I'm actually warming up to Dashboard. It's been said a few times in this thread, but for me the nice thing is that you pick what you really want and get their with a tap on the ol' F12 key instead of visiting several Web sites and launching a couple of apps.
I also rearranged the widgets so they're all nice and neat in the upper left corner of my screen when I need them instead of all over the place. FYI, I use weather, Wikipedia and the dictionary multiple times each day. Really quite useful.
...but for me the nice thing is that you pick what you really want and get their with a tap on the ol' F12 key instead of visiting several Web sites and launching a couple of apps.
Interesting way of looking at it. I was only considering one widget at a time, but the multiple widget scenario makes sense if you frequently check several different things.
I use the weather to track home and work. The stock tracker lets me keep an eye on AAPL. My widget is super-useful too.
I also have the Dictionary, Calculator, and Sticky note, but they're like second class citizens. The big-ass calendar is ok.
I think I'm gonna kill the sticky widget. I like my old stickies more. Both of these need to integrate with .Mac sync.
I don't use wikipedia enough to use the widget. SysStat is kinda cool, but I already have the Activity Monitor running in my Dock. I might add a PHP lookup widget.
Dashboard can be dreadful though, just like a messy Desktop! I'm somewhat concerned about my girlfriend's Dad. He only has a 400 MHz G4 and I think he'll go crazy and install all sorts of ghastly widgets. I'll take it as a good sign though.
I honestly thought I'd like it, but after using it for a while, I don't. I don't like the fact that these things are scattered all over the screen when you open it up. Why do I need to see the weather and everything else when I only want to look at a stickie? I don't like the fact that you can't interact with any other apps when you're using Dashboard. I don't understand why there's so much duplication between regular apps and widgets (calculator, iTunes, address book, dictionary etc.). What's wrong with using the regular apps?
If it was a "don't like it? don't use it" situation, that would be one thing, but there's no simple way for a typical user to quit the thing. Apple has made this a core aspect of their OS.
It sounded like a good idea, but it just doesn't work, IMO. Who's with me?
the package tracker, weather, dopplar radar, phonebook, and calculator are the reasons i use dashboard. i only bring them up when i need them and i'd much rather have those items in a second screen rather than open up apps or go to websites every time i want to check something.
i use the dashboard every day its usefull to have dictionary handy when doing a paper. or when you need too track a package. i also use the tivo widget to see what i have recored. dashboard has saved me time
Just launched a beta of BARTWidget. It shows BART train schedules and is quite handy.
Its still in beta and I expect some problems, but please download and give it a whirl and send some feedback! If you encounter a problem, just click the widget and hit Command-R to reload it.
They need to activate contextual Copy and Paste, as there is no menu bar.
Other than that, I like it now that I have set the right lower screen corner to be the trigger. The Google Maps widget is much faster than going to the website.
You don't need the Dashboard for the dictionary - you can just hover the mouse over a word and press control-command-D.
I disabled Dashboard completely using some Terminal command a little while ago and haven't missed it at all. If I need to track a package, I go to the website and track it...if I want to know the weather (I live in Phoenix, it's always 100 degrees or more) I look outside. The widgets really have no use for me.
I can see them having use for other people, but not enough people that this is a major feature of the OS. I think Stevey just stumbled upon Konfabulator, said "OH MAN" and made the engineers put it in the OS. I'm sure there was a lot of arguing over this as well. An OS should be slim, and this just adds crap that's sort of useless.
Re-work the dock before adding "features" like this.
Actually, I love the Dashboard concept and enjoy selecting the Widgets for my use. It's great to press F-12 and have a bunch of useful tools pop up, even if it does take ~10-15 seconds for them to become useful. I'd certainly spend a similar amount of time clicking around to startup an occasionally used application.
I typically use widgets for weather, traffic reports, movie schedules, package tracking, and unit conversions. But the mix changes according to which Mac I'm using. At work, the airline schedule widget is a hit, since we have so many people traveling all the time. I also like their individuality, and concerning the neatness issue, arrange them as you like.
For those who don't use them, fine. Remove it from the Dock, and disable the F-12 key. We have a lot of people at work who don't use Exposé either, but I also like the convenience of quickly switching among many windows and temporarily clearing my screen to get at something on the Desktop. To each his own...
I just wish there was a way of quitting and launching Dashboard, for when you want to play games or whatever and want to make sure you have no performance leeching from DB. Then you could just launch it again, the widgets would update themselves, and it would all be nice and functional until you wanted to shut it down again for whatever reason.
I just wish there was a way of quitting and launching Dashboard, for when you want to play games or whatever and want to make sure you have no performance leeching from DB. Then you could just launch it again, the widgets would update themselves, and it would all be nice and functional until you wanted to shut it down again for whatever reason.
I don't think Dashboard leeches anything but memory. When Dashboard isn't up on the screen, (most*) Dashboard widgets stop doing what they're doing. This explains why it takes a few seconds for them to gather up info from the internet to update themselves when a user bring Dashboard to the screen.
*There might be a few rogue widgets out there that keep doing things in the background...this is rather bad.
If you only keep the well-behaved widgets, they shouldn't take away from your gaming experience.
