Apple Dashboard/Widgets - Have I missed something?

[Tulipone]

Moving from MS recently where the widgets are on a bar and available when you need them, why are they 'hidden' by a click on dashboard in Apple? Is there anyway of sticking them to the desktop?

Got any downloaded ones that are essential?

Chrus

 

[Merovingian]

Why would you want them on the desktop?! You need to leave MS behind you!!

Anyway, I find BBC weather and wikipedia widgets handy. Dictionary's always useful too.

 

[cyclone]

I have to admit it doesn't bother me, but this may be useful to you:-

http://digg.com/apple/Pull_Mac_Widgets_onto_the_Desktop

 

[ianm79]

Your not missing much at all tbh - I've never been able to see a use for them, but surely one keypress isn't too much of a hassle.

 

[Chillimonster]

the one i miss from Vista is the slideshow widget. I like having my photo collection cycling through at random, as it is always good to see some of my old pics and pics i'd forgotten i'd taken

 

[cressers]

just configure a corner to show dashboard.

I use them all the time. Gmail, msn, weather, news, travel, post it notes etc...all just a mouse gesture away without cluttering up the desktop

 

[Craikeybaby]

Another vote for configuring a corner for Dashboard here. The widgets I find useful are:
iStat Pro
The postit one
Calculator
Character Pal
Weather

You can find loads here: http://www.apple.com/uk/downloads/dashboard/

 

[Jim.R]

If you want a slideshow of your photo's, you can configure the desktop background to cycle through your iPhoto/Aperture library, or a folder of images.

 

[andrewc]

I have the What the Duck widget

 

[it's alive]

Alternatively configure your desktop to randomly cycle through your images and see them BIG.