The OS X Alpha Geek Desktop
When reader Andreas wrote in to share his desktop configuration, we were stunned at the level of nerdy information we had just encountered—this is perhaps the geekiest desktop we’ve ever seen.
Andreas started his ultimate desktop project when he fell in love with Expose’s ability to show the desktop by moving your mouse to a corner of the screen—so he set out to use that feature to display every piece of information he could think of using GeekTool to display text files on the desktop.
What makes this desktop so striking isn’t just the lack of a blended wallpaper—Andreas wanted to focus on the information—it’s the graph in the lower right-hand side that tracks his vital statistics, including his blood pressure and weight information. To generate this graph, he created a command line script similar to our founding editor’s Todo.txt utility, but this script accepts daily health information and writes it to a file. The graph is then generated using that data by running it through GNUplot and added to the screen with GeekTool—a great way to keep motivated to stay healthy.
The rest of the desktop includes a calendar, to-do list, date, moonphase, and even economic indicators—everything that a geek might want to see at a glance—and presented in what must be the geekiest desktop we’ve ever seen. For those that are curious about all of the details and reasoning behind this desktop, hit the link to check out the full write-up and a full-size screenshot of the desktop in action.
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Comments (AU Comments | US Comments)
I like good wallpapers and the aesthetics of a desktop too much to ever be able to do this, but the huge geek inside me is cheering.
could I put a calender like this on my desktop in rainmeter? how? thanks!
dantheman12
@SoaringDisbelief: *inforgasm
@TessCulver:
That actually sounds like an awesome desktop.
strawbocide
I had an information orgasm.
SoaringDisbelief
Clever, but should look polished, like a Mac. It looks like what I imagine Windows "windows" look like underneath if you peel off the aero front, exposing the DOS underneath...
TessCulver
@greasypigarvin: This guy just outnerded -everyone-
I track my weight and my girlfriend's on an Excel file, complete with how many pounds we have lost/gained since last measure and a total, the lost pound per day rate and a awesome chart.
arekkusu82
@Phoshi: Yes, it does. He seems to have put a lot of thought into it, unlike some other desktops I've seen. Of course, not everyone will like it, but.. we're geeks. What can we say.
interficio
I think that guy just outnerded you.
I was wondering why the vitals, thinking "Bone Collector", then I read he's got economic indicators. That explained everything.
jupiterthunder
Well, it's certainly informative. Not an example of typical "I R FIT EVERYTHING ON AGHAHAHAH", it actually looks good.
@puntai: KICK! Keep it Complex, Kludgey!
Maybe if the colors were better...
meow-mixer
This is not an example of KISS.
puntai
Wow.
Not my taste at all, but... wow!
I just bought a new 23" display this evening (coming from 17"), so now's a good time to look for some desktop inspiration :-)
sredlums
@dantheman12: you could try rainlander its skinnable also
madjack1987
Isn't Geektool that piece of "abandon-ware that still works"?
cfoo
I saw this & I thought first - this guy must work in the met office! I'm sure that data terminals at the weather station don't look very different.
This is brutal. Right down to the colour scheme - no eye candy, no jell-o buttons or icons. Its uniquely cool.
@TessCulver: Since NT, Windows is no longer based on any variant of DOS. If you're running 9x (I pity you..), then carry on. About all you use MS-DOS for now is updating your BIOS.
Abby_Normal
I gotta say, this is the most un-Mac desktop I've ever seen. If it weren't for the menubar across the top, I'd say this looks like something from the early '80s.
I hope this person knows what having systolic BP that high consistently means... time for some stress reduction/ diet change/ exercise/ or a combination.. but 120 is a ceiling.. not a floor, and hypertension is no joke.
Edd2944
TOO MUCH INFORMATION!!!!!!
Each to their own though... It's certainly impressive.
This is very great desktop, pure information. Everything is information, nothing decorative, and it has a coherent terminal style that works. Shalom, shalom.
@sredlums: Some inspiration?
Here you go: [customize.org]
I'd kill for a monitor that big.
I thought this was a joke when I first saw it.
Okay, it seems you CAN put every single possible meter from GeekTool on your desktop, for those who were wondering. I'm not sure if this wasn't already common knowledge, but alright. Couldn't he at least have chosen an attractive font?
sadly this would just generate anxiety for me
he has his actual geographical coordinates of his house along with important phone numbers on his desktop...
The_Last_Skunk
@Edd2944:
I was thinking the same. Coupled to a pulse which often exceeds 100, would suggest someone needs to cut down on the salt, or otherwise deal with hypertension.
@arekkusu82:
Now you just need a visual basic script to create an automatic letter dumping her when the weight goes above a threshold value.
@nitzua:
Thanx for the link, I'll look in to it.
By the way, I had been clammoring for a display this big for quite a while too, so I am very happy with it.
It cost me 'only' €250,- (about 390 US Dollar?), which is a LOT less than what it was a while ago, so I took the plunge.
I am now at work, and it allready takes some getting used to the 17" display I work on here :-/
sredlums
Steve Jobs would pee on this desktop. UGLY!
WOW, that is not aesthetically... well... anything. I don't think that word is applicable... in any way, really.
Also, very geeky. Bravo!
This is interesting, however I think it looks pretty ugly and hard to get anything done. Looks a bit too confusing and not really my taste, though I can see some work has gone into so I applaud! :)
MarkBirn
@sredlums: Ouch! I just got a 23" Samsung for $160...
I have a 22" at home, and a 23" and 22" dual screen setup at work.
sound2man
HOW is he plotting his pulse and stuff every 2 hours? or less?
I hope he is not stopping his daily flow to take these measurements and then manually inputing them. Then again, I do find it strange that he might be wearing bio sensers and transmitting wirelessly.
over all cool idea, not sure if my workspace monitor should have that info. i think this would be better served on a seperate system.
lozer4all
@virgilstar: hahahahahah! I think that would be a job better suited in a Powerpoint presentation as well...
Guitarfool5931
Umm, I have the same amount if more available from my desktop with just a few apps. Sure they're not all integrated like that but who cares? I like my pretty relaxing pictures instead :P
I'd love to be able to embed things like stock charts on my PC. I think I could build the RSS feed for the charts myself. But, Would Samurize be the best way to embed them?
yikes, all I've got on mine is my hamachi network list since LogMeIn seems to fail at making GUI's.
oddsoul