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Dashboard - do you use it? If so what for?

S

stuarthatto

macrumors regular
Original poster
Nov 5, 2008
135
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2 years since I moved back to Mac from PC - Vista made the decision easy at the time.

However, in 2 years I have only used Dashboard maybe 14 times - mostly in the first week or owning my shiny new MBP.

I use Exposé all the time of course, just dont see the point for Dashboard.

So am I missing a trick here? What do you use dashboard for?

Stu
 
I use it constantly. iStat Pro widget to monitor my system, Harmonic for iTunes lyrics, various calculators, converters, translators, sticky pads, stock trackers, etc. Very useful. Expose is completely different. It's used for revealing what apps/files you have open on your desktop.
 
Well... let's see...

I've got Weather, MAMP controls (by the way, it was switched on), AmazonArt, Calculator (although I rarely use it), and Dictionary. All of them very useful, and I'm planning on adding even more, maybe even build some of my own.
 
Agree with posts above, for me most important is iStats and Weather - cuz I dont look from window to see how is there weather and what clothes should I wear when I go out...:p
 
I use it for iStat Pro, until they release a 'menus' version for Snow Leopard.

Also a nice doppler radar. I only have a motorcycle, so it's nice to know if I'll be getting wet.
 
But can't you do most of this stuff with normal apps? I mean I have iStat in my menu bar.

I am just wondering about the usefulness of a hidden page of desktop apps. I think Vista desktop widgets are a better design for these kind of things - its there on the desktop, not hidden?

I know that if you set a developer mode you can elevate the dashboard widgets to the desktop I guess I just don't get why that is the design Apple settled on.

I just checked my dashboard this morning and all I have is a weather widget - but I never look at it - ever...
 
When I got my Mac, I wanted to try to use as much of the OS as I could, and I started using Dashboard for the first 2 or 3 months, but since then I really haven't felt like it was worth using. Maybe I just didn't download the right apps - even the guitar tuner / guitar chord widgets...I just don't really use them.

iStat Pro I have on my top menu bar (although I'll have to give it up for awhile, because it looks like Snow Leopard doesn't support the current version...), and if I need a calculation or dictionary entry, I just command-space into Spotlight.

Since you brought it up, I actually don't use Exposé at all - I have 9 Spaces set up with specific apps in each one, so I can click my scroll wheel to zoom out to see all of my spaces, and click into whichever one I need.
 
I wouldn't want it on the desktop all the time.

Yes I use it. I'm glad it's there, and I'm glad it's hidden when I don't need it. There's no need to open separate little apps, but it's not cluttering up my desktop. I would hate that.
 
GGJstudios said:
I use it constantly. iStat Pro widget to monitor my system, Harmonic for iTunes lyrics, various calculators, converters, translators, sticky pads, stock trackers, etc. Very useful. Expose is completely different. It's used for revealing what apps/files you have open on your desktop.
Click to expand...

iStat Pro caused that OS X sleep issue where it wouldn't wake up for me! Had to uninstall it!

I only use Dashboard for the currency converter.
 
i use it all the time, iStat is good (my menu bar is full), i use the converter, widgets for my folding, quick news things, deep sleep widget, heaps of other things such as games to waste time etc.
 
I use it all the time for quick info. Sports scores, Movie times, iStat, TVForcast, Stock Quotes, Conversion calc. Ect.
 

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I used my dashboard the most the Christmas I had it set up so there were a load of flashing fairy lights around the edge :eek:

I mainly use it for currency conversions (although it's seemed a wee bit odd recently), weight conversions, stickies which I need but don't want sitting on my desktop the whole time and istat.

stuarthatto said:
I think Vista desktop widgets are a better design for these kind of things - its there on the desktop, not hidden
Click to expand...

That bugs me whenever I use vista. It's just clutter (partly because I've never seen anyone add anything to the default set up which often isn't all that useful)

GoKyu said:
I need a calculation or dictionary entry, I just command-space into Spotlight.

