The aim of Desktop Sidebar is provide you with instant access to some of your most important daily information, however some may run it just to fake the Longhorn’s sidebar. Whichever your intent is, this seems to be like a nifty utility with enhancements for Windows users.
Fake Longhorn on your Windows XP with Desktop Sidebar
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Eugenia Loli
Ex-programmer, ex-editor in chief at OSNews.com, now a visual artist/filmmaker.
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Doesn’t Gnome have something similiar under development?
Are you referring to Dashboard? It’s a little more advanced than what Longhorn currently has, I believe. There’s a website at http://www.nat.org/dashboard/, so you may want to check that out.
a superkaramba theme based on the longhorn sidebar.
http://netdragon.sourceforge.net/
Cant remeber where it is though.
For the two rapidfire Wintrolls, it’s a dock, a concept at least as old as NextStep and an option in most window managers – if in the form of Gkrellm – since the days FVWM ruled the earth. Nice to see MS “innovate” such and old concept though.
What I hate most about the sidebar, is it’s ability to suck up ~10+ % of you screen estate. Especially the width!
I prefer something like samurize (http://www.samurize.com/modules/news/) which can do the same thing, transparently onto the desktop (http://www.samurize.com/modules/myalbum/photo.php?lid=707)
Ofcorse, for the Windows using looking for a longhorn look, this is an easy option
” What I hate most about the sidebar, is it’s ability to suck up ~10+ % of you screen estate. Especially the width!”
There was an article a few months ago that had an interview with BillG. To sum it up, he said that by 2006, most(if not all) monitors will be widescreen and the dock will look much more natural/comfortable.
No offense to anyone who may like it but it’s totally ugly. And I agree a waste of space. I hope in longhorn they keep it disableable because I just can’t picture myself liking or using it for very long, even with a widescreen monitor. I have never liked it, especially with the huge bevel and gradients that MS has on it so far.
OH BTW this is more reminiscent to me of the sidebar in QNX only uglier rather than anything in NeXt.
GKrellM for Windows. There’s a GTK2 port, and a native port as well. It does alot of the same stuff.
http://bill.nalens.com
I have a laptop here with a 1920×1200 resolution, and browsing with a fullscreen web-browser is not an option at that resolution.
That sidebar is just what I am looking for take up some desktop space
Yeah, that’s the reason I hate all sidebars, be it in Mozilla, Word XP or elsewhere!
SmartBarXP is much more better! And freeware!
http://www.smartbarxp.com
i’ve been using all flavours of windows since the horrid win 98 first edition, with SIDEBARS, all auto-hide… you can resize them with impunity… errr wish I had Some linux distro but hdd space and well family dependencies upon M$
based products and exes…
(what wastes of flesh!)
Do I hallucinate, what does the gnu do in clock app?
Perhaps Microsoft is paying tribute to various GNU/Linux environment by placing the GNU logo in the clock app.
>> placing the GNU logo in the clock app
You’re seeing ghosts.
That’s no gnu, it’s a longhorn.
(don’t ask me about the difference, though
)
ill beThere was an article a few months ago that had an interview with BillG. To sum it up, he said that by 2006, most(if not all) monitors w widescreen and the dock will look much more natural/comfortable.
Thus summing up very neatly one of the big reasons why I don’t like Microsoft. I spend a hard-earned cash on a nice screen (Philips 19″ Pro CRT), and now I’m being told that it’s not good enough, just because bill and his cronies think that everyone should buy new hardware just to run the latest version of Windows/Office/Internet Explorer that isn’t actually going to do anything really different.
Next thing you know, I’ll be told my GeForce4 Ti and 1400 MHz CPU isn’t fast enough to send email and browse webpages.
Joking aside, a large portion of PC hardware is getting to the point where it’s perfectly valid not to upgrade. My parents are running on a Duron 800 with 168 MB (not a typo) of SD Ram, and it does everything they want. It does email, the web, and everything else, and replacement 17″ Compaq monitor I found them (a drop down stairs killed the old one) from 1996 is crystal clear. If I told them to upgrade just because some corporation in the states wants to squeeze a little more money out of them, I’d be told where to go with a couple of simple words.
