Dashboard get enhancements in Leopard? Will Dashboard development stagnate at it's current state?

What do you feel is the future of the Dashboard (and it's underlying technology)?

[CubaTBird]

Dashboard gives me a reason to hit F8. Because if I didn't hit F8, it would feel all lonely. :p

[dextertangocci]

I use my dashboard ALL THE TIME for the unit converter, world clock & dictionary mostly, but I also use many other widgets:)

[smartalic34]

I have dashboard set to a hot corner, and I find I use it quite often... I do check the weather every day, and I have a movie times widget which is MUCH more efficient than opening a web browser or finding a newspaper. I also have a gmail widget, and simply by flicking my cursor to the corner, I can check my email, in addition to the quick and easy calculator/dictionary/unit converter

[JurgenWigg]

I love it, but maybe that's just because i'm still in awe of OSX as a recent switcher.

I've got a whitepages widget on there, an easy desktop background-drop, the calculator, weather, calendar, memos, itunes controller, and the coreduotemp.


I find it infinitely easier to hit f12 and control itunes than digging around windows, i use the memos frequently, check the forecast daily, and i like having a calandar at my fingertips.

[spicyapple]

Launching Dashboard for the first time after a reboot or long period of inactivity is always so sluggish. That's what I hate the most about Dashboard. But I find some of the widgets useful, like Calculator, Weather, GetDilbert, Stickies and Conversion.

[whooleytoo]

Dashboard is a great idea in theory, but I don't think its implementation is ideal. The main problem is that it's two ideas better kept separate tied into one:

- A window layer that can be summoned and dismissed at the press of a button or with a mouse gesture.

- A 'plugin' format (i.e. Widgets), an easy to use framework for developing desktop accessories, thus lowering the bar for potential Mac developers.

Unfortunately, the window layer can't contain anything other than widgets, you can't drag any other windows there. And, the widgets can only be used in Dashboard, you can't leave them permanently in the background.

If rumours are to be believed, these issues may be addressed in Leopard, and Dashboard expanded greatly - 'allegedly' the System Preferences will be moved to Dashboard too, an idea I like.

[SilentPanda]

I use it for easy access to weather, to check my gmail account, the calculator for single calculations, and as I have a lot of friends around the world it's nice to be able to quickly check their time before I call them.

I don't know that there needs to be a "future" for Dashboard. I think it serves its purpose quite well. Just because some people on Macrumors don't use it doesn't mean it's a bad tool. There are features of OS X I don't use but that doesn't make them features that need to be refined.

For me Dashboard removes some things I would probably otherwise have in my menu bar (gmail checker) and things that would possibly be on a personalized home page.

[michaelrjohnson]

...If rumours are to be believed, these issues may be addressed in Leopard, and Dashboard expanded greatly - 'allegedly' the System Preferences will be moved to Dashboard too, an idea I like.
I haven't heard that one... Interesting.

[Silentwave]

I have several dozen widgets. Some are more for fun...but others are extremely helpful. Stickies are life. I have a ton of others I use quite often for real purposes, and many others that are just for fun.

[ChrisBrightwell]

It begs the question [...]No, it doesn't. It raises the question.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Begging_the_question

[michaelrjohnson]

... don't know that there needs to be a "future" for Dashboard. I think it serves its purpose quite well. Just because some people on Macrumors don't use it doesn't mean it's a bad tool. There are features of OS X I don't use but that doesn't make them features that need to be refined.
I was speaking more in terms of eventual development. As a flagship feature of Tiger, it would be hard to believe that they got it 100% right the first time. As whooleytoo suggests, there's rumors that the System Preferences might be moved to the Dashboard. That, in itself, would require some sort of development in terms of the technology itself, I would imagine.
For me Dashboard removes some things I would probably otherwise have in my menu bar (gmail checker) and things that would possibly be on a personalized home page.
Though, personally, I think it's less convenient to have to envoke a function (even a screen corner, like I had it) to get info than a menu bar app. I'm speaking specifically of GmailStatus (Gmail checker) and Meteo (Weather). Those are things I want to be able to see all the time, and Dashboard makes it more inconvenient, IMO.

[michaelrjohnson]

No, it doesn't. It raises the question.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Begging_the_question
Touché (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Touche)

[whooleytoo]

I haven't heard that one... Interesting.

I should point out, that rumour came straight from macosrumors.com; whose sources are normally as useful as a solar powered fridge light..

