Ron Schenone

Do You Have A Messy Desktop? Give ‘Fences’ A Try

Posted by on May 6, 2010 | 15 Comments

I must admit that I am a 100% certified neat freak when it comes to my Windows desktop. Outside of a few gadgets I have selected for use, my desktop is clear of any clutter or icons. I use the taskbar to keep icons available that I use everyday and also use the hide option to keep the bar off of my desktop as well. So when I go to my wife’s computer which is cluttered with junk and gunk, it drives me nuts! LOL

This morning while doing my daily surfing, I stumbled on a free program called Fences. Fences allows a user to organize their desktop clutter into nice organized boxes. I downloaded the free program and I must say, it works very well. In fact, if you are a desktop icon junkie, a collector of junk, or someone who just wants to cleanup their desktop, I would recommend giving this program a try.

Here is what the Fences people say about their software:

Basic Features of the free version:

  • Rope off your desktop -Fences allows you to create shaded areas on your desktop that you can place icons in. You can label them however you wish, and move/resize them anywhere on the desktop. Pre-included layouts help speed the process for new users.
  • See your wallpaper again! Quickly hide & show all your icons with an easy double-click – Double click blank space on your desktop, and all your icons will fade out. Double click again, and they’ll return. We think this feature is so useful and unique, that we’ve applied for a patent on it. You can even pick icons and individual Fences to exclude!
  • Create snapshots, and have automatic scaling – Take and restore snapshots of your Fence layouts for backup, or for when you are doing different tasks. Change your resolultion for playing games and Fences will keep them in the same relative spots. In the Pro version of Fences, the “snapshot” feature has been enhanced to automatically take and keep recent snapshots on hand, ensuring your desktop layout never gets lost.

    • Take a look at a screen shot that shows how Fences ropes your desktop icons:

    The feature I like is that you can select the number of boxes [fences] you wish to use, the names you wish to call each one, plus if you double click on the desktop the boxes are hidden from view. Another double click on the desktop brings back the boxes. Nice touch.

    The software works with Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7, 32 bit and 64 bit.

    Comments welcome.

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    • Thomas

      So… it basically a more stylish folder?

      I am more used to creating folders and snapping them, but it is a fairly nice look to it. I might try it out.

    • JonathanPDX

      I’ve been using Fences since it was in Beta. I bought the Pro version when it came out, but Stardock wanted to download a “we’ve-got-our-eye-on-you” application to keep you and your downloads on a short leash. Since they didn’t disclose the fact that you had to download their nanny app first (I HATE download managers…they’re just more crapware to have on your system) and asked for my money back, they said I had already downloaded it and there was nothing they could do about it.

      Since they KNOW when you install it and use it, that seemed like a pretty strange attitude.

      I don’t mind paying for software, I just don’t like being treated like a pirate or a thief when I do, nor do I like having to load built-in spyware. So I wrote off the payment to lessons learned and stuck with their free version. It does enough.

      • http://wp3.lockergnome.com/nexus/blade/ Ron Schenone

        JonathanPDX,
        Thanks for the information. Interesting that the Pro version wants to babysit you.
        Regards, Ron

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    • http://www.snmakeham.com rhemaangel

      From the Stardock web site: “What are Fences’ System Requirements? Fences runs on all of Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7. On Vista and Win7, both 32bit and 64bit versions are supported. Since Fences uses nearly no system resources, having the operating system is its only requirement. Impulse is required to download and keep Fences up-to-date.”

      Impulse is a “download manager” similar in nature to Real’s setup, i.e. SPYWARE. Not on my machine!

      Nice idea, Fences, but FAIL in requiring the Impulse thingy.

    • http://www.snmakeham.com rhemaangel

      @Ron — BOTH versions require the spyware. :o /

      • http://wp3.lockergnome.com/nexus/blade/ Ron Schenone

        Thanks for the info. The firewall I use refused to allow the program to call home.

    • Dennis F

      I have used Fences for about 6 months, with great results. Icons for each hobby apps are in heir own litle area and easy to find. Two problems to date. One day I lost all the icons that were inside fences. Had to delete and reinstall. The latest problem arose after I installed the latest updates to Win 7. Still have all the icons, but they left the fence area and are scattered all over the desktop. Try again I guess.

      Didn’t know about spyware. Will have to investigate on my machine.

      • http://wp3.lockergnome.com/nexus/blade/ Ron Schenone

        Thanks Dennis.

    • JB

      I just installed Fences free version a couple of days ago.. works great for me, and can’t find any Impulse or spyware. Besides, if you click on the Impulse page it looks something more akin to Steam, not Real downloader.

    • Ken Weinkauf

      I think calling Impulse spyware is going a bit too far. I have owned and used many Stardock programs over the years; Desktop X, Windowblinds, Object Desktop, and Fences. Impulse does nothing but alert you when there are changes to the software. It does not check to see where you go on the internet and try to affect your buying habits. It does have advertisements, from time to time, about software they would like you to buy, but these are easily bypassed. I don’t think Impulse qualifies as spyware, but rather monitorware. I love Fences, and have no trouble using it, or updating it. I only use the free version; the paid version doesn’t have enough to entice me to buy.

    • Bob’s MyUncle

      My free version tries to call home intermittently to: 91.209.196.174

      My firewall blocks it.

      I don’t like snoopware that has no facility to turn off its Call-Home feature.

      I always like to support small software publishers that make good inexpensive software that does the job, but I won’t buy monitor ware!

      Smarten up Stardock !

    • Dan

      Here is another good software – RoboBasket from robobasket.com
      It’s an auto file sorter software which can automatically move, rename, delete, copy your files according to user defined rules. Save a lot of time an effort.