I don’t understand why people like wide screens 🙁
a large portion of PC hardware is getting to the point where it’s perfectly valid not to upgrade. My parents are running on a Duron 800 with 168 MB (not a typo) of SD Ram, and it does everything they want.
Running in my house are 750 and 1000 MHz Durons and a 1500 MHz Athlon, for quite a while now, I can’t imagine ever needing to upgrade these now that we’re confortable with what we use them for (web, email, IM, music, Word, frozen bubble). Although faster compiles are nice for me, it’s OK.
I too recently got a 19″ monitor (Iiyama), since I used a 14″ cheapo one for 3 or 4 years I don’t think it’ll be replaced for a /long/ time. Monitors are always the most expensive component to upgrade, that’s why I never do.
I do like the sidebar concept, but not how Microsoft does it. For example, it wastes space for things like a big analogue clock (again, never understood the facination of measuring time). It shouldn’t be that wide, and it should show all open documents (not applications) and appear/disappear with a keypress.
This has been available in various incarnations on Linux and various Unices for ages. KDE 3.2 already has a universal desktop sidebar, but it is much less conspicuous i.e. not as fat, obtrusive, or ugly. The KDE one also seems to be more oriented around quick access to the filesystem, bookmarks, etc.
Even with older versions of KDE you could create a panel with applets to do the same thing. Of course, gkrellm has done this for quite a while. There has long been docks in Windowmaker and other older desktops that did the same thing. I guess it is long overdue for Windows, but it doesn’t exactly qualify as innovation in any way, shape, or form.
Have you guys realized that this isn’t even made by Microsoft? Its from an outside company and frankly, it does provide some nice functionality. I’m running dual 19in moniters at 1600×1200 and thats a heck of alot of real estate. Docks like this and even the ones that populate OS X make alot of sense. Quicker access to your data and important information which means less clicking which means quicker response time.
Microsoft is right – the display technology isn’t catching up with the rest of the tech. There is no reason we should still be running at such a low DPI, on low resolution small size moniters. That will change in the future with LCD moniters finally dropping into reasonable price ranges.
It might not be new, but its been around in Windows as long as Linux has had it. The RSS aggregator itself is worth it.
@Jaroom: Btw, you can’t have a clue if Dashboard is more advanced than whats in Longhorn or not because no ones announced the functionality of Longhorn’s dock. All we saw was a short intro at PDC, nothing else. The Longhorn builds that were released for public consumption were months old at the time.
Please, stop spreading FUD and actually from everything I’ve read Longhorn will include similiar functionality to Dashboard included.
Microsoft is right – the display technology isn’t catching up with the rest of the tech. There is no reason we should still be running at such a low DPI, on low resolution small size moniters. That will change in the future with LCD moniters finally dropping into reasonable price ranges.
Actually – there is. Assuming a complete lack of overhead for horizontal and vertical syncing, error correction, and anything else, a refresh rate of 100 Hz (feel free to multiple by 0.60, 0.75, or whatever you feel is apropriate), and no increase in pixel depth, to push through a 3200×2400 image digitally would require 18,432,000,000 bits/second. (18.4 Gigabits/second).
This is a massive amount of data to deal with. To produce user plugable circuitry of this level requires very fine manufacturing processes, and that costs – and it costs more than most people wish to spend.
Assuming a complete lack of overhead for horizontal and vertical syncing, error correction, and anything else, a refresh rate of 100 Hz (feel free to multiple by 0.60, 0.75, or whatever you feel is apropriate), and no increase in pixel depth, to push through a 3200×2400 image digitally would require 18,432,000,000 bits/second. (18.4 Gigabits/second).
I’m not just saying working at an insane screen depth and refresh rate. Heck, most standard moniters won’t do over 85Hz at a decent resolution and in general there isn’t a need. Very few eyes can see beyond that.
However, the one thing that would help greatly would be an increase in DPI. Look at Windows, Linux, OS X, heck, just about any operating system runs at 96 dpi. You can increase it on some systems which increases visibility and often clarity but at the lack of screen space.
Someone makes a knockoff of a feature that is in a developer release of Windows and the thread becomes a rag fest about Microsoft.
Get a clue if you don’t like Windows don’t use it. Buy one of those Dells that comes with Freedos and put Linux on it. Build your own PC and put Linux on it. But then I am thinking that the only way some people can feel good about using Linux is if they feel they are using it for religous reasons.
