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scip · Mar 18, 2003, 02:10 PM

I hate the Dock. How can I get rid of it? Can I simply move/delete/rename it? Will OS X cease to boot/function if I do so?

I'm sure this has been discussed here before, but I did a search and didn't find anything recent that discussed this.

mitchell_pgh · Mar 18, 2003, 02:24 PM

You don't...

The doc is a MAJOR part of the OS...

Suck it up and become one with the dock... I didn't like it at first, but it grows on you... In a few years, you won't even know how you lived without it...

Sarc · Mar 18, 2003, 02:24 PM

you can hide it ...
put it for example on the right side of the screen and set it up for it to be hidden (all this on the Dock Preference Pane)

you can also rename it and that would prevent it form launching.

SupahCoolX · Mar 18, 2003, 04:29 PM

Remember that the Trash resides in the dock.
If you hate it that much, I would just make it really small, stick it on the right side of the screen, and turn hiding on. That's probably the best way to keep it out of sight without risking harm to your OS.

voodoo · Mar 18, 2003, 05:07 PM

If the Trash wasn't a fundamental part of the Dock (and unaccessable from any other place of the OS) I'd have deleted it a long time ago. I don't like the Dock, it isn't Macintosh.

I'd feel better without it.

Terri · Mar 18, 2003, 05:14 PM

cd ~/Desktop ln -s ../.Trash Trash

Then paste a trashcan icon on it if you want.

For me I'm just hoping that the Dock becomes more flexible and has more options in the next major release. Then again I also hope to win the lottery some time�

scip · Mar 18, 2003, 06:56 PM

Originally posted by mitchell_pgh:
You don't...

The doc is a MAJOR part of the OS...

Suck it up and become one with the dock... I didn't like it at first, but it grows on you... In a few years, you won't even know how you lived without it...

I will not "suck it up and become one" with the Dock. It has not -- and will not -- grow on me.

The Dock is obtrusive and quickly becomes unwieldy (esp. for new users, which I am not) with anything more than a few items in it. Apple's choice to implement the Dock as a catch-all for the (OS 9 and prior) Application menu, Apple menu, and as a launcher was one of the worst decisions I feel they could have made for OS X.

That's my story, and I'm stickin' to it.

lookmark · Mar 18, 2003, 06:57 PM

You can't, without hacking your system.

You can: set it to auto-hide, make it very small, pin it to a corner with hidden commands (Google Pining the Dock, or download Tinkertool), and forget about it.

If you truly hate the Dock: OS X will always restart the Dock if the process is quit, but it's not smart enough to know what "Dock.app" is. If you replace /System/Library/CoreServices/Dock.app with another app (anything) titled "Dock.app" it will start that instead. (Note: I have not tried this, only read about it.)

Personally, I don't recommend the above, but instead giving the Dock some time, and learning all of the handy keyboard command (option-command-D to toggle auto-hide, command-click to reveal Docked app in Finder, option-command-click Docked app to hide all but that app, and so forth).

Most people who initially dislike (or even loathe!) the Dock find after a while just how useful it can be.

lookmark · Mar 18, 2003, 07:13 PM

Oh, also, if you wish replace Dock.app you'll have to login as root user, or do this from the Terminal, as it's owned by the system.

I'd keep a back-up, just in case you change your mind.

Originally posted by scip:
The Dock is obtrusive and quickly becomes unwieldy (esp. for new users, which I am not) with anything more than a few items in it. Apple's choice to implement the Dock as a catch-all for the (OS 9 and prior) Application menu, Apple menu, and as a launcher was one of the worst decisions I feel they could have made for OS X.

Well, it doesn't sound like anyone's going to change your opinion, but I find that keeping the Dock populated only with often-used apps, using Docked folders to launch less-used apps (or using other third-party launcher alternatives), and hiding apps with a surplus of Docked windows that are not in use, the Dock is managable, scalable, and works beautifully. I do look forward to Apple introducing an alternate window minimization/management option in 10.3, though.

fisherKing · Mar 18, 2003, 07:19 PM

Well, it doesn't sound like anyone's going to change your opinion, but I find that keeping the Dock populated only with often-used apps, using Docked folders to launch less-used apps (or using other third-party launcher alternatives), and hiding apps with a surplus of Docked windows that are not in use, the Dock is managable, scalable, and works beautifully. I do look forward to Apple introducing an alternate window minimization/management option in 10.3, though. [/B][/QUOTE]

i've been on osx for 2 weeks, and i agree with the above. i keep my major apps in the dock, and a folder in the dock with aliases for all my other apps.
click & hold the mouse over that folder & i can easily select another app.

i keep my dock small, uncluttered, & no magnification.

why not try to adapt to it, it IS a major part of the os?...