[Killyp]

Dashboard is endlessly useful to me. The widgets I have are (in order of how much they're used):


iTunes artwork (go [url=liquidx.new] here[/url)
Dictionary
Locker
Calculator
Countdown Timer
Clockish
Stickies
Shredder


Couldn't live without most these widgets.

Oh yeah, there's one last one, GoGoRedball!!. It's the coooolest little play widget ever, and I made my own recoloured versions of it (blue etc...). Hours of fun...;)

[gekko513]

I use it often enough. I could certainly get by without it, but it's handy for quick calculation, dictionary, unit conversion, translations and for telling what time it is for max_altitude and mad jew.

[DisturbedSith]

I find Dashboard to be a great help when I am on my Mac. Just flick the mouse to the bottom right hotcorner and check what I have going on in the day with my iCal widget, check the days weather with the Weather Widget, check my gmail account, and if I'm really feeling frisky I'll play some Sudoku :cool: .

[ChrisBrightwell]

Touché (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Touche)... I don't think you're using that right. :P

[grabberslasher]

I use it for Stickies and weight/currency/etc conversion. Not much else :)

[ChrisBrightwell]

I use it for Stickies and weight/currency/etc conversion. Not much else :)
Honestly, I use Dashboard for a few things:
- Weather in 3 different cities
- Clocks in the US and Europe
- UPS/FedEx/DHL package tracking
- "X Days Until" countdowns
- System Stats

I have a few other widgets that I use from time to time, but those stay on my Dashboard regularly and I use them a few times a day. I loved Konfabulator, but Dashboard keeps them out of the way.

[SilentPanda]

Though, personally, I think it's less convenient to have to envoke a function (even a screen corner, like I had it) to get info than a menu bar app. I'm speaking specifically of GmailStatus (Gmail checker) and Meteo (Weather). Those are things I want to be able to see all the time, and Dashboard makes it more inconvenient, IMO.

It certainly pertains to ones usage and preferences as you say. I have dashboard attached to my middle mouse button which takes little effort to press. I normally only check the weather before I leave and my gmail account is only used for internet orders and the like so I typically know when messages are coming in. The gmail messages are rare enough that it doesn't necessitate having its own icon on my menu bar.

I'm not saying Dashboard is completely perfect but... I think it's very good for the purpose it is trying to serve.

[brepublican]

Wow. I use my Dashboard all the time. I have weather, like to check on the temp of my CPU, word of the day, stock prices, dictionary and wikipedia widgets. I think I use it atleast 4 times a day, minimun of once to update word if the day. I cant live without it :)

Oh, I also have world clock

[bigrell486]

I personally hate dashboard:mad: , half the time I forget that its there and then when I remember it, there not much there cause I always forget to add more widgets to it. Plus it takes system resources and resources generate unneccessary processor heat. All in All, Dashboard sucks bring back Sherlock!:cool:

[SilentPanda]

I personally hate dashboard:mad: , half the time I forget that its there and then when I remember it, there not much there cause I always forget to add more widgets to it. Plus it takes system resources and resources generate unneccessary processor heat. All in All, Dashboard sucks bring back Sherlock!:cool:

So 2 out of the 3 reason you hate it are because you forget it's there and because you fail to put widgets on it when you remember it.

As for your 3rd reason... if you don't have many widgets on it is it really taking up a ton of resources?

[chairguru22]

i have a bunch of widgets... a family guy quote generator, cocktail drink recipe list thing, espn (which uses a lot of cpu), iStat (which i use the most to look at my temps (which there's no real point in me doing anyway)).

my most useful ones are the post-it note one, dictionary, iCal (that displays my events), and weather.

but i know what you mean, i could go without any of these things.

[yellow]

If rumours are to be believed, these issues may be addressed in Leopard, and Dashboard expanded greatly - 'allegedly' the System Preferences will be moved to Dashboard too, an idea I like.

egads I hope not. At least, not exclusively. As long as they leave the pull-down access intact, I'm OK with it. Hear that Steve & devteam? Leave System Preferences in the Apple pull-down!!

[spriter]

I agree with wanting to see some of the widgets' functions all of the time. I think that's why I don't use it, because for Gmail checker, iTunes control, CPU temp, weather - I have all of these on the menu bar.

I can see them all of the time so Dashboard is redundant. Calculator is in the dock and if I'm converting or wanting a dicitonary, I'll Launchbar (via Google) them.

I do see it being incredibly useful to some people though. Just not me :(

[Kaioshin]

I use it all the time, mostly for quick dictionary lookup and the stickies. I also have an apple logo widget for no apparent reason.

