I use the Quick Launch for a few apps that I use a lot, then I also keep a folder on the desktop (and in the quick launch) with shortcuts to a lot more of the apps. Convenient location, no desktop clutter, and best of all, no "all programs" on the start menu!

Norcross

I use the built-in Desktop toolbar
( Right-Click the taskbar, choose toolbars - Desktop ) , from witch I can easily access my underlying shortcuts, and, via My computer, I can browse my entire harddisk "startmenu style".

In the meantime, I disable the Quick Launch toolbar.

zjo

I don't use any of the above but i do use:

tclock ([shii.org])
samurize (www.samurize.com)
ps tray ([www.pssoftlab.com])

To create the following compact tray setup that hides the start menu button, skins the tray, customizes the clock and displays the battery level of my laptop.

[floatsolutions.net]

math0ne

i create new toolbars for directories that i'm constantly using at the time(graphics, docs, etc.).. i can just click the toolbar, and the whole dir shows as a dropdown for quick and easy access to files..

one that's ALWAYS there though is one that points at my music directory, since i'm not a big media library person..

no quicklaunch for me either, using launchy instead..

sirfice

I only use quick launch, then a custom toolbar for my F: drive which has everything sorted like a Mac OSX home folder.

zaxour

@Dooga: I used to click on Show Desktop a lot, until I realized Win+D does the same thing! Takes some retraining, but does save some real estate.

Gina Trapani

I use the quick launch bar only for a "show desktop" shortcut. Other than that, no toolbars.

Dooga

True Launch Bar. Like quick launch on steroids. Lots of plugins highly customizable. Can't live without it!

calaban9

Free Launch Bar

new282

I'm a toolbar bandit!!

I have my quick launch packed with all my "go to" apps and I have the address bar up for fast file getting and URL hitting.

I then have 4 custom tool bars;

Docked next to quick launch I have my "Drives" toolbar containing shortcuts to all my drives.

Then Docked, and set to autohide, on the left I have;

"Power" - which lets me lock,shutdown and reboot.
"Env" - which lets me edit my development environment at the click of the mouse.
"Scripts" - A collection of hacks and tricks I've written myself.

Finally there's "CurProj" - where I shortcut all the items pertinent to the current project I'm working on specs, manuals, requirements, project files and the ilk.

All of those shortcuts have their "Shortcut keys" set so whether mousing or boarding I can run them all.

Like I said I'm a bandit!

Boter

+1 for launchy only.

I was a firm believer in RocketDock until i learnt the ways of the uber-launcher.

fishlips20

Since installing RocketDock I cleared everything from my quick launch toolbar except "show desktop". I'm going to take Gina's advice and try getting used to Win+D to eliminate quick launch completely.

The only other toolbar I have checked is windows media player since it shows so much more info on the taskbar than a minimized player.

Fierock

I have VERY few icons on my desktop. The majority of my most used apps(Outlook, Firefox, IM, reboot shortcut and a few others) are all in my quick launch bar. It keeps my desktop clean, it's easier to have one click versus 2 plus even though the icons are small they are easily recognizable. I'm surprised more people don't use the quick launch bar. It's VERY effective.

suprfli

all you need is launchy

mbs348

I only use Quick Launch for show desktop. I use slick run to launch everything else (this is when I used windows). I'd rather have more space for my minimized windows.

abhiroop

launchy... nuff said

nakedcode

I use "Free Launch Bar"

hradilv

The regular toolbar functions just fine for me. The Start button ("Win key") search function along with Quick launch leaves me with no need for Launchy. The only extra toolbar I use is for WMP.

Webran61

The toolbars in xplorer².

pschroeter

I made my own. It's just a folder with shortcuts, and links. Its on the right side of the screen and is on auto-hide; can't live without it!

rbaldwin143

chocolate covered task bar

petard

quicksilver, launchy. then autohide the dock and the taskbar. screen real estate, elegance, simplicity, magnificence.

leoeris

True Launch Bar for me.

Echilon

True Launch Bar rocks. Pop up menus on your quicklaunch bar, virtual folders, useful plugins like a media player control, virtual desktops, shortcut keys, skinnable, plays nice with WindowBlinds. A+

Rant93

I use launchy but still display the quicklaunch so people can ask what the Firefox, Copernic and DVDFab icons are and I can launch into my superiority monologue. I have the Copernic search bar and the Desktop bar minimized to one side, I double width my task bar so I can see the full date format and I utilize Ultramon to extend my taskbar to my secondary monitor. One other thing that makes me awesome is the Black Noir theme. :) I usually stick with the same format for about 3 months before I scrap the whole thing in the name of "productivity".

