This does give the desktop a nice clean feel, but many people (myself included) like to have shortcuts to various folders.
You can create your own links, but there are some pre-set shortcuts set-up already, and you just need to enable them.
Right click on the Ubuntu Menu:
Select 'Edit Menus'
Click on 'System Tools' in the lefthand navigation window, then select 'Configuration Editor' on the righthand side.
Click close. Now navigate to the following:
Applications - System Tools - Configuration Editor
Now navigate to the following:
Apps - nautilus - desktop
In the right hand window, click the icons you wish to be displayed on your desktop
Close the Configuration Editor.
You should now have more icons on your desktop
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