[rmendis]

Which do you prefer? The Dock or the Desktop?

And given the option would you like to see an Advanced Desktop + Application Switcher/Apple Menu on Mac OS X as an option instead of the Dock?

[JHromadka]

Are you asking if I prefer to put items on the Dock or the Desktop? I keep a folder of aliases on the dock. It's like my own little Start Menu

[megasad]

Originally posted by rmendis:
Which do you prefer? The Dock or the Desktop?

And given the option would you like to see an Advanced Desktop + Application Switcher/Apple Menu on Mac OS X as an option instead of the Dock?

Assuming you meant which of the two I prefer to use for launching of applications, I voted for the Dock. 17 of my most commonly used ones sit in it, on the right hand side of the screen.

The idea of keepings apps, or even just aliases to them, on the desktop, has disgusted me since I've been using computers. In Windows I would use the QuickLaunch bar for oft. used apps, the Start menu to organise all the rest. In OS X, I use the Dock as I did QuickLaunch, FruitMenu to make the Apple Menu useful, and LiteSwitch 1.0.1 to switch between them all.

Of course, I would prefer if I didn't have to rely on 3rd party software to get said app switcher and apple menu, would much rather than Apple built them into the OS. But, until then, I still don't use the Desktop as anything other than a temporary store for current projects.

[joelcpa]

Neither - I use FruitMenu for apps, files, music, just about everything.

[Nonsuch]

The Dock for frequently launched apps. The rest in FruitMenu. My Desktop is always clean.

[spiznet]

I want a dock for each side of the screen,


...and want to be able to attach custom docks to any folder's edges as well.


actually, we don't even need folders, just multilayer pop-up menus to view files...


(is that's too much like where Windows already is...?)

[OAW]

I used the Dock for launching apps. I have my most frequently used apps on the left side, and aliases to my moderately used apps in a folder on the right side. My infrequently used apps are reached by launching a Finder window and navigating to wherever they are stored.

My Desktop, OTOH, is used for decoration (rotating desktop images) and as a place for temporary storage only (downloads, unstuffed files, etc.). I generally prefer to keep it clean and uncluttered ... no drives, except for CD/DVD or network drives, no folders, no aliases, nada.

In a nutshell, I use the Dock as an app launcher and a task switcher. I rarely minimize windows since I find it much easier and faster to simply hide the application. The Dock is well suited for these tasks IMHO.

OAW

[Jan Van Boghout]

My desktop is so completely cluttered, I never managed to keep it clean so I use the Dock for my favorite apps. And my messy desktop is totally hidden thanks to DeskShade Plus [/plug]

[sek929]

Dock all the way, anything that doesn't fit in it is easily accessable through the panel view in the Finder.

[[APi]TheMan]

Dock dock dock. I am extremely happy with both the dock and the Finder. My most frequently used applications lie in the dock and if I need something else I can open up a Finder window. Simple enough.

[keston]

One word: LaunchBar

[Orion27]

I read people referencing the right side of the screen as the preferred side to set the dock. I find this curious since my hardrice loads under screen as well as the occaisional download. I prefer the left though some of my apps have a tendency to load under the dock on the left. the bottom of the screen is clearly no place for the dock.

[malvolio]

Originally posted by keston:
One word: LaunchBar

Amen!

[dampeoples]

The dock, although mine is pretty crowded right about now. I keep just about all my apps there.

[Agent69]

Originally posted by Orion27:
I read people referencing the right side of the screen as the preferred side to set the dock. I find this curious since my hardrice loads under screen as well as the occaisional download. I prefer the left though some of my apps have a tendency to load under the dock on the left. the bottom of the screen is clearly no place for the dock.

I left it right because the menus don't obscure it there.

[-Q-]

I use a folder in the dock to launch apps. I store files on the desktop until I file them later. Works for me!

[pat++]

Originally posted by -Q-:
I use a folder in the dock to launch apps. I store files on the desktop until I file them later. Works for me!

Same for me

[Adam Betts]

I use 50% Dock, 50% Desktop

[exca1ibur]

Originally posted by Adam Betts:
I use 50% Dock, 50% Desktop

Same here.

[jimcpherson]

Dock for most frequently used apps. Everything else goes into FruitMenu.

[Simian]

I use the dock for PS, ILL, Safari and all the other appz I use the most it just feels right.

[peppering]

I keep all my vid. game emulators on the Desktop, and all other apps in the dock.

[chris v]

Frequently used apps in the Dock, about 10. Less frequently used apps organized in 4 tabs in DragThing. Frequently accessed folders (with assigned key commands) in Fruit Menu.

Desktop totally cluttered with recently downloaded or created files. I clean up the mess once or twice a week.

So, both. Dock for Apps, Desktop for files.

