Screensavers have pluses and minuses

Screensavers on computers have been around since the first versions of Windows. The purpose was to save the monitor from screen burn-in. Early versions of computer monitors used a phosphorescent backing on the inside of the screen to help display colors. If the image on the screen was not changed frequently, the image would actually burn into the phosphorous permanently.

Screensavers are designed to activate after a set period of computer inactivity. Original screen savers on Windows 3.1 systems would display the Windows logo in random on the screen. Then came the Starfield effect, where you could pretend you are Captain Kirk of the Enterprise and watch the stars zoom by from your captain’s quarters.

If zooming through space is not your thing, how about your own marquee banner. You can customize your own text, text color, size and text direction. Pretty snazzy stuff. Right?

Soon after Windows 3x came Windows 95 and the screensaver desktop basically stayed unchanged. There was, of course, the option to make your own slideshow screensaver. Windows would collect images from your favorite folder and randomize them.

Worthy of note was a screensaver originally for the Mac, known as the Flying Toasters. Eventually, Microsoft picked it up for Windows, too.

Many third-party sites popped up, offering customizable screensavers for download. Really, this is where the spyware and adware started. Screensavers became no-nos and were spyware and adware breeding grounds. Still, very popular and very much a part of our computer personas.

For a short time, there was the option to use the active desktop with your screensaver. This would allow you to place a website, or an animated picture on the desktop. The screensaver would be tied into the active desktop with the same type of theme. Microsoft released a package called Plus! It included additional games, desktop themes and matching screensavers. Not much has changed in the world of screensavers until now.

Microsoft Windows Vista has taken the screensaver to a new level. Vista offers a free download for certain releases of Vista Ultimate. It is called Dreamscene.

Dreamscene offers some great features for your desktop background. Essentially, it allows you to use video as the desktop background. Dreamscene includes sample videos such as a waterfall, a flower complete with bees and all. It’s all there, except for the scent.

You can choose videos, pictures, tiled background patterns, or the standard one color desktop. Nothing like having your favorite music band or family gathering as your desktop.

There is one limitation, however: there is no sound on these desktop videos.

To change the desktop to a video:

• Download the Windows Vista Dreamscene and then reboot.
• Right-click on your desktop and select Personalize.
• Click desktop wallpaper.
• Open the drop-down list to select Video File.
• Browse to your favorite video and select it.

Note that only certain types of video files are supported. Primarily, they are the *.AVI and *.WMV files.

Your selected video file will now show up as your wallpaper.