Windows 8 Bible

Chapter 13

Personalizing the Desktop

IN THIS CHAPTER

Personalizing your screen, mouse, and keyboard

Personalizing your taskbar

Using Windows gadgets

On a touch device, the Start screen is probably where you’ll spend most of your time. On a more traditional PC, however, the Windows desktop is probably your main workplace. Or maybe “play place,” depending on how you use your computer. But the point is, your Windows desktop is similar to a real, wooden desktop. It’s where you keep all the stuff you’re using right now — the stuff that’s open. Your hard disk and its folders, by comparison, are more like your filing cabinet, where you keep stuff you might need in the future.

We all like to set up our own desktop and work environment in unique ways. What works best for one person isn’t necessarily great for someone else. Fortunately, the way things look and work on your Windows 8 desktop aren’t set in stone. You can personalize your desktop and features in a variety of ways to make them look and work the way you like. That’s what this chapter is all about — having your Windows environment set up your way.

Most of the options described in this chapter apply only to the user account you’re currently logged in to, so any changes you make to your own desktop apply only to you (assuming that you’re logged in to your own user account). This means that all users of a computer can have their settings just the way they want them without stepping on each others’ toes.