As many icons as necessary for using the Start Menu not being necessary except one-timers. But organized: left, direct access to disc locations; right, programs; right first row, utilities; second row, virtualization; third row, Internet; fourth and fifth rows, administration. Plus quicklaunch.
I don't get the point in having an uncluttered desktop... It's so you can use the 1280x1024 pixels to show your pretty wallpaper instead of making programs accessible? :bleh: