What are you, some kind of Luddite?? "Go outside"... how archaic! Why on earth would I want to leave my computer just to check the local atmospheric conditions?

BlueDev,

(Laugh) That really put a smile on my face, BlueDev....in fact I'm still chuckling.....
Our obsession with weather is quite amazing or is it just because it is a fallback subject in case we have nothing more important to speak of....and everyone is so sure that they have nothing interesting to say ....so they keep the back up handy.. within grasp at all times!!

And I have to ask why?

Basically, it's for planning stuff for rest of week. today's is for dressing up. It may be clear but will rain at afternoon. I might get caught out.

Desktop X has just short of 100 objects

Yeah. All of em has some kind of different features or lack thereof, different graphics, etc.

To top off the typical DX objects, there is also "Natural Desktop" which is powered by DX. It has a weather globe, a console that has all sorts of weather related info, and a forecast screen option. It also changes the desktop for the time of day and changes sounds (natural sounds like birds chirping) for the different time of day and weather.

I know, I know citahellion. I am a little old fashioned I suppose. I just can't help but feel the need at times though. I figure a few more years in front of my screen should beat it right out of my. I will get completely integrated into the techno-now. Then when my wife asks me what it is like outside my first instinct won't be to open the door and take a brief walk like it is no, but rather to check my Desktop X widget. Ah, the future!

The Crusaders - I am so glad you enjoyed my little article. I makes me smile to know you "got it".

XX - Yeah, I know it is handy for planning. This article was mainly a bit of a tongue-in-cheek effort at something that I find amusing, but admittedly mildly disturbing. As far as the objects, yes, there are many different styles and color schemes. I have downloaded most of them at one point or another, even if I still don't have them on my system. It is fun to use them to build my current theme, make it all match nicely and such. And the "Looking Glass" weather suite really is amazing work. I don't mean to take away from the work done on those objects at all.

KarmaGirl - I actually am planning on purchasing the "Natural Desktop" (I have been keeping an eye on it since Brad first mentioned it over on WC a while back and have been reading up about it over there). I think it looks very cool. But I can't help but be a little disturbed by the idea. Not at Stardock in particular, more at society in general. We have built such strong shelters from nature, jobs that successfully keep us away from it all that we feel the need to simulate it in some way. Just like the weather widgets, I can't help but wonder if at times we let very nice and beatiful approximations of reality steer us away from what really is.

Did that make any sense? If not I will try one more time.

We need to be outside. Our bodies and minds hunger for it. So we make our computers do things that remind us of what that is like. I think it is great. But I also think we need to spend a little more time with the real thing than the facsimile.

Thanks to all for your comments!

The problem is that my employer doesn't like me running around outside during the day, so at least the weather objects let me know what is going on outside.  My husband works in engineering is a large engine plant.  He never sees the light of day in the winter, so at least his computer can let him know what the drive home will be like.

It isn't intended to substitute the outside.  It's supposed to be there for when you can't get outside.

I rather be running around outside right now.  Natural Desktop tells me it's 80 degrees and fair outside, and the weather sphere shows little clouds...too bad I have to work

I am thinking about making my own weather object to match my crystalized desktop, among with other new object.