How do you use your mac?

[VladM]

What I mean is, how is your desktop arranged? Is your dock hidden/visible, on the bottom or one of the sides? What do your corners do? Which widgets are you using on your dashboard?

I have recently switched to a mac, so I am trying to find the optimal way of using it. On my macbook screen, I think that the most efficient way of placing the dock is visible, but on the right hand side.

I'd like to hear/see how other people use it.

 

[JNB]

This is how I like mine:

 

[Consultant]

Dock visble. Does not magnify. Bottom (because most people have the standard bottom dock).

Widget: get whatever you want, or go to apple site to download more. I use Weather (multiple cities), Stocks, Multi time zone clock

I set my new folder to open home folder. I put alias of important folders in there.

I have VLC as small icon in new window top section.

System Preferences / Sound / Sound Effects:

Alert volume, very low or off
OFF: play user interface sound effects
OFF: play feedback when volume is changed
OFF: playfront row sound effects

I also disable the keyboard shortcut for front row

 

[iBookG4user]

I hate it when people have more than one icon on the desktop, it makes it look cluttered. But anyways, here's my desktop, the dock is hidden and all folders are arranged logically within finder so it is easy access if I don't know the name of the file. And there are very handy programs in my menubar to help me keep track of what my computer is doing.

 

[miles01110]

Visible, doesn't magnify, on the bottom. Turned Dashboard off a long time ago.

 

[smurfjammer]

On my iMac: Dock visable, Left hand side, No Magnification, Nothing on the desktop
On my MacBook: Dock Hidden, Bottom, A small Magnify, Nothing on the desktop

 

[Benguitar]

My setup~

 

[mark.s]

I like simplicity. Nothing on the desktop at all. I occasionally dump stuff their temporarily when I'm working on it, but it goes into a folder in /home or into the trash when I'm done.

Dock is 2D, no magnification, no hiding.

Haven't bothered with the dashboard since I upgraded to a new MBP about 2 weeks ago (replaced my 1st gen MBP that was still going strong - being used now by a very appreciative OH - replaced her 1st gen white MB - which is also still trucking and went to an aunt who had her Windows laptop stolen. I like to spread the Apple love!).

I don't use hot corners, but have Spaces mapped to cmd-1/2/3 (I run a couple of VMs full screen in their own Space).

 

[VladM]

Thanks for the replies guys. Keep them coming!

 

[Melrose]

I prefer my workspace to be clean and easy on the eyes (and brain) = clutter-free. Thus, disabled desktop actions. (my common dump folder is Downloads, which always gets overcluttered...)

I have only the most-used apps in the dock; apps I don't use but every few days I open through spotlight. No magnification or hiding.

Typically, my volume is low. I try to keep everything non-intrusive to working.

I only use dashboard for two things, the sole reason I keep it active.

 

[reclusivemonkey]

Dock hidden (on the left), everything launched through Quicksilver. All about the keyboard on a laptop.

 

[kolax]

My Desktop is quite clean - keep everything tidy. Use Dashboard all the time.

 

[AppleNewton]

[<snip>

For a colorful and somewhat busy style desktop, it is very clean and organized. it all meshes together well. i like it

Dull, yet open and easy to navigate.

Threw my Home folder on the dock so i can quickly access Downloads and Documents as well as Applications and Utilities are on there are as well.

 

[redaxe]

http://img11.imageshack.us/my.php?image=picture7w.png

I like to go with simplicity and minimalism. I do have hot-corners activated though. Top right is desktop. Top left is dashboard. Bottom left is exposé all windows. Bottom right used to be spaces when I had Leopard but now I'm back to Tiger.

 

[rrijkers]

My Desktop is quite clean - keep everything tidy. Use Dashboard all the time.

You owe people! =)

I use the bottom-right corner for spaces, bottom-left for screensaver, top-right foor expose all windows

 

[VladM]

How do you get the 2D dock?

 

[pwn247]

How do you get the 2D dock?

Use this tutorial.


Here's mine, nice and simple, but very utility-based:

 

[rrijkers]

Utility based? What does it mean?

 

[KingYaba]

I use my Mac to make breakfast.

 

[CaptMurdock]

Dock on the bottom, not hidden, no magnification.

Dashboard - WeatherBug, wikipedia, iStat nano, Dictionary, Delivery Status and Stickies.

Desktop - I try to keep clean. My wife, OTOH, drives me nuts -- she never puts anything in a folder!

 

[Wowzera]

My Desktop is quite clean - keep everything tidy. Use Dashboard all the time.

Can you or someone else tell me what "stickies" widget do you use and what Weather notifier is that ?

Thanks.

 

[kolax]

Can you or someone else tell me what "stickies" widget do you use and what Weather notifier is that ?

Thanks.

Just the default Stickies Widget and changed the colour (in the info bit for the stickie). And the weather widget is the BBC Weather Widget.

I find the BBC must more accurate than Yahoo's, plus it gives me wind.

 

[AAPLaday]

I find the BBC must more accurate than Yahoo's, plus it gives me wind.

I wouldn't have thought a widget giving you wind would be a plus point

 

[ZunePod]

I have dock at the bottom - hidden; a few folders: School, Movies, Random and Jailbreak.

I use the Jailbreak one a lot because I jailbreak people iPhones and iPod Touches

 

[Mr. Specialist]

Where do you guys find your wallpapers?