CLallo4444

rocket dock from Punk software.
www.punksoftware.com

kklassy

So, how come we have to choose just one? Given the limited real estate on any one side of laptop screen, I have to use all sides (all auto-hide except the clock):

Bottom: Windows toolbar (minus QuickLaunch)
Right: QuickLaunch toolbar (actually 2) for programs and folders
Top (near left): Dexpot Desktop Preview for multi-desktop switching
Top (near right): Digital clock widget
Left: Google Desktop Sidebar with calendar, notepad, email, search

rlee

I have a vertical toolbar on the left side, about 1" wide with shortcuts to all of my various excel and word template for customer quotes and follow-ups. And a folder with just the "arrows" showing that I click and it brings up a list of all of my price lists.

Confuzius

When I was using XP, I had the address bar and quick launch at the top of my screen with auto-hide enabled. Now that I'm in Vista I just have Rocket Dock at the top of my screen set to auto hide. I no longer need the address bar since I can type in locations and web addresses into the search box within the start menu.

jonny6pak

@leoeris: A man, a plan, a canal, Panama?

For the Launchy crowd: in practice, do you find using Launchy is much faster than hitting the Quicklaunch icon? I've always wondered...

rscotta

launchy for me

gpzbc

I don't like the toolbars that sit in the taskbar because that doesn't leave any room for my open application window icons. I'd rather give up one line of screen real estate.

On the other hand, programs like RocketDock take up too much space.

I miss the very simple toolbar that used to come with MS Office.

rorywohl

Quick Launch is the hotness, and I keep accidentally coming across hotkeys, like "WinKey+1,2,3,etc." to launch the program in that Quick Launch slot. And my desktop is ALWAYS empty; I just use the search bar to launch apps, or go in my Quick Launch.

DONNYchiban

None of the above. I have but one toolbar... well, it's just a toolbar title and a little arrow which brings up all my reference programming PDFs and help files. I like to have those handy. Other than those, I don't use toolbars since I started using Launchy.

qbix

+1 for Launchy

It may not be as good as Quicksilver, but it works on Windows.

bduenskie

@Dave61: I should explain that this toolbar is a folder named with the hard space character (ASCII 255) so that can be the minimum possible width.

Dave61

I like a clean desktop with as much working space as possible. I use three toolbars:

1) Quick launch with office apps, IE, my documents and my computer visible; sized so that other useful apps are an extra click away.

2) My Computer so that I can browse to anywhere. This gets the least use.

3) A custom built toolbar (named to minimise space required) where I store various portable apps (which can quickly be hidden from the geek police).

Dave61

I create a new toolbar from "My Computer", and I have it right beside the start button. Then, I minimize this toolbar as much as possible, so it's basically the toolbar name and a small arrow that opens a menu when it's clicked. This way I can navigate to any file or folder on my system without having to fire up explorer.

[img177.imageshack.us]

aelhelw

Launchy? It's hogware! I'm using the much superior Find and Run Robot (FARR) after my last Launchy install went hoggy. Lately I have all desktop icons hidden and I use the XP built in ability list desktop contents from the taskbar, which I have hidden but on top at the left side. Task bar to the left gives you a ton more space for open windows. The only thing is your arrow buttons can make the window pop up. So, I move them in FF on the right.

philosopher_dog

philosopher_dog, thank you so much for mentioning FARR! I have never heard of it before now and it is fantastic.
I don't run Vista and one of the only things I really like about Vista is the ability to simply start typing the name of the app you want in the search field and it produces a list to choose from. FARR does all this and more! Great find.

HobWebs

@rlee: woah crazy, point me to a screenshot?

yea i'm gonna +1 for launcy too, but you missed a toolbar!

well, it's not really a toolbar, but i have all my 15 or so most used programs on the xp start menu.

GrayBird

My Quicklaunch has three exposed icons and then the expanding arrow.
From there I have several more icons and directories that expand. I also add a MyComputer shortcut that expands through the file tree.

On some computers I have additional folder based toolbars, including some that display the folder in the start menu as well.

Bob Brown

@mbs348: Agreed!!

bdragonmsl

Quicklaunch. Anything is fluff.

"Rob Brown" ... have you been looking at my computer? Amazing! 3 icons and then arrow.

BSitko

Quick Launch, clean and simple, with virtually no resource use.

treyd1

I can't live without a custom samurize config. You can enable samurize to display a tiny set of meters in the taskbar. Here's what mine looks like. incredibly useful.

[i100.photobucket.com]

tahnok

@GrayBird: I suspected someone would ask for that. Problem is, it's a bit tricky to do a screenshot involving multiple auto-hiding things.

rlee

@sirfice: Agreed, I have just one regular one with subfolders for all the major things in my life (mainly college, and some other activities).