… Build your own PC and put Linux on it.
I did, and I still use it. However, for better or worse, I live in a networked world, where most computers run Windows. Therefore, what Bill Gates and Microsoft decide effects me.
“a panel that displays meaningless crap which clutters up the desktop! i hope KDE get their asses in gear and have this innovative feature in 3.2!”
No, kicker is configurable, you’ve been able to implement a sidebar for a long time.
It looks like a hybrid of GKrellM and KDE’s Kicker. Mostly GKrellM, but some of the plugins (e.g. the RSS aggregator) remind me of Kicker.
I think it’s about time. One of the reasons I’ve always hated to boot into Windows is because I’m stuck with that crippled taskbar and nothing else. I’m used to being in Linux with GKrellM running, a ton of applets in my Kicker, plus a pair of SuperKaramba applets on top of that. And I always hated not having that in Windows. It’ll certainly make the few times I have to boot into Windows more tolerable.
So, good job guys!
WindowMaker and a number of other window managers have been using Panels and so called side-bars for a while now. I have docked panels which play mp3’s, cd’s, notify me of mail, and provide me with system and performance metrics. I don’t have stock market, weather, or detailed email info there, but I don’t need it really.
Why do people care so much if a company could be considered “innovative” or not? Like anyone actually cares.
I love it when people become so impassioned and religious over something as exciting, deep and meaningful as a computer. It’s amusing sometimes, but usually very very sad.
This does remind me of the QNX sidebar but thn again, in QNX, there is no “desktop” to place icons on so you’re not really losing anything, I must say, that huge clock would be fairly annoying.
However, the one thing that would help greatly would be an increase in DPI. Look at Windows, Linux, OS X, heck, just about any operating system runs at 96 dpi. You can increase it on some systems which increases visibility and often clarity but at the lack of screen space.
In linux kde changes dpi automatically based on your resolution and monitor size. It is quite nice, the font stays size no matter what resolution you set. Now the problem is people who design fixed size web pages (cough osnews).
————
For all the but we will have higher resolution display people:
I do not buy the you will have more screen space in the future argument for wasting space because in the future everything should be resolution independent. Eg 5cm of wasted space at the side of the screen will be 5cm even if the resolution is higher.
There was a windows shell in the early ninties called sidebar that was pretty similar. Ultimately interest waned, but the concept has been used in numerous window maganagers as noted and probably originates from NeXT step.
Computers give me a cheaper way to stay in touch with my girlfriend. And w.r.t. to giving you the illusion of control, it sounds like you have issues. Maybe you should see a psychiatrist.
i hope KDE get their asses in gear and have this innovative feature in 3.2!
There’s the universal sidebar already.
Personally, I can’t get on with them at the moment. At 1280×1024 (and below, but who uses less than that) they use far too much screen space. I am agreed that at 1600×1200 and with widescreen monitors they’re a lot more pleasing though.
If you’re running KDE 3.2, try out the universal sidebar (kicker panel menu->add->panel->universal sidebar).
Now the problem is people who design fixed size web pages (cough osnews).
Eugenia really has covered why osnews is like it is a million times. Deal.
Actually, I think that using the taskbar in the right of the screen is a lot better (specialily if you always open lots of windows ) than in the bottom..
While it takes a while to get used to it, it’s worth. You can read the applications names, you can have dozens of icons in the lauchbar, etc..
Even in my 14 inches 1024×968 notebook screen it’s better.. I cant work with the tolbar in the bottom anymore..
I really think everybody should give a try, and use it for a few days, to see what I’m talking about..
There is no reason we should still be running at such a low DPI, on low resolution small size moniters.
Yes there is a reason we should be using small size monitors, well at least there is a reason for us laptop users. What is Bill going to say next, that we shouldn’t use laptops? Or that we should bring a widescreen LCD with us everywhere? Or that we should buy an enourmous laptop just to use longhorn? I like my little laptop for portability and I’m not about to buy some 17″ behemoth widescreen laptop just to use Windows, and even then that sidebar is an enourmous waste of space.
