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[tedtropy]

http://www.otakusoftware.com/topdesk/

I generally ignore the "damn good" downloads recommended on Attack of the Show. But this one looked interesting enough that I had to give it a try. From what I understand OS X users already have a feature similar to this, and they're all the luckier for it. Basically what it does is take all the windows you presently have open, be they minimized, in the background, whatever, and with one slap of a key, tiles them on your desktop as proportioned thumbnails. You can then click on any of the thumbnails to bring up the targeted window. For individuals such as myself, who tend to have about, oh, a billion windows open at a time this comes in quite handy. The taskbar just isn't informative as seeing an actual snapshot of all your windows. Additionally, hitting another key causes just your active windows to be thumbnailed, while another causes all windows to slide away with a pretty neat effect (although Windows + D basically provides the same functionality quicker). There's a trial version on their site that provides alot of functionality and there's a registered version for about $10. I'm honestly thinking of buying it. I implore you to give it a go, WinGAFers...

 

[Unison]

Can't hide my porn with this. Pass!

 

[Zaptruder]

windows+D shows desktop?

Man... that's so cool... and useless at the same time.

I mean, who doesn't have a show desktop button in the quicklaunch? It's the best button there!

 

[Unison]

windows+D shows desktop?

Man... that's so cool... and useless at the same time.

I mean, who doesn't have a show desktop button in the quicklaunch? It's the best button there!

I have my quicklaunch disabled, so I use Windows+D all the time.

 

[tedtropy]

windows+D shows desktop?

Man... that's so cool... and useless at the same time.

I mean, who doesn't have a show desktop button in the quicklaunch? It's the best button there!

You'll find that you can do a considerable number of things quicker with the keyboard. For me, it's easier to hit a keyboard shortcut then to have to move my mouse, find an icon, click on it. Oh, and give Windows Key + E a shot. Your world will never be the same.

 

[human5892]

Oh, and give Windows Key + E a shot. Your world will never be the same.

Wow, thanks for that! I've been using Windows Key+D for a while now and love it, but it never occurred to me to try anything else.

I agree with you about the keyboard, too -- if it was more feasible I wouldn't even use a mouse for anything except mouse gesture scrolling (actually, for a little while I had to do just this when my mouse broke and I was waiting for a new one).

 

[Unison]

Windows shortcuts

"Windows" = Windows key

Alt+F4: Close active program
Alt+spacebar: Display program system menu. See Title bar
Alt+Tab: Activate next application window from left to right
Shift+Alt+Tab: Activate next application window from right to left
Windows+Tab: Cycle through taskbar buttons
Ctrl+F4: Close active document window (closes file in TreePad)
Ctrl+Alt+Del: Close program and/or reboot
F1: Display Windows help while no application has focus
Windows+F1: Display Windows help even while another application has focus
Windows or Ctrl+Esc: Start menu
Windows+F: Find / All files
Windows+M: Minimize / All files
Shift+Windows+M: Restore / All files
Windows+D: Toggle (Minimize | Restore) / All files
Windows+R: Run a program
Windows+Break: Display System Properties dialog box
PrintScreen: Copies whole screen to Windows Clipboard
Alt+PrintScreen: Copies active window to Windows Clipboard

 

[Macam]

It's called Expose on the Mac platform and it indeed does rock. I'm not sure how this Windows equivalent works, but on the Mac, there are four functions (at least with regards to Tiger): show desktop, scale all windows, scale windows in the current application, and Dashboard (akin to Konfabulator). You can assign these functions to the keyboard, mouse/trackpad, corners of the screen, or any combination there of. Calling one of the functions twice (say hitting F12 to scale all windows, not selecting anything, then hitting F12 again), willl return the screen to the original state. If this program is worth its beans, it should so similar things; it always annoyed me that when I invoked Windows+D in Windows, that hitting it again didn't return to the program I was using, as sometimes I'd hit the combination while trying to do another keyboard shortcut.

While it's not what spurns me away from Windows obviously, it's a fantastic, fantastic feature and it's definitely helped me manage multitasking far more. Good to see there's a Windows altnerative. EDIT: After checking the link it does seem to be a clone of Expose so it seems to work identically.

 

[tedtropy]

Wow, thanks for that! I've been using Windows Key+D for a while now and love it, but it never occurred to me to try anything else.

I agree with you about the keyboard, too -- if it was more feasible I wouldn't even use a mouse for anything except mouse gesture scrolling (actually, for a little while I had to do just this when my mouse broke and I was waiting for a new one).