CV

[Homer1946]

Originally posted by chris v:
Frequently used apps in the Dock, about 10. Less frequently used apps organized in 4 tabs in DragThing. Frequently accessed folders (with assigned key commands) in Fruit Menu.

Desktop totally cluttered with recently downloaded or created files. I clean up the mess once or twice a week.

So, both. Dock for Apps, Desktop for files.

CV

I am a dock man. I think it works very well.

In OS 9 and before I used the Apple menu as my launcher (as many did). I kept a folder called Applications in it that contained nested folders with names like Games, Utilities, ect... that contained aliases to all my application. Everytime I added a new application I religiously added an alias of it to its appropriate folder in the Apple menu.

With the dock I do exactly the same thing. It holds a folder named Applications containing aliases to main line applications and folders with names like Games, ect... containing other aliases. Just like with OS 9 I always add aliases for new applications to this folder.

Otherwise my Dock contains my most frequently launched Apps. I removed the System Prefs from the Dock since it is always available under the Apple menu. Seemed like sort of a waste (be an interesting poll to see how many of us did that, bet it would be like 98%).

All in all I have found that the dock replaces the Apple menu nicely.

Oh, almost forgot, I pretty much use to desktop as a place to toss text clippings (you know, using that little piece of desktop that is alway visible on one side of the dock) or files that I am working on and dont want to forget about.

I think the option to not show disks or volumes on the desktop is great, and gives users much more flexibility in how they use their desktops. For me, I am slowing getting used to the idea that my desktop does not have to look just like OS 9 or my computer will burt into flames.

-R

[ApeInTheShell]

The dock is great on the bottom. I don't know about other people but i keep mine hidden. Plus the windows scale better than from the sides.
I use the desktopto display pictures and the current apps i have open. I never inherited the pack rat sense of organization I see today on my dad and brother's window machines. My brother scatters all these downloads he has on his screen and i wonder how he can keep track of things. It pays to be a neat freak especially when other people have to use your system.
They can find everything in the finder and they don't complain.

so there.

[ARENA]

I use both. The Dock for apps showings always my 9 most used ones and the other that are running. In the desktop i keep my most frequently accessed folders, like downloads and projects i'm working on. Plus i use Dragthing where i keep pretty much all the apps i have organized by category.

[clarkgoble]

It's weird. I thought I'd use the desktop when I first got the Mac. But I use it less and less until now I don't really use it at all. I created a few folders with my favorite apps and then put them on the dock. Works fantastic. The applications I always use (i.e. Mail, Safari, iTune, Word) I keep in the dock.

The dock is something I didn't like at first. But the more I use it the better I like it. At first I liked my tweaked out XP/Win2K taskbar better. But I've definitely become converted to the dock. It's gone from one of my least favorite parts of OSX to one of my favorites.

I still think they need to come up for something better for reduced windows. The current implication is kludgy in my opinion. I also wish more applications used the dock menu. Finally for reduced windows, I wish you could close them using the context menu rather than having to open the window and then close it. Other than those issues, I think the dock is actually pretty damn good.

The Finder now. . .

[kovacs]

I like to keep my desktop as clean as possible one folder and my 7 partitions

[Adam Betts]

Originally posted by clarkgoble:
I still think they need to come up for something better for reduced windows. The current implication is kludgy in my opinion. I also wish more applications used the dock menu.

That's what I'd like to see too. They're showing some progressions, slowly but better than nothing. Application's icon as a badge on windows is an excellent step.

Minimizing-In-Place feature is pretty impressive and I'd like to see them researching in this area a bit more.

Originally posted by clarkgoble:
Finally for reduced windows, I wish you could close them using the context menu rather than having to open the window and then close it. Other than those issues, I think the dock is actually pretty damn good.

Agreed. As an icon designer, I'm trying to encourage developers to use dock icon and dock menu as a better (or secondary) way of communicating. I think it is an excellent "shortcut" too. I'm working on something really cool for Meteorologist and UpdateRadar icons and hopefully you'll like them

[Peter]

Dock for frequently used apps. Desktop for iBook (HD) and iStuff (Junk)

[rmendis]

Originally posted by Adam Betts:
Minimizing-In-Place feature is pretty impressive and I'd like to see them researching in this area a bit more.

What's the minimize-in-place feature?
Do you mean shrinking the window to the dock?

[ngrundy]

I'm very much for the dock. on the left, hidden with a medium level of zoom on it. having it on the left seems like a waste of screen on a powerbook. I have the icons to the 17 most used apps on the dock all the time, an alias to my home dir and a folder with a bit of a menu with aliases to applications I use but not all that often. My desktop i try to keep as clean as possable, lots of icons on the desktop annoy me :/

[Adam Betts]

Originally posted by rmendis:
What's the minimize-in-place feature?
Do you mean shrinking the window to the dock?

After minimizing the window to the dock, you can drag the window to anywhere on the desktop and open from there.

This is not the best screenshot of it in action but you get the idea: