The present invention is directed to a personal computer that includes: a display device 316 for displaying image information and a processor 312 operable when the display device 316 is in a screen saver mode to (a) receive, from an application, at least part of which is executing on the personal computer 216, notification of the occurrence of an event; (b) determine if the event is a member of a defined set of events; and (c) when the event is a member of the defined set of events, display on the display image information associated with the event, wherein the displaying function occurs while the display is in the screen saver mode.