Use Dashboard widgets on Desktop?

Is not the F4 key the shortcut to Dashboard or fn -F12.

Here is another option: http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/24561/widget-to-desktop

There may be other ways to do it - try googling it a little.

Take a look at [WidgetRunner|http://db.csail.mit.edu/madden/widgetrunner].
I haven't tried it.

I tried this (changing the command in Terminal) with Snow Leopard and it didn't work.

Using search to find out why ....

My (qualified) apologies .. this in fact works fine with my new iMac 🙂 with snow leopard version 10.6.6

Of course with the newer OS you must push the F4 key (NOTE to self: the one with the small dash board icon on it 🙂 )

fn+F12 also will pull up the dash board same as pressing F4

Other wise it works exactly as described here and all over the net

Setting Dashboard items to stay on the "Desktop" for new OS Snow Leopard ... (Note: This only allows "always on top" settings for dash board items they are not really on the Desktop itself)

Complete Details for newer OS Snow Leopard (tested on 10.6.6)

1) Open the "Terminal" app *don't worry it's easy* (Applications > Utilities > Terminal) and write (or cut and paste) this line of text, beside the existing where the small grey cursor is.

defaults write com.apple.dashboard devmode YES

Then push enter ... and close the "Terminal" app

2) Now Restart the Dock (Applications > Utilities > Activity Monitor > double click "Dock" > click "Quit" > click "Force Quit") the Dock will automatically restart ... (Or just restart your Mac if that's easier for you)

3) Open the dashboard (tap F4), click on a widget and HOLD DOWN the mouse button then move it slightly and keep HOLDING DOWN the mouse button. Now push the F4 key again a this widget will stay behind, drag it a new location as it will be "Always on Top" ... thats it!

4) Now to get rid of the widget from your desktop, click and HOLD DOWN the mouse button on the widget you want removed, tap F4 to bring up the dashboard. The release the mouse button Tap F4 again and it's gone.

5) At this point however the discarded widgets exist as zombies in a kind of no mans land. When you look at the dashboard, the discarded widgets will be shown faded or greyed out, they are not on the dash board but neither are they on the desktop, but it's an easy fix.

6) To bring them back to life you need to tap F4 to open the dash board ...now click once on the black PLUS SIGN sign way on the bottom left of your screen (it will change to an "X" and your screen will fade and raise up) and another "X" will appear on the widgets ... Just click the "X"'s on any faded widgets and they will now be back to normal, ready to be used again.

The only real disadvantage of this procedure besides the items being "Always on Top" is it uses the same amount of resources as if the Dashboard is fully activated (check you activity monitor).