There's a few handy built-in Windows key shortcuts. Win + R brings up the Run dialog, Win + F brings up the file search tool, Win + Pause/Break brings up system properties, etc. Another cool freeware program to check into is WinKey . It'll allow you to assign any shortcut you'd like to any of the free "Win +" combinations. I've used it for years and it makes launching frequently used programs considerably easier.

 

[tedtropy]

It's called Expose on the Mac platform and it indeed does rock. I'm not sure how this Windows equivalent works, but on the Mac, there are four functions (at least with regards to Tiger): show desktop, scale all windows, scale windows in the current application, and Dashboard (akin to Konfabulator). You can assign these functions to the keyboard, mouse/trackpad, corners of the screen, or any combination there of. Calling one of the functions twice (say hitting F12 to scale all windows, not selecting anything, then hitting F12 again), willl return the screen to the original state. If this program is worth its beans, it should so similar things; it always annoyed me that when I invoked Windows+D in Windows, that hitting it again didn't return to the program I was using, as sometimes I'd hit the combination while trying to do another keyboard shortcut.

While it's not what spurns me away from Windows obviously, it's a fantastic, fantastic feature and it's definitely helped me manage multitasking far more. Good to see there's a Windows altnerative.

Yeah, this program is kind of similar. It's a really good idea and hope the guys behind this program keep developing it and, hopefully, rip off some of the other good ideas implemented in OS X.

 

[human5892]

Another cool freeware program to check into is WinKey . It'll allow you to assign any shortcut you'd like to any of the free "Win +" combinations. I've used it for years and it makes launching frequently used programs considerably easier.

Oh man, I'm getting this as soon as I get home. I work mainly with five or six programs and am constantly launching, closing, and relaunching them -- I used to Windows Key+D to my desktop and then click their icons, but this will be much better. Thanks!

Unison: many of those I use already, but there were a few surprises. Cool stuff.

 

[tedtropy]

Oh man, I'm getting this as soon as I get home. I work mainly with five or six programs and am constantly launching, closing, and relaunching them -- I used to Windows Key+D to my desktop and then click their icons, but this will be much better. Thanks!

Unison: many of those I use already, but there were a few surprises. Cool stuff.

Oh yeah, you'll definately like Winkey then.

 

[mrklaw]

Its nice to have thumbnails, but once you've clicked on one to maximise it, and want to switch, then what do you do? Is there a button/key combo to shrink that window back down?

And winkey sounds like just what I'm looking for. Ideal for my wireless keyboard and iTunes.

 

[ChrisReid]

I have my quicklaunch disabled, so I use Windows+D all the time.

Quicklaunch disabled.. but I have a Minimize All button programmed on my mouse.

 

[sprsk]

bah, this is still no where near as smooth as expose.

 

[tedtropy]

bah, this is still no where near as smooth as expose.

Yeah, but it's basically free and I don't have to switch to a Mac. Give it time.

 

[sprsk]

Yeah, but it's basically free and I don't have to switch to a Mac. Give it time.

there are other programs that do this but they suck too :/

its an OS limitation. We wont get the good stuff till longhorn.

 

[tedtropy]

there are other programs that do this but they suck too :/

its an OS limitation. We wont get the good stuff till longhorn.

Honestly, it seemed to render the thumbnails quite quickly and smoothly on my home and work systems. Not being terribly familar with OS X, I suppose I'm not sure what smoothness or limitations you may be referring to. There's an option within the program to enable the thumbnails to dynamically update. I agree, though, that XP needs more power over the 3D rendering capabilities of a card that sits mostly unused while doing everyday OS stuff.

 

[Mashing]

Ted, you should just buy a Mac and get it overwith instead of always trying to make Windows more Mac-in-tosh-DUH!

 

[fse]

I hope Apple shuts 'em down. Copying their idea's is not right.

Apple will have a talk to them soon I suppose...

*cough* *cough*

 

[FortNinety]

As a Mac user, I really don't know how I survived using any computer without Expose. I'm just surprised that it took this long for a PC equivalent to come along.

 

[RevenantKioku]

One thing I like about Expose is that there is actually two ways of using it. Hold the button down to see all the windows (I remapped my enter key on my iBook [that little shit key by the directional keys] to Show All, and I could not live without that now) and when you release the key, it goes back, or just tap the key and it will stay that way until you hit the key again. You could also select a window with the mouse, OR even hit tab and it will let you cycle through all the open windows (it puts it back to the way it looked before hand).
Being able to tap Q to kill a program while cycling through the programs with Cmd+tab is very useful to me as well.
I f'n love this OS.

 

[tedtropy]

Ted, you should just buy a Mac and get it overwith instead of always trying to make Windows more Mac-in-tosh-DUH!

Nah, I just need PC functionality with Apple aesthetics and design.

