Click on a check-box to add or remove a special desktop icon to or from the desktop. Icons without check-boxes cannot be placed on the desktop as special desktop icons, but you can still use Create As File to put them on the desktop, or anywhere else for that matter.
Right-click an entry to see a menu of additional options.
Special desktop icons are a system-wide setting. Removing a special desktop icon removes it from everybody's desktop. The one exception is the Network Neighborhood, which is a per-user setting.
Removing the desktop icon merely removes the icon. Any software associated with the desktop icon remains installed.
If you add or remove the Network Neighborhood, you must log off and back on for the changes will take effect.
Click the "Create As File" button to create a special file which behaves like the highlighted special desktop icon, but which can be dragged and dropped anywhere you want.