I live in Canada, if you know the political situation here you would understand why I say things like that. if not, heres some insite…
picture a drunk Priemere (High ranking polititian) caught in Hawaii, Drunk driving… lying about how much alcohol/how fast/how much resistance he did, now picture this same man kicking people off of disability, and off welfare (25% of ppl on it COULD go mind you, but I am talking about the ppl who have 5 or 6 kids and got laid off!), creating so much chaos that he is compared to HItler and is STILL IN POWER!
would you like me to continue with the other 9 provinces and 3 territories??
so yes I have digital freedom (such as it is), and yes I AM ok with that,
I feel that companies should at least make 2 flavours of GUI
1. Wide screen/Large display
2. Standard upto 1600×1200 and onboard video is more than enough!
Sidebar is not like gDesklet ?
All objects in Longhorn are compltely scableable (you can resize the clock as big or as small as you like).
I am so sick and tired of people going on EVERY SINGLE MS article and saying ‘this isn’t an innovation, it’s been available for X years on Y platform’, ‘M$ sux0rz’, and ‘The MS version isn’t as good as other versions’ (when you haven’t even USED the MS version).
Seriously, most of you do not even realize how much of a mindless drone you actually are.
Sorry, not all of that comment was @ Luke
“There was an article a few months ago that had an interview with BillG. To sum it up, he said that by 2006, most(if not all) monitors will be widescreen and the dock will look much more natural/comfortable.”
Sadly, my desk appears to be staying the same size. A huge wide screen monitor will not leave much room for anything else. For some of us, the computer is not the centre of our working lives.
I think most people will get tired of this of side bar quite quickly, I tend to try and minimise the amount of pointless information on the computer screen. After using both Windows and Linux versions of this kind of app for a while, I realised I only want to be informed of things when something goes wrong, or really needs my attention, not all the time.
“I’d challenge any of you WinWeenies to list 5 major innovations Bill has made to computing, excluding things they’ve bought, stolen, copied, etc…”
– Microsoft Bob.
– Clippy.
– An operating system that, right after installation, is
ready to get infected with a virus with ZERO user intervention.
– EULAs for installing security patches! this one was great! “Agree with my new terms or get hacked. What is it gonna be, suckah!?”
– A media player that, by default, phones home to tell daddy what songs you have been listening to.
Well, maybe they even stole some of these… i don’t know..
ROFL!
A: “Windows Longhorn will have a sidebar.”
B: “A sidebar? It’s ugly! It takes up screen space! It’s useless! Nobody in the world would be stupid enough to use it! M$ is facing a dead end once more!”
A: “Similiar features have been in MacOS X, KDE, Gnome and QNX.”
B: “… M$ rips others’ ideas! They can’t do nothing but stealing! It’s obvious they wouldn’t have such a good idea on their own! It’s not innovation, _we_ had it earlier!!”
I have been using a sidebar for a few months, but left that route again. I’m just too used to moving my mouse way upright (so the cursor is in the corner of the screen) and then clicking to close a window. Having to position the mouse carefully was unbearable since I didn’t have to do that since I started using computers with GUIs.
Simple remedy, don’t set the sidebar to be on top of all windows, if you need it, just call it up through a keystroke (like the Windows key).
Why aren’t you busy fixing dependencies or something? Go fine tine your fonts, and stop whining about an operating system you don’t even (supposedly) use.
Are you sure you like Linux? Or do you just Microsoft? And personifying (attacking) Microsoft as Bill Gates, is quite immature. When people complain about Linux, they don’t say Linus Torvalds is an idiot.
i dunno who wants that side bar, its hideous. pretty soon we will have a bar on every side of the screen, til our space is so small you can fit only one window on it. and that is where linux and fluxbox take over with tabbed windows!
“Why aren’t you busy fixing dependencies or something? ”
Maybe the whines found a Linux distribution that does not
require them to.
This is a neat utility, although I prefer Object Destkop from Stardock.com which includes more capability including complete shell replacments. There are some really awesome ones, including Longhorn, the clones of Unix, Mac, Linux, BeOS, and even old stuff like the Lisa interface. You can browse the tons of skins, themes, and suites available at
http://www.wincustomize.com
Another cool tool to use is Sysmetrix, which gives realtime system info and can use matching skins:
http://www.xymantix.com/sysmetrix/
it’s amazing what constitutes news here these day’s