As a Mac user, I have to say that the only reason I dislike OS X is because the Dock is nowhere near as good a solution as the Windows Taskbar. Sure, I've linked my Apps folder onto the dock to give myself a menu, but the icon just looks like a folder holding my address book. Also, it does not categorize my applications. If I tried to do that, my programs would be broken unless I built a folder of aliases. The Windows method of finding and launching your programs is more intuitive, organized, and convenient. Although I would not pay to have a taskbar piggybacked onto OS X, a free alternative that duplicates the functionality of the Windows version would be better than what we have now. Although I have become accustomed to navigating and customizing it, the Dock is still more cosmetic than functional.
Apple would do well to try and copy Microsoft on this. It's one of the few things I will agree that they do better. We should stop pretending that every aspect of OS X is superior to everything on the market. Most Windows users will admit to the flaws in the product. Maybe they would give OSX a chance if we we didn't pretend that every aspect of it was gold.
Hopefully the next version of OS X will actually provide users with something better than the Dock. Still waiting for a dramatically different OS upgrade from Apple. I wonder how many iterations of X we will have to go through before that happens.
You know this could be useful for people that have to use a Mac, but aren't too keen on the whole applications folder for getting to stuff. OR are migrating from Windows to Mac.
Just sucks it costs.
@lostarchitect: Yep. Easy peasy.
Except the Dock only really works well for keeping on regularly used programs.
And I do currently use Objectdock. But Start menu kicks Application folder's arse for storing alot of programs. Which you will inevitable acquire.
You know, fifteen bucks for an interface tweak is bad enough (Snow Leopard wise cracks in 5...4....), you don't have to go opening up a bunch of windows and tossing icons all over to make it look messier.
Yeah, tarnish Windows with crappy, useless "ObjectDocks" but heaven forbid that something based on good old fashion Windows Start Menu being incorporated into a Mac. If Apple made something and it was this buggy, you would excuse it with it being new so it's bound to have bugs. Give uBar a chance.
You really believe "stacks" are efficient? I hate that feature of the OS. They try so hard to be different than Windows that they have to come up with off the wall stuff to be different.
You can't even give one reason why the Start Menu "sucks".
@SeraphX2: Yeah that's fine, but I don't think I'd ever want to go back to an OS X without stacks. I don't use either the fan or grid view, but list view is way useful for keeping a documents or the applications folder on the dock.
While I neither admit nor deny anything with regard to BDSM, my thoughts are that people who are do not necessarily prefer a Windows Taskbar because of their sexual appetites. Similarly, I don't think that the Windows Taskbar will lead people into a life of leather, hot wax, and cock-and-ball torture.
@OMG! Ponies!: Although I'm thinking of getting this, for the sole purpose of torturing my Mac-head brother: Telling him how much I loved my MBP for running Vista didn't quite send him over the edge. Adulterating OS X itself just may do it....
If the features of an upgrade don't seem appealing, the don't upgrade your software. I know people who still use Office 2003 because they hate the ribbon.
A nice little note, after installing Windows 7 beta, go to your device manager and do a "Update Driver Software..." check on your installed hardware select "Search automatically for updated driver software"...
My laptop's Intel 965 chip had prelease Win7 beta drivers which installed automagically, and improved performance by a huge amount. There aren't a lot of prelease Win7 beta drivers, but it jus tmight make your beta experience a whole lot smoother.
I don't understand the taskbar icon...when would it be there? Like, I'm not gonna pin it and if the managing window is already open why do I need the jump list off the taskabr? Maybe I'm confused.
@akashhhhh: The icon can stay when the managing window goes away, so you can get easy access. Maybe a printer isn't the best example, but think of cameras or phones—something with storage that you want to get at randomly. One of my points is that the jump menu is way better than that managing window for most regular workflow stuff, so odds are, that icon will be your friend long after you've forgotten what the XML page even looks like.
@Futrell: as I've said in other Win 7 posts, I've got it on my oldest rig that's about a decade old (except the video card), with full Aero: Single core 32 bit AMD Athlon XP 2600+ @ 2.13GHz w 266MHz FSB; 1GB DDR SDRAM @ 266MHz; ATI Radeon 2600XT w 512MB GDDR3 (gimped by AGP 8x interface, and further gimped by 4x AGP slot on the motherboard).
@Zlevee: My guess is you've got some driver issues. The weakest machine I've installed 7 on was my Wind netbook's Atom. And it works as well if not better than XP. Same story for dual-core Atom 330 and 64-bit VMware'd on my MBP.
It's a huge step over Vista, As long as they get the Beta kinks worked out. I've been overly impressed.
Check the forums (google) and see if anyone else has installed the Win7beta on a system similar to yours. Maybe you can find the conflict.
09/04/09
Apple would do well to try and copy Microsoft on this. It's one of the few things I will agree that they do better. We should stop pretending that every aspect of OS X is superior to everything on the market. Most Windows users will admit to the flaws in the product. Maybe they would give OSX a chance if we we didn't pretend that every aspect of it was gold.
Hopefully the next version of OS X will actually provide users with something better than the Dock. Still waiting for a dramatically different OS upgrade from Apple. I wonder how many iterations of X we will have to go through before that happens.
09/03/09
Considering that it looks like the Windows 95 taskbar, I'm pretty sure nobody would want it.
09/03/09
Just sucks it costs.
09/03/09
09/03/09
Except the Dock only really works well for keeping on regularly used programs.
And I do currently use Objectdock. But Start menu kicks Application folder's arse for storing alot of programs. Which you will inevitable acquire.
09/03/09
09/03/09
Oh, that's....that's your desktop. Oh, I see.
*ahem*
Fifteeeeen dollaaars?! Why that's outRAGEOUS!!
09/03/09
You really believe "stacks" are efficient? I hate that feature of the OS. They try so hard to be different than Windows that they have to come up with off the wall stuff to be different.
You can't even give one reason why the Start Menu "sucks".
09/03/09
09/03/09
09/03/09
While I neither admit nor deny anything with regard to BDSM, my thoughts are that people who are do not necessarily prefer a Windows Taskbar because of their sexual appetites. Similarly, I don't think that the Windows Taskbar will lead people into a life of leather, hot wax, and cock-and-ball torture.
09/03/09
09/03/09
09/03/09
09/03/09
09/03/09
On the plus side at least they didn't call it 'iBar'.
08/05/09
THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!
02/01/09
01/30/09
Step 1: DON'T DOWNLOAD WINDOWS 7.
If the features of an upgrade don't seem appealing, the don't upgrade your software. I know people who still use Office 2003 because they hate the ribbon.
01/30/09
01/30/09
Thanks!
01/25/09
My laptop's Intel 965 chip had prelease Win7 beta drivers which installed automagically, and improved performance by a huge amount. There aren't a lot of prelease Win7 beta drivers, but it jus tmight make your beta experience a whole lot smoother.
01/23/09
01/23/09
01/23/09
01/23/09
01/23/09
01/23/09
01/23/09
01/23/09
01/23/09
It's a huge step over Vista, As long as they get the Beta kinks worked out. I've been overly impressed.
Check the forums (google) and see if anyone else has installed the Win7beta on a system similar to yours. Maybe you can find the conflict.
01/23/09