What I’m talking about here isn’t the physical desk your computer sits on but rather the files and shortcuts on your computer operating environment’s desktop.
It is easy (almost too easy) to plop things on the desktop and simply not care about it. However over time it can turn into an organizational nightmare.
Now I will admit before continuing, some software keeps insisting (hello, Adobe Reader) on plopping an icon on your desktop per every update it does, however it is your responsibility to get rid of the stupid thing.
In my experience, whenever I see a desktop that’s FUBAR, it’s usually because the user is simply afraid to delete stuff off of there.
And I’m sorry to say, but it’s usually the older crowd that does this the most – particuarly those who are very fat-fingered with the mouse who constantly mash the wrong mouse button. You know someone is suffering from fat-finger syndrome when you see “Shortcut (2)”, “Shortcut (3)”, “Shortcut (4)”, etc. on the desktop because they keep mashing the right mouse button, panic, say to themselves “oops I made a mistake”, let go, inadvertently create a shortcut and just leave it there. This happens A LOT, and these people are prime candidates to switch over to a big trackball mouse if their hands don’t work like they used to – assuming they don’t get all emotional and argumentative over it (which they usually do).
Assuming the user isn’t fat-fingered for a moment, my standard advice when it comes to what you need and what you don’t on your desktop is this:
Start using your Recycle Bin more.
For anything on the desktop you don’t think you’ll use, just drag it to the Recycle Bin, then wait a few days. If within that few days you find you’re not missing anything, empty the Bin (right-click the Bin, “Empty Recycle Bin”, done).
The point of keeping a desktop clear or at least mostly-clear is for better organization of your stuff. If there’s too much stuff on your desktop, you start forgetting why certain stuff is on the desktop in the first place and you lose control over it all.
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Too many people use their computer desktop just like their actual one — to pile stuff that they may or may not need and may or may not ever view again. If you save a file to your desktop and have trouble finding it afterwards, you may have too much stuff on the desktop.
I’m very proud and seem to have a fetish for collecting interesting looking icons. If I don’t want what these lead to, I move the icons to a collection folder and use them when changing one of those damn old standard icons! Real constructive, huh?
neat freaks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!