Windows Sidebar OR Google Desktop Sidebar

Hey All,

I wanted to hear what you guys think?

I had never even heard of the Google Desktop Sidebar untill I got my New Toshiba A135-S4427 with WIndows Vista, for some stupid reason Toshiba Pre-installed Google Dekstop Sidebar, So I had both.

I ended up uninstalling the Google Desktop Sidebar, because I figured it'd be about the same as the WIndows Sidebar, and there was no need to have both on my system.

However I did install the Google Desktop Sidebar on my other XP machines, and I have found that alot of the Windows Sidebar Gadgets are inferior to the Google Desktop Sidebar Gadgets.

This I assume is because the Google Desktop Sidebar has probably been out to the public longer allowing for more gadgets to be developed.

I assume the Abilities for both are about the same?

Thanks for your inputs..

-TheChad

 

I don;t use any of the desktop add on's...never really have found a need so I will be interested in why others like them. I do use the Google Toobar in IE though. out of habit more then anything else and I like the speel chack it has...

 

None! No use for it.

 

i use yahoo widget

http://widgets.yahoo.com/

 

I use ObjectDock as a replacement for the Office Toolbar since I have moved onto OpenOffice. I personally have no need for the others.

 

I am also an ObjectDock user. I kinda like the looks to it. However, the thing with objectdock is once you put some higher-end docklets to it, it consumes a higher volume of memory.

 

I use Windows Sidebar on Both Vista & XP. Only if I knew how to get it on Linux.

 

I don't use anything like that.

 

I'm only using Vista sidebar for now. Once the novelty wears off i'm sure i'll be back to nothing. I don't even like having my recycle bin on my desktop, so a sidebar is a big step for me

 

The best Gadgets on the Sidebar in the Weather Gadget, HD & MEM info gadget, and I like the notepad Gadget. The notepad is nice that you can type in it and don't have to save it. Even when I reboot dozens of times it is still there.

I find myself using the Calculator gadgets alot too.

 

Side bars, suck! IMO.

They make the desktop look cluttered and I cannot have that.

If theres one thing I hate its a cluttered desktop.

 

I'm using Vista sidebar on my Windows XP.

 

I Agree to a point. As WideScreen Monitors become more pouplar, I think the sidebar is a usefull tool. With the sidebar open, your 'Usable' space is about the same size as its equal on a square monitor.

However as you said, I think it would be too much to have it on a square monitor (4:3).

I guess, most laptops now are 16:9, So I would say the Sidebar's are far better on a laptop, especially because of Battery monitors, CPU/Memory/Network Monitors, etc.

-TheChad

 

I Agree, those are all the same Gadgets I use on mine.

-TheChad

 

Yea, me too. I don't have anything on my desktop except for a recycle bin the lower left corner (which I can't get rid of). Once the novelty wears off, I'll probably go back disabling it

 

Yahoo! Widgets are bad because each one spawns of its own process. Therefore, it is very memory consuming. Otherwise, they are too bad...

ObjectDock is pretty cool, but a bit memory consuming as well.

The Vista Sidebar is kinda nice... but as others said it consumes valueable desktop space so ended up uninstalling it...

Google Desktop is just a little annoying to me. Personally, I love Google's online tools, just not it's software. I find Picasa a bit... well... useless. Google Desktop hogs resources like no other. It indexes your files, and while this is convenient, it is very memory consuming. Google is awesome, but its software isn't quite there. I'd stick with online tools if I were them. Except for Google Talk, that's pretty cool but until Gmail accounts are available via signup (no invite necessary) it won't be a hit. Once they do make it freely available it'll wipe out Yahoo for sure.

Just rather lengthy my opinion...

Matt