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The Windows desktop can do a lot of things. You can drag and drop your programs all across your display, then resize the windows--or have the operating system tile them for you--to maximize your multi-application productivity. If you're using Vista, you can call forth a cascading, three-dimensional display of your Windows and cycle through live displays of each until you're ready to select an active panel. You can create new toolbars and assign them to new edges of the screen. You can minimize everything at once to show you a clean desktop image.
The Windows desktop can do a lot of things. But you can't do everything. And that's why I've hunted down five freeware applications that give you just-that-much-more control over the programs, windows, and taskbars that clog up your PC's display. Split your desktop into individual regions for maximum display control, or take matters into your own hands and assign the customized height, width, and positining of every application you use.
That's just a slice of the Windows pie I'm ready to dish up. Fire up some programs, put on a bib, and let's chow down on some freeware.
What it does: This awesome little application lets you split your screen into a number of regions. From there, whenever you go to maximize a window, it only fills up the size of the region you created. This is an excellent way to keep the use of the "maximum" command on your windows while still maintaining a tiled layout for your desktop. Without it, you would have size and float your windows manually, and would have no way of automatically resizing said windows save for more corner-dragging nonsense. Feh, I say.
Download it here!
What it does: Similar to The Superbowl Shuffle, this... okay, it's nothing like the much-lampooned rap song created by the 1985 Chicago Bears. Taskbar Shuffle is still a great application to keep around, because it allows you to move the contents of your taskbars, as well as your tray icons, similar to how you can shuffle around the tabbed windows of your Firefox browser. Why is this program great? Because it helps bring a little more organization and clarity to the contents of your taskbar--a task (tee-hee) that you can't do with normal Windows operating system customizations.
Download it here!
What it does: The name should be pretty self-explanatory on this one. Autosizer will automatically size a given application to whatever parameters you select. Want that Firefox window to always run maximized? You got it. Want your Steam window to shrink down to 100 by 120 pixels? You're crazy, but your dream is not an impossible one. This application is perfect for a power user's desktop, as it even blends window positioning into its crazy configurations. Slap your miniature Steam window into the upper-right corner of your desktop by changing just a few numbers--it's that easy!
Download it here!
What it does: Are you a fan of the Exposé feature that Apple builds into its operating systems? Do you even know what I'm talking about? If not, here's a preview: Exposé is analogous to Windows Vista's Aero-based windows switching function (Windows Key + Tab). Only, instead of displaying all of your current windows in a cascading pile, Exposé resizes and tiles these windows for easy finding. They're live screens, so you can see exactly what you're switching to in real-time. It's a great feature of the OSX operating system that, thanks to the freeware application Switcher, is now yours for the taking, Windows users.
Download it here!
What it does: Mimic the ability of this good ol' Linux operating system variant using KDE Window-Sizer. With it, you can use a combination of the alt key and your mouse buttons to perform basic movement and resizing commands on the window you're using. Hold down alt and left click anywhere in the window you're using to drag it around your desktop. If you right-click instead, you can resize the window to whichever new dimensions you prefer. And best of all, the application enables window-snapping for the sides of your display. This occurs automatically whenever you move or resize a program!
Download it here!
Comments are closed on this article
AntiHero
May 04, 2009 at 12:41pm
What about Rocketdock? I've been using it for about a year now, along with using Shuffle for about a month. Rocketdock is probably one of my top 5 favorite desktop enhancers. I use it at work, home, and i installed it on computers i used when i was still in school (Actually had it on a server once too)
I don't like Microsoft, I associate with it.
NAYRhyno
May 04, 2009 at 2:53pm
RocketDock is an awesome app for sure. You really have to hand it for apple for including a dock in the OS. The ability to use the Win7 taskbar like a dock is a step in the right direction. I still use RocketDock as a handy toolbar (shortcuts only, I don't minimize the apps to it). I miss being able to float taskbar toolbars to other parts of the screen like you could in XP.
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dracx619
May 04, 2009 at 6:49am
ive been using switcher for a good while now and i absolutely love it. o had tried some other ones but they all mostly just bogged my system down. this one is straightforward, simple, and works great. its the only MAC feature i like. what they nee to do now is make a switcher that has the option to pull up only open windows for a particular app...like photoshop and illustrator. mac still one ups win on this front unless somebody can help a brotha out... ;)
pcwizmtl
May 04, 2009 at 6:32am
the first thing i did when I got vista was what tasbar shuffle does! its about time! I always hated grouping similar taskbar buttons and this is perfect!
