I don't like the fact that each icon is its own separate process running in Menuet. I think it would be a better design to have one process, the desktop, which would handle all of these icons instead. Then the desktop could also handle the background image. This would also allow for a uniform look when changing the background image/color.

I'd like to try to implement this, but I'm learning assembly only now, so it will probably be a bit before I can do this. I'll try it. What do other people think of this idea?

IMHO the average user still doesn't understand "shortcut" and "links".
as in:
"Hey Tolle, someone mailed me this program, but i can't get it to work on my computer. could you come over and take a look?"

It took me some time to convince the guy that powerpoint didn't live inside the .lnk file

So it would be nice to be able to have a desktop whitout icons, making everything available trough the menu.
(experienced users could have it tough...)

I reminds me the old, "magical" method, that allows you to save disk space: Install programs, put shortcuts onto the desktop and remove programs with installed folders Then the user curses this lame windoze that nothing works