I voted WMP, because like I mentioned in a previous comment on another post I preferred its miniplayer to the miniplayers of all other freeware/shareware media players out there that have one.

When I'm on an XGA laptop screen where screen real-estate is an issue, I can only afford one toolbar. I'll think about adding more when I finally get round to getting that 24-incher.

kureshii

I live with Quick Launch and a toolbar (created using "New Toolbar...") with folders of links (Games, Programs, Dev) on the right side of my desktop.

curtis3389

Yay for Launchy, no need even for the start button now!

Peter200lx

I use QT Tab Desktop Tool (which comes with QT Tabbar) as my toolbar of choice.

It has an three basic menus, Apps, Folder Groups, and Folder History. If you right click on a folder group you get another context menu of each folder.

Very helpful when I forget a specific folder but, no where I bookmarked it.

SirSmiley

@HobWebs: You're welcome. I learned about it from comments on LH. DonationCoder is a brilliant site with a bunch of great programs.

philosopher_dog

I use quick launch for show desktop, browser and email client. Everything else, there's Launchy!

ac042186

I love quicklaunch. I MUST have a show desktop icon on it, or I am lost.

guernicaaa

The first comment says "FreeLaunchBar", and I would add my vote for that. In fact, I liked it so much I bought its big brother "TrueLaunchBar" ($19.90) which has even more features. I can spend all day tweaking my icon groupings and menu structures. Marvellous!

algypug

Is it just me that wants to sing "Rock the Casbaah" when they see the menu option "Lock the Taskbar"...?

It is...?

OK, I'll get my coat.......

AragornsBeard

The way I launch programs depends on whether I'm using the mouse or keyboard at the time. There are some things which I have shortcuts for on my Quick Launch bar, like Display Properties, which are not used often, but too cumbersome to access otherwise. I also have Launchy (version 1 as version 2 didn't seem to be as responsive), which I use for most other programs when using the keyboard.

However the most prestigious spot, given to my most used programs including Firefox and iTunes, is a spot among the application buttons on my keyboard. I launch Firefox so many times a day, that even using Launchy takes too long.

Harryboyles

P.S. I have NO icons on my desktop!

algypug

P.P.S. ... and NO wallpaper. Just a plain colour, dark blue or black, depending on the mood I'm in. ;-(

Sorry. I'm finished now.

algypug

Sorry, Launchy lovers, but Slickrun still comes out on top for me.

Chef

Btw you can also see that I have the Recycle Bin on my QL. What is it for? I can delete stuff by dragging them onto the icon! This is sooo useful whenever I go keyboardless, like when I have the mouse in one hand and a burger in the other.

lionel

I haven't yet seen anyone else do this with their Quick Launch: [lh6.ggpht.com]
It's a beautiful 2-row taskbar, the QL (and other taskbars you fancy) at the top, the taskbar proper at the bottom. Been using this since Win98 SP2.

It's easy: Unlock taskbar. Drag it up 2 rows tall. Normally you'll have your QL as a block on the left -- just drag it slightly upwards. Voila. Lock taskbar.

PS: The Desktop taskbar you see is similar to @aelhelw's My Computer taskbar. Instead of minimizing all to see the Desktop I just click on this for a menu of the stuff on it. A menu navigating through My Computer is included as well, exactly like in aelhelw's tip.

lionel

DOMercury for me.

Mandar Vaze

I use QuickLaunch + Toolbar. New folder with program shortcuts and drag to a new toolbar. Then delete all the text and just icons for a quick sleek way to access tons of programs.

Also put some quick hit URLs .. gmail/woot/etc

k3n85

I just made a folder full of shortcuts & portable apps, then right-click on the Start bar -> Toolbars -> New Toolbar...
Works the same as Quick Launch, but I like it because it's easy to keep it when I reformat my PC.

Kafka

I don't use a lot of toolbars. I've got the Language bar, a few things on Quicklaunch, and... (previously mentioned here on Lifehacker) Workrave.

Toptiger5

The WorkRave toolbar, with all three timers (for micro-breaks, rest breaks and end of day). Very, very useful.

ezuk

Pstart

Started out using it for portable apps, but there is nothing that says you can't use it for other desktop app too!

shakiestnerd

Start++ is a must in Vista.

orkgandalf

iTunes toolbar. When I minimize, a nice little interface to control my music.

pennstatephil

Slickrun is still the best for me. For some reason LH doesn't seem to like it, though.

Troy F.

I like Launchy and Xneat. But honestly in Vista, Launchy is unnecessary. the start search does what I need.

piratesyar

Address bar = permanent Run dialog.

