Things 1 and 2 involved setting up a Google account and customising an iGoogle page. This was quite straightforward, although, like Rach, I spent far too long searching for useful gadgets; the search function could really be improved for this.
I'd read what Phil Bradley has to say about the advantages of using a start page (Bradley, 2007), and have to admit I've become quite attached to mine. It really does seem to be a great time-saver, since by using it I avoid trawling through my list of bookmarks, which, though well-organized, is rather long. Unlike a browser's bookmarks, a start page can, of course, be accessed from any computer with an internet connection.
My iGoogle page has now become my personal homepage. I've found it useful to have news feeds sent directly to this site, and have added a number of other gadgets to encourage me to do all the things I should do but never get round to ... like learning German proverbs and checking out the weather forecast. I also love the Edinburgh-themed image that is displayed across the top.
I can see start pages could have a place in the library. Both staff and students can benefit from a single, customisable homepage that links to frequently used sites. COPAC offers a gadget that can be added to an iGoogle page, as do some university libraries for their WebOPACs. The Open University's gadget allows you to search their Voyager catalogue by keyword, while clicking on the gadget's title opens up the WebOPAC's welcome screen in a new tab. Useful gadgets for library and information professionals include several news feeds from LIS-related sites and feeds that focus on technology and education.
I am yet to set up a start page for work, however. For it to be really useful, it would need to link to several different college sites (including our intranet), various catalogues and suppliers' websites. At present I manage fine with my bookmarks. As I only have one workstation, the lack of a start page has not (yet!) proved to be a shortcoming.
Cited work:
Bradley P (2007) How to use Web 2.0 in your library. London: Facet, pp. 67-78
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