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Creating a Stupid New Desktop

T

Tissue Paper

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jun 18, 2012
176
6
Hello,

I want to create a new desktop on my Macbook Pro and I only want to put a writing app and a browser there with NOTHING else. The idea is that I don't have any distractions and I will write (hopefully) without restrictions.

So anyway I would like someone kind and sweet and patient to give me the directions on how to do it with minimum verbal abuse because I have a feeling this is like ABC to most Apple users.

Needless to say, excuse the stupid question.

I still need help, so HELP!

Thank you,
Tissue Paper
 
That's it? No, I want to keep my current user but I only want to change the desktop view to something bare with only a typing app and a browser.

I can't do that?
 
Nothing pops immediately into my head.

If you want no distractions, what better than a clean user account without all those distracting internet bookmarks, and iTunes content etc?
 
Thanks both of you hehe.

I guess, I just thought having 1 user account saves me the trouble of logging in and out compared to the simple swoosh of toggling between two desktops :p

Anyway it doesn't hurt to try :D
 
Tissue Paper said:
I want to create a new desktop on my Macbook Pro and I only want to put a writing app and a browser there with NOTHING else. The idea is that I don't have any distractions and I will write (hopefully) without restrictions.
Click to expand...
You don't need to create a new account. Simply remove everything from your Desktop and from your Dock, except the apps that you want there. Simple!

Having said that, there is no technology that serves as a suitable substitute for self-discipline.
 
Yeah I know that, but self-discipline and I are not on speaking terms at the moment :p

I'll try! I'll see how it works! Thank you
 
GGJstudios said:
You don't need to create a new account. Simply remove everything from your Desktop and from your Dock, except the apps that you want there. Simple!
Click to expand...

I think the OP wants some way of flipping between a clean desktop/dock and one full of "stuff".

Having said that, there is no technology that serves as a suitable substitute for self-discipline.
Click to expand...

Agreed. I use the TiBook for a no distractions machine. Runs productivity software just fine, but Facebook is so slow to enforce the self-discipline. :D
 
You know George R. R. Martin uses DOS to write his manuscripts (with no internet) so if the lord of Games of Thrones can't do it, there's no way in hell I can do it :p
 
GGJstudios said:
You don't need to create a new account. Simply remove everything from your Desktop and from your Dock, except the apps that you want there. Simple!
Click to expand...
And after your working hours, put back everything to the Desktop and to your Dock to your off hours.

The day after, Simply remove everything from your Desktop and from your Dock, except the apps that you want there.

At 18h00, put back everything to the Desktop and to your Dock to your off hours.

The day after, Simply remove everything from your Desktop and from your Dock, except the apps that you want there.

An so on.

As GGJStudios said : "simple"....

:D
 
Tissue Paper said:
You know George R. R. Martin uses DOS to write his manuscripts (with no internet) so if the lord of Games of Thrones can't do it, there's no way in hell I can do it :p
Click to expand...
If you really want to just write without distractions, I recommend this state-of-the-art hardware that is custom-designed for writing and writers:

Royal1015.jpg
Bruno09 said:
And after your working hours, put back everything to the Desktop and to your Dock to your off hours.
Click to expand...
The OP didn't say they wanted two Desktops, only one that had no distractions.
I want to create a new desktop on my Macbook Pro and I only want to put a writing app and a browser there with NOTHING else.
Click to expand...
They didn't say "an additional desktop", so "create a new Desktop" can mean to replace the current one.
 
Hahahhahaha

It's like the Twilight zone, if you move one app in a user's interface it disappears from another's?!?! :eek:
 
Have you discovered Spaces? Very handy for managing my mild case of ADD. I can swoosh between one space to another with a simple key-click if I need to (without logging in/out), but if I'm writing I can keep my "writing" space pristine and tidy.
 
Tissue Paper said:
You know George R. R. Martin uses DOS to write his manuscripts (with no internet) so if the lord of Games of Thrones can't do it, there's no way in hell I can do it :p
Click to expand...

Yeah, I heard it was WordStar.

There was a columnist for Byte who was also a Sci-Fi author (I forget his name). He had a writing room nicknamed the Monks Cell which had no telephone and the computer in there wasn't networked to keep distractions to a minimum.
 
I think this one is more suitable for me.

Feast your eyes boys... I introduce to you- the one and only

https://hemingwrite.com/

----------

It's quite disturbing to realize that the master minds behind our favorite books and shows were human :p


Thank you for the Spaces tip. I'll add that to my list of experiments this week!
 
Really? $500 for that? Is this some kind of joke?

Self discipline is free, and its rewards can be priceless.
 
Tissue Paper said:
I want to create a new desktop on my Macbook Pro and I only want to put a writing app and a browser there with NOTHING else. The idea is that I don't have any distractions and I will write (hopefully) without restrictions.
Click to expand...

As someone who is working on a PhD thesis, I can tell you that the only distraction to writing is you yourself ;) All these stuff with distraction-free writing is nothing else but a subtle form of procrastination.

BTW, if you want to focus, you can make your browser and editor fullscreen in two separate spaces, enable the do not disturb mode and switch between them with CTL+Arrow
 
Tissue Paper said:
Hello,

I want to create a new desktop on my Macbook Pro and I only want to put a writing app and a browser there with NOTHING else. The idea is that I don't have any distractions and I will write (hopefully) without restrictions.

So anyway I would like someone kind and sweet and patient to give me the directions on how to do it with minimum verbal abuse because I have a feeling this is like ABC to most Apple users.

Needless to say, excuse the stupid question.

I still need help, so HELP!

Thank you,
Tissue Paper
Click to expand...
You still have a browser there. To me, that hardly seems like "no distractions". It just means the distractions are two or three clicks away.

Except maybe if the browser is Lynx.
 
dyt1983 chown33 Thanks for replying :)

chabig Going through the link now! Sounds really useful, thanks!

Leman, LOL I guess there's no way around it. I agree with you- it is a form of procrastination :p
 
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