User Reviews
Desktop Sidebar
Desktop Sidebar is a toolbar that tightly integrates with Windows features and MS Outlook. It is built out of different components, each can be individually configured. Options include Outlook email ...
Average of 13 user ratings: 
- Jul 03, 2008
- For version:
- 1.16
I just love it 
- Interface: 5
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 4
- Value: 5
- Overall:
After first seeing Vista Gadgets I thought I would look for a sidebar like that for my XP. Well, this one is better. Very handy, able to do a lot of things I've been missing for a long time, etc. Has quite a few gadgets. (For first time users I recommend to remove the standard clock and add a World Clock that's much more customizable.) Take a look at the "Add plug-ins" page on the web, and see why I love this stuff. Undocked toolbars are my favorite - I can place file lists on my desktop for every project I work on. G.R.E.A.T.
Review by: danger (10)
Read all 10 reviews by danger
- Apr 24, 2007
- For version:
- 1.16
Just what I`ve been after
- Interface: 5
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
This is an excellent, highly customizable piece of software. In fact it does everything I want it to do. I have tried Yahoo widgets, and Google deskbar, and ditched both within 24hrs. This one I've kept and would recommend it to anyone.
Review by: Jayday (3)
Read all 3 reviews by Jayday
- Mar 08, 2007
- For version:
- 1.16
This is one cool add-on
- Interface: 5
- Features: 4
- Ease of use: 4
- Value: 5
- Overall:
Where to start; Firstly, I am not fond of things taking up my desktop space, so on my regular 19" LCD, this is too much space taken, but on my wide screen laptop it is just fine. It did crash several times as I was setting up the panels i wanted to display and changing skins. But once all that is taken care of, it runs fine. As for light on the resources; at first it showed only 6MB PF usage, but shot up to 23MB after a reboot. Not so light, but does replace my email checker, so there is a trade off. I love how outlooks folders are integrated in the sidebar, very cool to preview and even reply to emails right from there. The clock is cool, stock reports (if you are into that kind of thing), POP email checker for the rest of your accounts, which I have 12 being checked currently by poptray. One thing that steers me away is the fact that there are only 66 total add on panels available by other users, which makes me think the app has been abandoned by most.
Review by: pcs800 (178)
Read all 178 reviews by pcs800
- Feb 24, 2007
- For version:
- 1.16
Love it
- Interface: 5
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 4
- Value: 5
- Overall:
I can't imagine my computer without it. It really is that useful. I can track my computer's realtime performance, check email, control my music and know the weather all with a quick glance. It's very customizable by downloads or your own creativity. I use it on every computer I use.
Review by: LyonessKim (9)
Read all 9 reviews by LyonessKim
- Dec 15, 2006
- For version:
- 1.16
A nifty windows sidebar
- Interface: 5
- Features: 4
- Ease of use: 4
- Value: 4
- Overall:
Similar to Google's but with more panels
Review by: viginaria
First post
- Sep 23, 2006
- For version:
- 1.16
One of the best
- Interface: 5
- Features: 4
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
My favorite freeware application this year. Superior to other solutions of Yahoo, MS or Google. Beautiful skins available and several useful plug-ins. Only pity that no new ones seem to be developed anymore.
Review by: JoeDalton (3)
Read all 3 reviews by JoeDalton
- Jan 18, 2006
- For version:
- 1.04.75
Try it out.
- Interface: 3
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 3
- Value: 5
- Overall:
I did and it was okay, the reason i didn't really like it was when i move it like say to the left hand side, my HD would make noises and my icons would get rearange! and that's kind of intrusive. also dont like preinstalled shortcuts.. maybe because i've never tried anything like this before.. I like what it does, and all the features it has, but it's just not for me. I use YZdock for my sidebar/desk-dockin' needs.. it's EXTREMELY light on resources and on my desktop, and no install! and anything can be added to it. google it! ;)
Review by: Ghost_grey (58)
Read all 58 reviews by Ghost_grey
- Oct 28, 2005
- For version:
- 1.04.75
Download it now!
- Interface: 4
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 4
- Value: 5
- Overall:
Desktop Sidebar is one of the best FREEWARE utilities available on the net...It can do thousand of things, and everyday it can do more, because it's followed by a great community that releases panels, skins and plugins...
Review by: Banedon
First post
- Oct 23, 2005
- For version:
- 1.04.75
Control freak
- Interface: 5
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 4
- Value: 5
- Overall:
Highly configurable and relatively easy to use, Desktop Sidebar is composed of various panels which you can move about to your heart's content. You can get better clocks, weather reports, pc performance stats, mail checkers etc as stand alone applications but these are all in one place and they're free. The news panel is oriented toward the US; however, I added RSS feeds quickly and it works fine. The mail checker, unlike Google's Desktop 2, can check multiple accounts including IMAP and Hotmail. You can access many areas of your pc via the sidebar. If you select Auto hide, the sidebar does not resize your browser window. It integrates with Outlook Express but I would like to see support for Thunderbird. Impressive tool if you need this much functionality.
Review by: ezyduzzit (13)
Read all 13 reviews by ezyduzzit
- Nov 05, 2004
- For version:
- 1.04.75
The best reason to even turn on your pc!
- Interface: 5
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
DS is compl. customizable, you can spend hours (and you will) tweaking it just right. In one little strip of screen you can view 1000s of news headlines, updated in real time. Same for stocks, weather, picture slide shows (using your own photos or those from any web site, or mixed) and all your e-mail (and other Outlook info) There are clocks, calendars, IM and Media Player control panels, command line entry with WWW searches. There are 100s of beautiful skins. This app. has become my reason for sitting at the PC most of the time. You can do and watch it all here. Best of all, the developers are like family (no they are not my relations, but I do admit to loving this program, and telling anyone who will listen) Bugs are fixed almost in real time. Everyone is invited to add to the wish list AND their ideas actually appear in the next release or so. BOTTOM LINE: You need to try this now. When Longhorn comes out, MS will be forcing their inferior version on you so try the best now.
Review by: whiteoak (2)
Read all 2 reviews by whiteoak
- Aug 28, 2004
- For version:
- 1.03.42
Outstanding...
- Interface: 4
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 4
- Value: 5
- Overall:
This is a tool for free that helps to emulate the functionality of Longhorn's Sidebar. But it goes way past that, to all kinds of new skins, all kinds of panels, from rss reader to application capture, to calendar's, miranda, it just does everything and more, for free! You got to have it, it just is awesome...
Review by: crosenblum
First post
- Aug 16, 2004
- For version:
- 1.03.42
"on demand" information....
- Interface: 5
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
If you interesting for the world of "on demand" information you must try th Desktop Sidebar! Desktop Sidebar give you all the information you with just a glance using specific panels. Each panel display reports and interface with other applications, settings, and virtually anything else you may want to know. The usage of this program is virtually limitless. Excellent program.
Review by: PhantomLord (12)
Read all 12 reviews by PhantomLord
- Jul 03, 2004
- For version:
- 1.03.42
Like this program ...
- Interface: 5
- Features: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Value: 5
- Overall:
Like this program
Review by: wtky270
First post