Weeks later, I'm still diggin' Dashboard. I still primarily use my BART Widget and the Apple Weather widget (2 copies). While I have others floating around, I actually make frequent use of the Dictionary widget, saving me a trip to
I think the new Dashboard Manager in 10.4.2 is good for novice users. It looks a bit kludgy that its both in the Widget Dock and under a "Manage Widgets..." button. Why not a Preference Pane guys? Anyhow, since I haven't tested the latest install procedures or used the widget manager, I can't comment too much about it.
Comments
I also rearranged the widgets so they're all nice and neat in the upper left corner of my screen when I need them instead of all over the place. FYI, I use weather, Wikipedia and the dictionary multiple times each day. Really quite useful.
Originally posted by rentedmule
...but for me the nice thing is that you pick what you really want and get their with a tap on the ol' F12 key instead of visiting several Web sites and launching a couple of apps.
Interesting way of looking at it. I was only considering one widget at a time, but the multiple widget scenario makes sense if you frequently check several different things.
Download Jared
Download HulaGirl
Download Annoying Bass Groove
Change Hula Girl to dancing Jesus.
Anyhow, watch this space if you live in the Bay Area!
Update: My BART Widget was released June 24th.
I use the weather to track home and work. The stock tracker lets me keep an eye on AAPL. My widget is super-useful too.
I also have the Dictionary, Calculator, and Sticky note, but they're like second class citizens. The big-ass calendar is ok.
I think I'm gonna kill the sticky widget. I like my old stickies more. Both of these need to integrate with .Mac sync.
I don't use wikipedia enough to use the widget. SysStat is kinda cool, but I already have the Activity Monitor running in my Dock. I might add a PHP lookup widget.
Dashboard can be dreadful though, just like a messy Desktop! I'm somewhat concerned about my girlfriend's Dad. He only has a 400 MHz G4 and I think he'll go crazy and install all sorts of ghastly widgets. I'll take it as a good sign though.
Originally posted by BRussell
I honestly thought I'd like it, but after using it for a while, I don't. I don't like the fact that these things are scattered all over the screen when you open it up. Why do I need to see the weather and everything else when I only want to look at a stickie? I don't like the fact that you can't interact with any other apps when you're using Dashboard. I don't understand why there's so much duplication between regular apps and widgets (calculator, iTunes, address book, dictionary etc.). What's wrong with using the regular apps?
If it was a "don't like it? don't use it" situation, that would be one thing, but there's no simple way for a typical user to quit the thing. Apple has made this a core aspect of their OS.
It sounded like a good idea, but it just doesn't work, IMO. Who's with me?
the package tracker, weather, dopplar radar, phonebook, and calculator are the reasons i use dashboard. i only bring them up when i need them and i'd much rather have those items in a second screen rather than open up apps or go to websites every time i want to check something.
Nice that people can develop easily using JS but nothing beats a real app for speed.
Its still in beta and I expect some problems, but please download and give it a whirl and send some feedback! If you encounter a problem, just click the widget and hit Command-R to reload it.
Cheers!
Originally posted by ThinkingDifferent
Dashboard needs to be an optional installation.
If you remove the Dashboard icon from the Dock and remove any key-combo to bring it up...it becomes 'optional'.
Other than that, I like it now that I have set the right lower screen corner to be the trigger. The Google Maps widget is much faster than going to the website.
You don't need the Dashboard for the dictionary - you can just hover the mouse over a word and press control-command-D.
I can see them having use for other people, but not enough people that this is a major feature of the OS. I think Stevey just stumbled upon Konfabulator, said "OH MAN" and made the engineers put it in the OS. I'm sure there was a lot of arguing over this as well. An OS should be slim, and this just adds crap that's sort of useless.
Re-work the dock before adding "features" like this.
You've come a long way babe!
I typically use widgets for weather, traffic reports, movie schedules, package tracking, and unit conversions. But the mix changes according to which Mac I'm using. At work, the airline schedule widget is a hit, since we have so many people traveling all the time. I also like their individuality, and concerning the neatness issue, arrange them as you like.
For those who don't use them, fine. Remove it from the Dock, and disable the F-12 key. We have a lot of people at work who don't use Exposé either, but I also like the convenience of quickly switching among many windows and temporarily clearing my screen to get at something on the Desktop. To each his own...
weather.com's radar animation
cheap-gas finder
google maps
google images
wikipedia
address book
itunes panel
and many more...
It's great to have all these things at the touch of a button.
Originally posted by Placebo
I just wish there was a way of quitting and launching Dashboard, for when you want to play games or whatever and want to make sure you have no performance leeching from DB. Then you could just launch it again, the widgets would update themselves, and it would all be nice and functional until you wanted to shut it down again for whatever reason.
I don't think Dashboard leeches anything but memory. When Dashboard isn't up on the screen, (most*) Dashboard widgets stop doing what they're doing. This explains why it takes a few seconds for them to gather up info from the internet to update themselves when a user bring Dashboard to the screen.
*There might be a few rogue widgets out there that keep doing things in the background...this is rather bad.
If you only keep the well-behaved widgets, they shouldn't take away from your gaming experience.
Merriam-Webster.
I think the new Dashboard Manager in 10.4.2 is good for novice users. It looks a bit kludgy that its both in the Widget Dock and under a "Manage Widgets..." button. Why not a Preference Pane guys? Anyhow, since I haven't tested the latest install procedures or used the widget manager, I can't comment too much about it.