Awesome article, I'm 4/5 myself.
TheMurph
May 04, 2009 at 12:23pm
That was my favorite application as well. I'm amazed that the Windows OS just hasn't built this functionality in natively. *shrug*
NAYRhyno
May 04, 2009 at 2:50pm
Shuffling taskbar items is native in Windows 7 finally.
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Redeye
May 03, 2009 at 10:45pm
I'm impressed with this list, I've downloaded two out of five (Switcher and MaxTo) and see myself using these a LOT. Pretty good, usually I see these and think "wow neat" but never use them. Thanks for the tips.
TheMurph
May 03, 2009 at 11:07pm
I must confess, were I to load my PC with all the freeware I recommend each week, I would probably go nuts and/or fill my hard drive.
I'm nevertheless glad that you were able to find some programs of use this time around. I take it zombie-games and screenshot-capture utilities aren't your bread and butter? :D
SuperiorBeing
May 03, 2009 at 7:52pm
I hate Macs for religious reasons, but the window switching is so damn convenient.. Now I can switch like them, and not hate myself.
JLCondon
May 03, 2009 at 7:34pm
maxto is awesome. So simple yet I didn't even think to look for something like this. Thanks for the heavy lifting guys!
Zeroblizzard
May 03, 2009 at 6:20pm
Here we go: "And that's why I've hunted down fire freeware applications that give you just-that-much-more control" (instead of "hunted down FIRE freeware", it should be "hunted down FIVE freeware". By the way, that typo is in the second paragraph, third sentence. (And the second sentence of the third paragraph is a fragment.)
TheMurph
May 03, 2009 at 11:02pm
And the winner of the "find the typo" prize for this week: Zeroblizzard!
I'll be sending the $50 gift certificate your way shortly! :D
zstadt
May 03, 2009 at 6:50pm
I consider myself a grammar/spelling fanatic and even I don't submit to pointing out the typos found in these articles (of which there are a decent amount - no offense MPC).
UpsideDownPants
May 03, 2009 at 7:08pm
The last few articles I have read on here, THAT little nazi up there is the first response; always pointing out each and every little mistake.
NOT THAT IT'S ANNOYING OR ANYTHING.
;)
(And yes, I know that's a sentence fragment, but you're just going to have to live with it.)
Stry8993
May 03, 2009 at 5:07pm
Hey, thanks Dave, I am fine with the way Windows is by default, but one of my buddies was looking for exactly these sorts of programs. So another fan your way, I'm sure. Take care. And thanks again.
TheMurph
May 03, 2009 at 11:05pm
Always glad to help out a friend/fan! Or a friend/fan of a friend/fan! :D
SEALBoy
May 03, 2009 at 3:23pm
I also heartily recommend Fences. A lot of the apps listed aren't going to be as useful with Windows 7, thanks to its UI improvements.
SirBC
May 03, 2009 at 3:19pm
Good list. One other (free) desktop managment app that I can't do without is Fences. Check it out here:
http://www.stardock.com/products/fences/
Saiyan Monkey
May 03, 2009 at 9:50pm
I gotta say, Murph, you always find the best damned stuff. Like Magic Formation, I've been able to completely stop using my Start menu since I added that little beauty to my arsenal (though, I admit, it did take me a couple of days to remember to use it instead of scooting over to the Start button, which was my habit as I despise having icons all over my desktop (the only one I have is the recycling bin...'cause I can't figure out how to get rid of it...)). Now I can feel my trousers gettin' soggy—so to speak—over MaxTo and Autosizer (it'd take too long to explain why, so I'll just leave it at these two apps making one of my PC hobbies a whole Hell of a lot simpler). Thanx man, keep it coming, and if you could, at some point, briefly explain just how the #|_|@|< you manage to find these little gems, I think there'd be a lot of aspiring enthusiasts (as I can, presently, consider myself to be little more than that, at best) who'd be interested. Thanx man, keep it comin' (sound familiar?)!
TheMurph
May 03, 2009 at 11:04pm
I am glad. Uh. I helped you in your soggy-pants adventures. Somehow, I feel as if a little computer angel has gained its wings.
...
As for how I find these applications, well, let's just say that I have a lot of bookmarks. Perhaps too many bookmarks.
