Ok for practicality purposes the desktop themes don't seem to practical. Meaning eventually your going to want to get to your desktop. I even saw one theme that was pretty funny because it was an icon of a messy desktop and coffee being spilt on it. This icon would take you to your desktop items. This is close to what I am talking about but no cigar.
What I think is a perfect and praticle application of this technology is a couple of things.
1. Your desktop is very important, the way it looks, feels and acts is important, so for most people eventually they will want to access their desktop items. Why? I have about 60+ items on my desktop, it is a mess but I know where everything is, sort of like a chaotic organization. So a button like some of the themes that I have seen, big and right in the middle, should link directly to your "original desktop setting". Now I am more of an artist than a coder so I don't know exactly how this would work, but I am venturing it has something to do with the "loading and unloading" of your desktopx envirenmont. Now on the other hand you should be able to go back as well.
2. What would be on your "intial desktopx envirenmont". My thing is this, when I boot my pc and log in I could see me using the themes instead of the environment. But this is going to have to be more customizable to the user. meaning I would like my outlook email, my dsl internet connection link, and a coupld of important folders I am always accessing to be on the front. I am thinking of a customizable media player that instead of playing media it would play .exe or some way or another but shortcuts right in the "object" so when they are pressed that application starts.
Now I coul be totally off my rocker and something like this could already be out there but I really haven't seen it. So if you guys and gals are feeling me in my quest of the "desktop II type atmosphere" lets work together and make something. I will be a better artist than coder so that is what I have to offer.
Thanks and this stuff is great.