The Messy vs. Tidy Debate - The Virtual Desktop
I am listening to lbobi radio (Well done guys!) - and Brian is suggesting we share our virtual workspace - if you shared your physical one. An interesting discussion on whether they are both clean, both messy or one is the opposite.I fall in the tidy desktop camp, my physical office gets cleaned out once a week and a quick pick up at the end of the day. My virtual workspace.. Mmmm.. not so much.
My virtual desktop is a nightmare. I tend to save to desktop when working.. opps. So masses of files get there quickly. When it gets too full I make a sub folder called ..'stuff' and start shoving older files in it. Then it become 'stuff stuff' etc.. You can see how messy this gets quickly. Every now and again I have to sort through and clean out but it certainly doesn't happen weekly..
Having said that though, I have a very strict filing and back up system. Back up. Back up. Back up. I laughed at Jeff's comment about the truck coming to pick up copies. I literally place back ups in a bank vault. We bought a case and store hard drives there. If only a truck would come and pick up the drives!
So here is my desktop this morning... what does yours look like?
Your Mayor: Jeff Rodgers
Lanne, thanks for getting this started. My desktop has gotten progressively worse over the last couple of months. Seems to me since we did the PPA tour I am behind in organizing. I just need to take the time and fix it.
To see your buddies Virual Desktops click here:
Photographer: Kim Schmidt
I keep it very tidy and I make sure to go through it all the time. All my downloaded files go into the Download folder (that's the default location) so it keeps it fairly tidy. If I do a screen shot, I will throw it in the Download folder. There are a ton of subfolders within Picture Time and Photography Business so it's easy access for me.
Architect Todd Steele
Yes, I use a PC. Go ahead and laugh. Ok, now that that's out of your system I'll continue. I keep my desktop clean, clean, clean. It's usually white or black with just the few program icons and project folders I routinely use. Sometimes I'll add a wallpaper (background), but it's got to be something special and usually runs parallel with the phase of life I'm in. Being a man, that changes frequently. But mostly, it's just a field of white space.
I keep it very tidy and I make sure to go through it all the time. All my downloaded files go into the Download folder (that's the default location) so it keeps it fairly tidy. If I do a screen shot, I will throw it in the Download folder. There are a ton of subfolders within Picture Time and Photography Business so it's easy access for me.
Architect Todd Steele
Yes, I use a PC. Go ahead and laugh. Ok, now that that's out of your system I'll continue. I keep my desktop clean, clean, clean. It's usually white or black with just the few program icons and project folders I routinely use. Sometimes I'll add a wallpaper (background), but it's got to be something special and usually runs parallel with the phase of life I'm in. Being a man, that changes frequently. But mostly, it's just a field of white space.
You can see what my desktop looks like here. I keep it very tidy and I make sure to go through it all the time. All my downloaded files go into the Download folder (that's the default location) so it keeps it fairly tidy. If I do a screen shot, I will throw it in the Download folder. There are a ton of subfolders within Picture Time and Photography Business so it's easy access for me.
Kim I added your comment to the photo.
Lanne thanks for starting this! You are pure Awesome Sauce.
Lanne, I LOVE the way you are drawing on your desktop to create spaces for things. Very clever.
lanne, how did you draw on your desktop like that!! i need that desktop!!
Super simple! I made a file in PS that was 72dpi 2560 x 1600 pixels (look at your screen resolution to make it work for your screen).. Made it basic grey then used white to draw in the boxes and labels. You could use decorative frames (see the lbobi range of brushes and vector art). If you just want simple boxes draw your own with the pencil tool (hold shift for a straight line). Save the file and then select it as your desktop background :)
I'm pretty anal about how my desktop appears, but it's just an illusion, as my folders are a complete mess. It's the equivalent of shoving everything into your closet to make your room look clean.
My desktop is nothing but folders, I use custom hotkeys to run programs. The desktop folders are named for each blog I build. Then there is an archive folder which I need to start using more, and a few folders for less common features in blogs to give a good starting point. Mostly, it's organized, but developers never see their desktops anyway.