[dejo]

As a Dashboard Widget developer, I think they are very handy, fun to develop and help me hone my HTML, CSS, and Javascript skills. And my World Cup widget was quite well-received around here.

I am quite looking forward to the rumored Dashcode development environment.

[tangerineyum]

i cant believe no one has stated the most awesome of dashboard widgets! movies times ! ! well.. its important to me, im at the theater at least twice a week. other than that i use the weather widget. over a gig of ram, i got resources to spare.

[quigleybc]

How can the rubber chicken widget not be considered useful?

Or, the Lightsaber one..

Or the bouncing ball....

:rolleyes:

[HardLine]

Here's hoping that OS X 10.5 has an option to disable dashboard built into the OS.

How would one disable it on OS X 10.4 however?

[swingerofbirch]

I use Dashboard from top right hot corner to look at my one stock (Apple). That's all I use it for. If I knew how to kill it I would. How is this done? I also noticed in activity monitor it takes up undue resources. Some widgets are unbearably slow, like the translation one. I go to systran's website over using the widget every time.

[dejo]

Would those who think their widgets are using too much resources please post screen captures (or similar) of your Activity Monitor. I'm curious.

[yellow]

Would those who think their widgets are using too much resources please post screen captures (or similar) of your Activity Monitor. I'm curious.

Well the point is that I DON'T use widgets, so nothing is wasted.

But a typical use of widgets ends up around 9% of my RAM (2GB) thrown away to widgets.
I'm too lazy to try and count the amount of swap that it's planning on using if it needs to.

[Fuchal]

I use Calculon, Weather, Calendar, Package Tracker, and Amazon Album Art. I love them, but its not like a well-designed app couldn't take care of those for me either. There just aren't any (for Calculon, Package Tracker, or Amazon Album Art).

[dejo]

Well the point is that I DON'T use widgets, so nothing is wasted.

At least 19 widgets loaded and you DON'T use them? Yikes? :eek:

[trainguy77]

I always have the weather widget up, one sticky to keep things i am moving around, or info that i don't need to keep for to long(ex. UPS tracking numbers) I have the macrumors widget up most of the time, I also have stocks widget up on a regular basis. Its nice to keep track of apple, google and the canadian dollar. :D

[MacRumorUser]

4 wigits i use regularly. 20mb ram total, so not that much of a resource hog at all.

[brepublican]

Here's hoping that OS X 10.5 has an option to disable dashboard built into the OS.

How would one disable it on OS X 10.4 however?
Get TinkerTool

[iGary]

I use it all the time...constantly.

Calculator, Gmail, weather radar...to name only a few.

[mad jew]

It took me a while but I'm in the habit of using it now, quite often. It's like Exposé for me in that it's a new way of using the Mac and I needed time to get used to it.

[Hajaman]

Sure, I use it all the time. I have it hot-cornered to top right.

I find it extremely useful for 'glance' widgets, like

• the weather
• calendar
• local time in other places I have friends I chat with
• countdown calendar (no more library fines!!)
• 2 quote/'thought' generators I really like and am used to now.

I also have a widget that lets me drag on an image to change the wallpaper, I find that very handy.

Yeah, it eats up resources, but I try to keep it simple.


Dashboard gives me a reason to hit F8. Because if I didn't hit F8, it would feel all lonely. :p

you know, that's a really good point.

[michaelrjohnson]

I use Dashboard from top right hot corner to look at my one stock (Apple). That's all I use it for. If I knew how to kill it I would. How is this done? I also noticed in activity monitor it takes up undue resources. Some widgets are unbearably slow, like the translation one. I go to systran's website over using the widget every time.
There's a couple of ways.

1. Kill Dashboard (http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/22101)
2. TinkerTool (http://www.bresink.com/osx/TinkerTool.html) <- Offers the most features. Everyone should have this utility
3. Terminal command (http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20050723123302403&lsrc=osxh) <- Don't do this if you're scared of the Terminal

[yellow]

At least 19 widgets loaded and you DON'T use them? Yikes? :eek:

No, I don't use them, that is.. zero widgets loaded. But if I DID use them, this is typically what I would use. However, what most people fail to realize is that even if you're "not using them", if you have those 19 loaded, they're wasting resources. For me, I have plenty of resources on this box. But someone who can't quite foot the same bill might be wondering why their Mac is slow, and they have 30 lightsabers open.