Since you brought it up, I actually don't use Exposé at all - I have 9 Spaces set up with specific apps in each one
Click to expand...

I never knew that spotlight calculator trick! I had sort of noticed the dictionary bit, but since I keep dictionary in my dock had never used it.

I've never got the hang of Spaces. Even when things get really cluttered I still prefer Expose. Used Tiger too long I suppose.
 
instaxgirl said:
I used my dashboard the most the Christmas I had it set up so there were a load of flashing fairy lights around the edge :eek:
Click to expand...
you can put dashboard items on the 'desktop' too, maybe you could outline them with fairy lights :p

I've never got the hang of Spaces. Even when things get really cluttered I still prefer Expose. Used Tiger too long I suppose.
Click to expand...

i use spaces all the time! like every day, its very handy - dont use office with it, it DOESNT work :(
 
stuarthatto said:
I am just wondering about the usefulness of a hidden page of desktop apps. I think Vista desktop widgets are a better design for these kind of things - its there on the desktop, not hidden?
Click to expand...

No, that's crap. Why would anyone want a bunch of mini-apps junking up the desktop all the time? I use a number of Dashboard widgets--calculators, stickies, converters, calender, more stickies, etc. It's very convenient that a touch of a mouse button and there they are, I spend a few minutes with them, then they go away and don't bug me or interfere with anything until next time I need them again.

--Eric
 
The only time I use Dashboard is when I want to know the date of the day. And to set custom sleep times
 
I use it constantly. The great thing about it is that it keeps my desktop neat and I don't have to be bothered with these apps in my face all the time. If I need them, I go to the dashboard and if I don't, they're there ready to be called upon. I dislike having many windows open and having to look for the one I need. That's where dashboard comes in. I just love it. You need to find the right widgets for yourself. Widgets that perform tasks you need and you'll love dashboard as it simplifies things for you.
 
iStat Pro, Yahoo Finance & AccuWeather & Dictionary (comes with system), Quicken QuickEntry, and Earthview (showing the terminator as it goes 'round the Earth).

I mostly use the Finance thing to keep up with my stocks.
 
I don't ever use Dashboard or Spaces, but I do use exposé all the time.
In fact I have dashboard turned off completely, even, even when I press the dashboard button on my keyboard it will do nothing.
 
i use it at least a couple of times a day for weather, istat, lyric search, notes (i'm so forgetful), calculator, etc. funny, i don't really use expose. :rolleyes:
 
Calendar, Weather, DailyVerse, and ClearCheckbook are there for daily use. Occasionally, I'll run something like Delivery Status. I like having it hidden because it means I don't have to clutter up my desktop and look at it all day. I can just "F12" it up for a quick glance and then hide it again.
 
DoFoT9 said:
i use spaces all the time! like every day, its very handy - dont use office with it, it DOESNT work :(
Click to expand...

After updating with the latest service pack from Microsoft, Spaces and (at least) Word seem to work together ok. Previously, if you switched spaces and then came back, the little floating toolbar would go blank, and you'd have to click on it to restore it to normal.

I was just checking a document last night though, and it seemed to switch back and forth with no trouble.
 
GoKyu said:
After updating with the latest service pack from Microsoft, Spaces and (at least) Word seem to work together ok. Previously, if you switched spaces and then came back, the little floating toolbar would go blank, and you'd have to click on it to restore it to normal.

I was just checking a document last night though, and it seemed to switch back and forth with no trouble.
Click to expand...

how very interesting! thanks for that, i will try it out :)
 
I find dashboard widgets are a resource drain to the point i stopped using them in leopard.

I tested a couple in SL and it seems more responsive, whether dashboard itself is any more efficient or it's a general improvement from Grand Central i don't know.

I hadn't planned on using dashboard in SL, but as other posters reckon iStat works there, i'll give it another try. They gotta sort the menu iStat cos i like the graphs showing when a cpu is maxed or some background task is downloading something.

M.
 
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