 

[Slurpy]

Holy shit!

Top desk is fucking brilliant. This combined with konfabulator gives my pc the feel of a mac. I'm surprised at the fluidity of it.

 

[El Papa]

Hm, I've used macs with OSX and I find it just as easy to use alt+tab or the quick switch button on my MX700

 

[tedtropy]

Hm, I've used macs with OSX and I find it just as easy to use alt+tab or the quick switch button on my MX700

Alt+Tab is great, and I use it all the time, but it doesn't give you all your windows at a glance like Expose and this rip-off does. And when you've got a ton of windows open, that can come in quite handy.

 

[kitchenmotors]

PCs trying to look like Macs always look like crap! The fact!

 

[tedtropy]

PCs trying to look like Macs always look like crap! The fact!

Behold the rabid Apple fan. Steve Jobs is at your front door. There's a limited edition U2 iPod sock cover he wants to sell you. Better hurry!

 

[fse]

PCs trying to look like Macs always look like crap! The fact!

True.

 

[kitchenmotors]

Behold the rabid Apple fan. Steve Jobs is at your front door. There's a limited edition U2 iPod sock cover he wants to sell you. Better hurry!

No, I'm a design fan. I was a PC user for years dude. I love design, and the fact is..no one in the computer industry is better than the team at Apple. Nothing is more tacky than a Windows PC using programs to make it look like OS X.

 

[tedtropy]

No, I'm a design fan. I was a PC user for years dude. I love design, and the fact is..no one in the computer industry is better than the team at Apple. Nothing is more tacky than a Windows PC using programs to make it look like OS X.

I like Apple's design as well, and I'm not trying to completely emulate the OS or anything, but I see no qualms with programs that borrow some of its functionality. OS X is a pleasure to use, but a Mac simply can't do all the things I need/want to do and owning both types of machines isn't really an option. Design is wonderful, but it takes a backseat to function in my opinion.

 

[fse]

but I see no qualms with programs that borrow some of its functionality.

I do, especially if they charge for something that is Apple's idea.

 

[scorcho]

I do, especially if they charge for something that is Apple's idea.

cry.me.a.river.

apple has done their share of incorporating other concepts into their OS without any sort of compensation or credit (konfabulator being the most glaring example).

 

[fse]

Sorry widgets on mac have been around since a long time. OS 7 had it...

http://daringfireball.net/2004/06/dashboard_vs_konfabulator

 

[mrklaw]

bah, doesn't work on Windows 2000 at work. Would have been great at work - multiple powerpoint windows open, which one is the one I want?

At home its not so useful, but still cool.

 

[fse]

sucks its xp only. wonder why.

 

[Macam]

Let's not turn this into an Apple vs. PC thread; frankly, regardless of where the idea came from or the legality of it in particular, it's a fantastic idea, and one that should be a staple for an OS IMO. Given how frequently Windows loves to open new windows for just about anything in particular, it's especially useful.

 

[fse]

Should it be on every OS? Maybe. Will it, no it's Apple's own idea/software.

 

[tedtropy]

Should it be on every OS? Maybe. Will it, no it's Apple's own idea/software.

Oh get off it. Apple's initial foray into operating systems was based on stealing ideas, same as Microsoft. If an idea works well and is popular, it's going to get duplicated. The idea that every good idea implemented in OS X should stay only within OS X is a good indication of how close-minded some Mac enthusiasts can be. You should be glad that its being copied elsewhere. Should the guy be charging for this product? No, but the free version still does most of what you'd need. Should Apple be charging $100+ for that is essentially a OS patch? Guess I'll leave that one up to you...

 

[scorcho]

Sorry widgets on mac have been around since a long time. OS 7 had it...

http://daringfireball.net/2004/06/dashboard_vs_konfabulator

i started my 'computer life' on a lowly Mac IIfx and worked my way up through OS 7-9 until i switched to the 486 architecture. there were NO widgets for Macs before konfabulator came out (especially to that degree of scripting, alpha blending and user-interactivity). 'desk accessories' were small OS programs that had specific purposes, but wtf does that mean to konfabulator or dashboard? i guess any 'utility' app that serves a particular function then now owes its existance to Apple as well? please.

that link you posted reads as nothing but someone with a hard zealot-defense mentality. of course the architecture is going to be different between the two, no one is claiming that Apple stole Konfabulator's soruce. but they end up doing the exact same thing and can end up looking exactly the same way! same with this 'expose' clone for XP - the architecture is clearly different, the uses as far as i can see mirror but aren't complete rip-offs, but how is one different than the other? oh. one is for apple, the other for evil empire microsoft. ooo.

but then again i'm talking to a complete apple apologist. have fun.