[josefresco]

> This is a strange generalization to make.

I get it, but 100% of Mac users I've helped in my 25 years of professional computing had messy desktops. That's dozens (maybe close to 100) of Mac users. Not scientific, not conclusive, but it's exactly 100% with no exceptions. This includes fellow IT professionals and college acquaintances. The most recent experience being two days ago, where I assisted a Mac user in changing email settings. It's also very common for these Mac users to not understand file/folder structure. I often guide them to download a file/app, and once downloaded they generally have no idea where it went unless its... on their desktop! Same for "open" applications. For PC user's I'd say it's in the 10-20% range, low enough to be unremarkable.

[PebblesHD]

Something sounds a bit off if your IT professionals don’t understand files and folders. In any case, my anecdata in an organisation of over 1000 windows computers and about 400 macs is the windows device owners are generally the ones with icons strewn about the place and displays plugged in set to mirror ‘because it gives them more space’ but I tend to find this is because the windows users are the ‘business’ users whereas the macs are the developers.

[wryoak]

Maybe there’s an important correlation here between needing computer help and having a messy desktop