How many of you combine taskbar buttons on Windows 7?

[problemo]

For some reasons, I feel it's much easier to see the names of the windows that are open on the taskbar rather than small icons that are tabbed. I think it's much faster and convenient. So why do most people always combine taskbar on Windows 7?

 

[Brink]

It really depends on how you use Windows 7 for which option may work best for you.

Like me, I usually have so many things opened at once, it's not even funny. For example, 10 tabs in IE9, a few virtual machines, and a few other programs. There just wouldn't be enough room on the taskbar for all of them without them being grouped. "Always combined" is just more convenient for me.

 

[Infinite]

Agree with Brink, I only *un group on a netbook with Windows Classic

 

[A Guy]

Always combine. Only way to get my taskbar separated like my theme is designed for.

A Guy

 

[ssbtech]

I only combine when full.

Have also enabled QuickLaunch, gotten rid of the pinned icons and set the taskbar to use small icons as I like the lower-profile look of the older taskbars.

 

[bobtran]

I have been a combiner although since upgrading to multiple monitors and making my taskbar span multiple 24" monitors I find that I have way more real-estate than I am currently using, so not so much crowding any more.

 

[Kari]

It really depends on how you use Windows 7 for which option may work best for you.

Like me, I usually have so many things opened at once, it's not even funny. For example, 10 tabs in IE9, a few virtual machines, and a few other programs. There just wouldn't be enough room on the taskbar for all of them without them being grouped. "Always combined" is just more convenient for me.

I have a vertical taskbar on the left, set to combine only when taskbar is full with small icons.

It works for me, showing for instance only one IE regardless how many tabs I have open. To see and select a tab, I just need to hover the pointer on top of IE:



I like it this way. It is very clear and easy to use.

Kari

 

[seavixen32]

I prefer a clean desktop so I use shortcuts pinned to the Start menu, but the programs I use the most are pinned to the Taskbar as well.

 

[xxxdannyxxx]

Always combine for me with icons central in the taskbar. IMO looks cleaner.



Danny

 

[Joan Archer]

I hadn't even given it much thought, I don't have many open at once programs anyway so there isn't a lot on my taskbar. I have a few pinned, the ones I want to get at quick but apart from that I don't take much notice, I think they would probably combine if the taskbar got full though, I can't see that happening much though.

 

[kado897]

This is my current setup.

1. Two pinned apps that I always launch.
2. A toolbar that groups and expands 7Stacks with my most used Apps
3. An Objectdoc that contains links to libraries, the file system and some tools

 

[M1GU31]

combined i don't like a messy taskbar

 

[problemo]

I guess because I have a 1080p resolution, I don't see I will ever run out of space, and never have, so I never combine taskbar buttons. It's much easier for me to see what I have open rather than have to hover over each tab button. But I do understand combining taskbar buttons looks much more sexier.

 

[MWRed]

I don't bother....I never have that many open at once that I need to do that.

 

[lehnerus2000]

Combine ...

I use "Combine when taskbar is full".
I like to see what I actually have open and to be able to go directly to it.

I'm also using VirtuaWin + KvasdoPager, set to 4 Desktops.

​

 

[Infinite]

Even with Combine, I get the arrow for having too many items open to switch between even more programs.

 

[Qdos]

I'd like it if W7 offered the option to stretch the whole taskbar over multiple horizontally aligned monitors, as that would save me from combining at the point of overflow, and would really make multi-displays better to run - alas it's not been something which MS have considered implementing.

Yeah. I know, some would argue that could mean a lot of mousing back and forth to the start orb, however isn't that what the Windows Key is for?

So I choose to combine when the taskbar is full, and voted accordingly. I really do think MS should have a bit of a rethink on improving their next incarnation of Windows in this respect though.

 

[Infinite]

I'd like it if W7 offered the option to stretch the whole taskbar over multiple horizontally aligned monitors, as that would save me from combining at the point of overflow, and would really make multi-displays better to run - alas it's not been something which MS have considered implementing.

Yeah. I know, some would argue that could mean a lot of mousing back and forth to the start orb, however isn't that what the Windows Key is for?

So I choose to combine when the taskbar is full, and voted accordingly. I really do think MS should have a bit of a rethink on improving their next incarnation of Windows in this respect though.

Try UltraMon or MultiMon

 

[bobtran]

I'd like it if W7 offered the option to stretch the whole taskbar over multiple horizontally aligned monitors, as that would save me from combining at the point of overflow, and would really make multi-displays better to run - alas it's not been something which MS have considered implementing.

Yeah. I know, some would argue that could mean a lot of mousing back and forth to the start orb, however isn't that what the Windows Key is for?

So I choose to combine when the taskbar is full, and voted accordingly. I really do think MS should have a bit of a rethink on improving their next incarnation of Windows in this respect though.

I use this one (free): Dual Monitor Taskbar Adds Workable Windows 7 Taskbar To Second Monitor

See post# 6 of this thread for visual (Dual 24" monitors).

 

[Trucidation]

I never combine the stuff on my taskbar; even though I rarely look at them (I use winkey/alt-tab for everything) I just like knowing I have X items open, without having to worry whether X = X or not.

My taskbar could disappear and the only thing I would care about is not seeing the various gizmos I have docked in the system tray (which, naturally, I have set to show everything instead of the default hide inactive icons). Come to think about it, my system tray stretches nearly half my screen width...