Why the Windows 7 Taskbar Beats Mac OS X's Dock

[Airbot]

Yeah, I said it. The Windows 7 taskbar is the most important Windows UI change since Windows 95, and it will dramatically change the way you use Windows. And it's better than the Mac's Dock. That's because the "superbar"—as the taskbar is known by developers—jerks taskbar functionality in a new direction. It's no longer merely a window manager—just a place to manage open windows and by proxy, open applications. It's now a bona fide application launcher. More than that, it blends the two in ways that will remind many of the OS X Dock—apps that are running and those that aren't can live together. True, you've been able to launch apps from the Windows taskbar's Quick Launch ghetto for ages, but that's been demolished so that Microsoft could completely and seamlessly integrate the launching of new apps and the managing of running ones.

source: Giz Explains: Why the Windows 7 Taskbar Beats Mac OS X's Dock

 

[garysgold]

When I can drag and drop a bunch of files on the icon for a program pinned to the task bar, and have that launch the program with those files opened in the program, instead of pinning those files to the jumplist, then and only then will my quick launch bar be gone.

But I do love the 'superbar'.

Gary

 

[Airbot]

Yes, I agree. They can still expand on it. You should send them feedback on that idea.

 

[garysgold]

I've done that a couple times in different builds. Hope they listen as this is a common way for me to open my graphics programs. Someone will send me several pics to get web ready and I just grab them all and drop them on the icon in the quicklaunch bar and the program opens with all the pics in it ready for me to use.

For anyone who might want to try this, you cannot use the shortcuts from the start menu in Vista or Seven as they are not a normal shortcut. You will need to go to the .exe file in Explorer and right click drag to the quicklaunch bar and select 'create shortcut here' from the menu that pops up.
The shortcut can be on the desktop, but I dislike the clutter.

Gary

 

[Chappy]

I like that idea too Gary, adds another level of functionality to the superbar.
Personally, I really like the way this new superbar behaves and feels so far. I like the new icons instead of quick launch and it's easier to see what has the focus, plus I like how it's color coded for certain items.
And the mulit-live thumbnail views on stacked items really rox, especially with a Close button on the live thumb for quick disposal of unwanted pages/items.

It may need some tweaks but I think MS has hit on a winner with this one.

Dave

 

[garysgold]

I agree Dave.

Speaking of focus, that's another thing I've sent a couple feedbacks about. Used to be when I had several windows open and wanted to close them all, I could hold down Alt and hit F4 several times until they were all closed. Hit it again and I'd get the shutdown options. In other words the focus went from one window to the next down through the stack. Now if I close a window with Alt+F4, the focus goes to the desktop. I suppose many people prefer it that way, but I'm not one of them.

Gary

 

[Adamd]

That looks cool.

Does it work in 7?

 

[Chappy]

I agree Dave.

Speaking of focus, that's another thing I've sent a couple feedbacks about. Used to be when I had several windows open and wanted to close them all, I could hold down Alt and hit F4 several times until they were all closed. Hit it again and I'd get the shutdown options. In other words the focus went from one window to the next down through the stack. Now if I close a window with Alt+F4, the focus goes to the desktop. I suppose many people prefer it that way, but I'm not one of them.

Gary

Hey Gary

I haven't seen that behavior yet. I did the same as you in Vista and it's a quick way of getting things shut down and ready to turn off. I wonder if the new behavior can be changed somehow...maybe a little reg hack? I'll have to look into that.

 

[Chappy]

Hi QuadAllegory

Are your desktop icons and text actually that crooked on your desktop or is this an illusion caused by the screenshot or something?
I prefer the Live thumbs on W7 (and Vista but 7's is much nicer) because you can see the actual page as is and not just a folder of where it is. Plus I'm not sure I like the background behind the desktop icon text labels with that stack program. Just personal preference I guess but I think 7's superbar and icons look more refined than that program's does.
Plus with 9 programs/pages open, that taskbar is now full where 7's would have a ton of room left I think. I have 6 open now and I'm using less than 1/4 of the bar (stacked, no text), I think it's much cleaner like this.

I do think your idea for customization is a pretty good one too, you should send in a Feedback report on it.

 

[Adamd]

I also wish the superbar had a simple separator that could be added. I would like to separate the pinned icons from the non-pinned.

This would be a great feature if they would be so nice as to add that!

 

[Chappy]

I'm not sure you understand the feature. It is emulating the stacks and grid feature in OSX (yes they are slightly crooked for effect). They are just menus with shortcut links in them. It is completely separate from the running programs etc. on the taskbar.

The live thumbs is only for running programs or open windows, while these stacks are for shortcuts to programs/folders that are not currently running. It does not replace the thumbs feature.

Ahhh...I "see"

Thanx, I hadn't used or seen the OSX dock so I was a little...umm..unaware I guess..LOL!

I don't know about that crooked test label thing tho..I might find myself twisting my head inadvertently while reading them. Ow...my neck..