Emerge Desktop provides a cleaner Windows desktop

Filed under: Utilities, Windows, Freeware

Emerge Desktop provides a cleaner Windows desktop

by Brad Linder Oct 7th 2008

Tired of staring at a cluttered Windows desktop filled with program icons, documents, and other shortcuts? There are two solutions: Give your desktop a thorough cleaning, or sweep everything under the rug. Emerge Desktop helps you do the latter.

In a nutshell, what Emerge Desktop does is replace the Windows shell. That means no more start menu, taskbar, or system tray. Those items are replaced with a clean, blank desktop. The only thing you'll notice running after installing Emerge Desktop is a replacement for the Windows system tray called emergeTray.

So how do you launch programs? In a very Linux-like fashion, you simply right-click on your desktop. A menu will pop up allowing you to find programs that are in your start menu, quick launch bar, or files and shortcuts that were hanging out on your Desktop.

If you already use a program launcher like RocketDock or Launchy, Emerge can help you effectively hide everything on your desktop while still providing a system tray. It did take me a few minutes to figure out how to change the transparency level for emergeTray or how to move it. The answer? Hold the Ctrl key while right clicking on it to bring up the edit or configure menus.

[via Lifehacker]

Tags: emerge, emerge-desktop, emergedesktop, shell-replacement

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

JohnnyL said 5:38PM on 10-07-2008

What's the purpose of this program? It can't be just to give you a clean desktop. I have that now without running anything other than windows. when I turn my pc on at work all you see is the wallpaper. No icons, no task bar. The task bar is on auto hide. Icons I need to launch programs I need at work are in the quick launch area. Anything else can be easily reached through the start button. I really can't see what this does that makes it a compelling install. I have been trying out Rocket Dock for several weeks but may uninstall that. for the life of me I can't see what that gives me that the task bar doesn't. Same for Launchy. at least the dock stuff gives you a visual difference to the task bar but i haven't figured out yet what benefit Launch provides. does it really save anytime. What happens if you don't remember the name of the program but just know you installed a utility ages ago that does what you need? I think I can launch just about anything quicker through the quick launch bar or start button. I believe the real motivation behind most of these dock, desktop and launcher programs is just to give the user something that wasn't provided by MS. However I do have an open mind but have still seen nothing to convince me yet.

Mark said 5:38PM on 10-07-2008

It is a replacement shell. Instead of using Explorer with the task bar, start menu, etc this replaces it with an alternative shell similar to those popular with Linux.

Superevil said 7:30PM on 10-07-2008

I might have to check this out. I've been using Linux a lot more recently because of all the customization options

Jash Sayani said 7:52AM on 10-08-2008

I dont want it too clean !!

DeoWulf said 11:03PM on 10-08-2008

I like it, but there's no clock. And, of course, a search for a desktop clock application leads to all sorts of crap because it's just so easy to make. Got any good always-on-top, small or customizable desktop clocks?

Jack said 5:22PM on 10-09-2008

There is a clock built in, you just need to execute it. its called emerge command. Configure it to run on startup. not only is it a clock, but when you click on it, it doubles as a RUN box.

Gypse Boxten said 8:19AM on 10-09-2008

I like this app. I installed it on all my computers, including my work laptop.

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