Thanks to Phil Winstanley for highlighting this cool little app that you can run on Windows 2000, XP, Server 2003, 98 & ME. (You must have Internet Explorer 5.5 or higher installed).
It docks on your screen and provides multiple panels to display useful info - eg. Outlook folders, newsfeeds, pc performance, time, weather, photo slideshow and of course there are many others to download and add. I have just installed it and am impressed so far - time will tell how long it lasts, but currently I feel positive about it.
And best of all it's freeware.
http://www.desktopsidebar.com/