Just type in what you want: URL, folder location, program name. It's amazing how easy it is to just type "calc" or "notepad" or "d:\docs" or "lifehacker" followed by ctrl+enter.

timepiece

The Quick Launch bar is essential to my computer experience. My most-used actions are just a short click away.

Chad Cloman

@lionel: Cool! I think I'll find I like that better than having QL split out to a different edge of the screen. You can also get QL to be below the rest of the taskbar, too.

You didn't say how you got the wastebasket onto QL, but it appears that creating a shortcut to it in the QL folder does the trick.

rlee

I tend to roll Launchy, slickrun, and Quick Launch toolbar. I don't care too much about how many icons are on my desktop (I mostly use it for folders I want quick access to)

I wish like anything there was a launcher out there with Launchy's ability to guess what I'm thinking and slickrun's macro powers. If anyone knows of one, they'd be my hero for life.

callingshotgun

@Gina Trapani: I just learned about Win-D last week (possibly from Lifehacker?). That was the only thing keeping Quick Launch on my taskbar all this time.

Ninjeff

forgot to mention...I run a clean desktop...and just typing in a couple of letters in launchy is too much work even for me...phewwwww

amw1972

Object Dock Plus is my weapon of choice...SysTray, Taskbar...all in my dock

amw1972

I us eteh same trick in vista that I used way back in win98.

Craete a folder called "-". Drop shortcuts to a bunch of programs i reguraly use, then make that toolbar and stick it all teh way to the rights ide of teh taskbar show it only shows up as - and a chervon. I also always add a shortcut to that folder to that folder, so clicking on that will bring up the folder in an explorer window for easy editing

LordDaMan

None. Why do you add "No toolbars for me!" when you have the none of the above option. I use Dave's Quick Search Taskbar Toolbar Deskbar
[www.dqsd.net]

boardtc

@rlee: Yep that's how I got it there. And the trick also works for many other uses, e.g. I can drag a file onto the Notepad icon to open it in Notepad.

This is possibly the best, most useful setup for the QL. It emulates and beats up the MacOS Dock, methinks. Gina, this is, like, the sweetest Windows secret I could ever share -- seeing this tip made into an article would just thrill me. I mean, I've never seen anyone else discover this; sue me if that's untrue.

(Crap. Apologies for my first comment where I kept saying "taskbar" whenever I meant "toolbar" half the time, hope it wasn't too confusing.)

lionel

Comment on Battle of the Windows Toolbars RK Launcher is the toolbar I use. Looks like the Mac toolbar, super small footprint.

WirtBrizo

Links. it will let you browse any folders you add to the Favorites>Links folder, so instead of using Quick Launch where it will just open the folder, using the Links toolbar let's you keep dozens of shortcuts organized and easily accessible.

everydayscott

Launch-bar True Launch Bar & Free Launch Bar.

ShakambariDesomma

custom shortcut bar at the top of the screen. similar to ubuntu's, but for vista.

mleger

I use a custom toolbar (that "New Toolbar..." option). It's docked to the left side of the desktop, and set to autohide. I drag and drop shortcuts on to the toolbar and rearrange. It has all the apps that I use frequently.

The benefit of docking it to the left or right side is the "Show Text" toolbar option displays the shortcut name in addition to the icon.

dongadoy

Dave's Quick Search Deskbar. Yup.

clean-socks

I have the Quick Launch bar for a small number of applications, and an auto-hide bar docked on the right with most common applications.
Q for all: I need autohide b/c of screen real estate -- but it's so annoying to have the dock pop up suddenly when I'm going to X out an application, and docking it on the top or left is even worse for me.

Any hack (registry or otherwise) to get the autohide to wait for a 3-second mouse hover before popping out (giving me time to X out the needed application before the taskbar pops up)?

altla1

Free Launch Bar - Quick launch replacement

vlad6

Im using TrueLaunchBar already for 4 years. I wouldnt be able to use windows without it. I carry always a copy of TLB in my iPod. I dont go anywhere without it. Microsoft could learn more from other companies and improve their softwares. Now i bought a macbook and im honestly missing all the information you can get from TLB. Im loving my MAC anyways

MoExius

comment on battle of the windows toolbars Launchy for me :)

NoletaLibizzle

I have created a Gmail notifier in my taskbar by creating a new toolbar. When creating the toolbar, type the [mail.google.com] in the Folder field of the New Toolbar window. When a new email arrives, the toolbar updates to show Gmail - Inbox (1). Don't know how often it refreshes, but seems to work well.

posture

I only use 2 toolbars:

- Rocket Dock
- Launchy

spect3r