Rocket Dock is a free Mac dock clone for Windows that is easy to setup and configure [Thanks Download Squad]. If you are looking for something similar that you can really tweak like mad, then you might want to check out ObjectDock ($19.95 USD) from Stardock, but if you are primarily interested in the dock-like feature like me then give RocketDock a try.

Keeping both my physical and vitual desktops clean is a chore. My physical desktop is made of glass and requires frequent cleaning to rid of smudges. By week’s end I often end up with tons of icons on the desktop which is where I find the most handy place to temporarily store items before filing away and/or using.

With RocketDock I dragged the shortcuts used most often over to the dock. I found that I liked the dock placed on the far right instead of atop, left or the bottom. In the dockbar settings I changed so that the dock was always behind other windows instead of atop and also made the icons smaller using the slider, so they wouldn’t underlap the systray and clock.

I removed most of the default RocketDock icons including My Document, My Pictures, My Music. I’m used to using Windows + E to access Windows Explorer quickly and navigate from there. The only default icons I kept were the Recycle Bin, Dock Settings and Control Panel. The only duplicate I left on my desktop was the Recycle Bin as the topmost screenshot shows.

Using folders on the desktop for additional organization
I also have five folders on my desktop that I drag shortcuts and files into periodically, in an effort to keep the desktop clean: screenshots, icons, ebooks-write, software-try and SLPics.

SLPics - screenshots I take while in Second Life. I prefer to keep this separate from other screenshots
software-try - downloads I plan to check out as time permits
ebooks-write - I keep various text files and eBooks I’m reading here
icons - all shortcuts that would otherwise mess up the desktop, I’m two clicks away from every program I want to use.
screenshots - all screenshots and captures I’ve taken except for Second Life

What tips, tricks and tools do you use to keep your desktop clean and tidy?

• Ending Windows desktop file clutter, help!
• Emulating uncluttering the cluttered desk with BumpTop prototype
• Dealing with Windows desktop clutter
• Giving G.ho.st a spin and reminded of FTP in Windows Explorer
• New Windows XP icons
• Working without a mouse on Windows, Mac and Linux/Unix