widget/gadgets/whatever you call them

[luciusad2004]

My gf finally got her new macbook yesterday and she spent a good amount of time playing with the widgets. While she did this i couldnt help but ponder the use of these little things.

To me they just seem like little programs that clutter up your screen and do a bunch of small things that could easily be meshed in to one more useful program.

I could understand maybe a couple of small widgets/gadgets to monitor system stats and what not, but thats about all.

widgets == small, screen cluttering, vaugly useful programs; which imho are only successful due to the "cool factor" (and the fact that Jobs probably hyped them to hell and back)

What do you guys think of widgets? Feel free to discuss them inside and out.
Oh and this isnt just meant for mac users. Im sure some of you have had experience with yahoo widgets, konfabulator, or vista's gadgets. Its all the same thing.

[AJ@PR]

To me they just seem like little programs that clutter up your screen and do a bunch of small things that could easily be meshed in to one more useful program.

I think that there lies the beauty of them.
Ok, maybe no "beauty"... but usefulness.

There are so many, so so many different widgets for hundreds (if not thousands) of things, that you end up with something custom.

I've got various cool widgets (http://widgets.opera.com/) in my Opera browser.

I dunno... just my opinion.

Also, at the moment, non of them are "always on top"... I've got them either hidden, or "on the desktop".

:) :)

Side-note: Has anyone played Opera Command (http://widgets.opera.com/widget/5545)?
Pretty fun...

[nil8]

I save a lot of my processes for useful programs.
Like games, web browsing, dvd playback, etc.
As for little programs, I have a couple of toolbars I use and a couple of specific little programs for temp monitoring and system info. Outside of that, it's a waste of CPU. Just like active desktop.

[luciusad2004]

Idk, it could just be me. Im somewhat of a minimalist. I usually strip things down to the core functions that i actually use and i dont like haveing lots of things running. I could see maybe like, a clock widget... but then at the same time ive got a clock in the taskbar so an analog clock widget is just taking up space.

Maybe i just need to catch up with the times.

[Spawn-Inc]

i sometimes use sysmetrix, http://www.xymantix.com/sysmetrix/, for the most part its a waste so i don't generally have it running. but i like the idea of them. i would probably use it if i have dual monitors setup

this is a picture of mine (i modded a theme)
http://inlinethumb18.webshots.com/1553/2390626080100511463S600x600Q85.jpg

[xmastree]

Being a linux user, I use gdesklets, which are the same thing.
See them here (http://www.lotechdesigns.com/host/images/5087Screenshot.png)

So I voted Yay. (the only one so far)

[luciusad2004]

Being a linux user, I use gdesklets, which are the same thing.
See them here (http://www.lotechdesigns.com/host/images/5087Screenshot.png)

So I voted Yay. (the only one so far)

Didn't mean to leave the linux cround i just honestly didnt know about them.

Hope i didnt offend.

Edit: Do they run under gnome?

[xmastree]

Edit: Do they run under gnome?Yep, the g in the name is a giveaway.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gdesklets

[luciusad2004]

Yep, the g in the name is a giveaway.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gdesklets

Yeah that was what tipped me off. I might be installing ubuntu on my mac later this week if i ever get around to it. I think that uses gnome. maybe ill give them a try.

[xmastree]

There's one launcher which is very similar to Apple's launcher. The one along the bottom of the screen where the icons grow as you mouse over them.

http://www.lotechdesigns.com/host/images/1762starterbar.png

[luciusad2004]

There's one launcher which is very similar to Apple's launcher. The one along the bottom of the screen where the icons grow as you mouse over them.

http://www.lotechdesigns.com/host/images/1762starterbar.png

Thats cool, does it come with ubuntu? or is it something i can download for gnome? I honestly don't know that i would use it that much. I actually dont find the dock to be that amazing. Its just not that flexible. Good for things you use often though. And it helps make your desktop look much more organised.

[xmastree]

Yep, it'll be there when you install it, assuming you go with the default gnome install. Although when you first install it, there's only one launcher so it looks rather lonely:

http://www.lotechdesigns.com/host/images/8034Screenshot.png

So you need to add all the others individually.