Failing Dock (was Re: Stacks - a part of the Finder or just the Dock?)

[Ashley Aitken]

On 16/06/2007, at 1:09 PM, LuKreme wrote:

> Oh, I agree.  The Dock.app is a mess and needs a serious overhaul.   
> I never use it, and the only things that are permanently in it are  
> the things I can't remove (Finder and Trash) and the one App I want  
> in the 'same' position all the time, Mail.app.
>
> I use Launchbar to launch everything and hide the dock.

I tried Launchbar but it just didn't seem to click, I guess I am more  
of a visual person.

> That said, it is a absolutely wonderful tool for the neophyte user  
> or, for example, Grandma who uses Safari, iChat, Mail, and  
> Solitaire and that's all.

Yes, I agree.

However, I think it can satisfy serious users without sacrificing  
this simiplicity (see below) like the one button mouse that can  
provide two buttons.

>> Personally, I think a solution is to enable (serious users) to  
>> split the Dock into three pieces - 1) running applications, 2)  
>> minimised windows, and 3) all other things (folders, files,  
>> applications that are not running etc.) and place them on the  
>> three (unused) sides of the display.  I don't mind where the Trash  
>> goes, be it the end of the Dock or on the Finder sidebar or on the  
>> desktop.
>
> This sounds even worse.  the issues with the dock for me are that  
> it takes far too much 'scrubbing' to find the right app.

Having the different kinds of things in separate docks helps,  
DragThing also allows dock to have the item name always displayed.

As I say, as a visual person, it works well for me.

>> Apple could do a similar thing very easily I believe.  Firstly,  
>> separate the area on the right side of the Dock that is used for  
>> minimised Windows,
>
> I almost never minimize a window either.  I will HIDE an  
> application on occasion, but mostly I use F9, F10, and F11.  For  
> example, F9 or F10 followed by tabbing is one of my favorite way to  
> switch apps.

I hardly ever use the function keys, I have Expose set up to work  
when the mouse moves to the corners (bottom right for desktop, top- 
left for dashboard, bottom-left for all windows).

Again, I guess its a case of different people working in different ways.

>> Simple, elegant, scalable (from newbie to power user) solution.
>
> Well, I would prefer a dock that I could say, "Only display stacks  
> or folders"<2> and not have running apps show up AT ALL. If I had a  
> separate dock for minimized windows I *might* use them more than I  
> do, but I would love to have a dock that was simply a row of  
> folders (with custom icons) and stacks and a trashcan at the end.

That is similar to what my solution suggests (and I currently have  
with Dragthing).  A row of "folders" (actually named tabs) at the  
bottom of the screen with all my "stuff" organised.  A hidden dock  
with minimised (or all) windows on the right.  A hidden dock with  
running applications on the left.  It would work well with Lauchbar  
as well.

The only thing this solution lacks for me is: 1) Apple's fancy  
polish, 2) Bouncing applications (although the Dock still works  
hidden at the top of the display as I mentioned), and 3) windows  
don't genie to the right place (they genie to hidden dock at the top  
of the screen).  I can live with these things.

I just thought Apple could provide this solution for us visual users  
by making the changes to the Dock I suggested, without making it more  
complicated for novice users.  It would be a simple, elegant and  
scalable solution.  I can't believe more serious users in Apple  
haven't pushed to upgrade the Dock.

I think the lack of action on Apple's part probably indicates that  
Steve only has Finder, Safari, Mail (maybe iCal and Address Book,  
although his PA probably handles that stuff) a game or two (:-) and a  
few folders in his Dock.

Cheers,
Ashley.

--
Ashley Aitken
Perth, Western Australia
mrhatken at mac dot com
Skype Name: MrHatken (GMT + 8 Hours!)