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[Hitokage]

First of all, Mac OS hasn't used taskbars ever. The taskbar was introduced with Windows 95 which wasn't 20 years ago... and neither does Windows force you to switch between the keyboard and mouse except for the fact the mouse can't type.

If you really want OMG NEATO, then I dunno.. maybe the work being done for KDE 4* or Enlightenment DR17 might interest you if existing stuff is unacceptable.

* BTW, KDE3 doesn't have to be like windows if you don't want it to be.

 

[Ruzbeh]

No, dude! I don't want something fancy, well ok I do want something fancy, but first and foremost I want it to be different and more effecient. I just don't think the idea of a taskbar and 'tasks' is that good (even though I'm very much used to it).

I know I'm being real vague here but I might come up with a few good ideas some day.

 

[cs060mk2]

Back in 1995 there where some really good reason for a normal user to install and run Linux.

Amiga OS wasnt taking off and Amiga was dying, MS-Dos and 3.11 was the standard, Windows 95 was the future and the shit back then. Windows worked back then but was not a good operating systems really. Installing Slackware then really made sense because you had an operating system more stable than Win95, more advanced than 3.11 and that was more flexible than MS-Dos if you only worked in shell.

Today I cant find any good reason for a regular PC user to run Linux. It is better for them to run XP, sure they will get lots of spyware, but they pay someone 10 bucks to fix it and its no problem.

 

[iapetus]

The taskbar was introduced with RISC OS which wasn't 20 years ago...

Fixed. (Except the RISC OS version gave applications a permanent home on the bar, not windows).

 

[Hitokage]

Fixed. (Except the RISC OS version gave applications a permanent home on the bar, not windows).

Hah, should have known better.

His obsession with them isn't any less unfounded, though.

 

[goomba]

The taskbar was introduced with Windows 95

RISC OS says hi

 

[iapetus]

RISC OS says hi

An hour ago says heya.

 

[Burger]

No, dude! I don't want something fancy, well ok I do want something fancy, but first and foremost I want it to be different and more effecient. I just don't think the idea of a taskbar and 'tasks' is that good (even though I'm very much used to it).

I know I'm being real vague here but I might come up with a few good ideas some day.

You shouldn't want something different just to be different.

OS X is leaps ahead of Windows in terms of efficency. Spotlight is kind of like a command line, hit apple-space, type in the name of the application or document you want and then click it (or arrow down and enter). It's a more efficent command line, because there is no navigating directorys or drives.

In my opinion, the taskbar (in windows) is a completley backwards design. It just takes to long to get anywhere, and if you happen to accidentally click in the wrong place by accident you have to start again (literally).

Multiple cascading lists upon lists are a bad, bad, bad idea, as there is no way for the user to get what he wants in a couple of seconds. Start-Programs-Accessories-Games-Solitare for example. It's just stupid.

 

[MrSingh]

why do people use linux? the same reason some people like to be pooped on.

 

[Ryudo]

I dont think regular PC users run linux. Its still a hardcore platform for the technically minded PC users. There is a massive deficiency in game support and application support and there is no one direction for the GUI.

It definately does some things better than windows and of course some worse.

 

[Hitokage]

In my opinion, the taskbar (in windows) is a completley backwards design. It just takes to long to get anywhere, and if you happen to accidentally click in the wrong place by accident you have to start again (literally).

That's the Start Menu, not Taskbar.

I dont think regular PC users run linux. Its still a hardcore platform for the technically minded PC users. There is a massive deficiency in game support and application support and there is no one direction for the GUI.

Games, yes*, the other two not really. KDE-land is certainly making good progress, especially with apps like amaroK and kopete. MPlayer is another application I'd rate on top multiplatform-wise. GUI Direction is comparable to windows. Now, installing and configuring is still a big sore spot on linux, although that greatly depends on your distro. Until that becomes adequately resolved it will remain for those technically minded.

*Although the importance of which is arguable given the state of PC/Console gaming to begin with.

 

[Teknopathetic]

I'd like to chime in and say that several of my *favorite* applications are either linux only or spawned from linux. MPlayer (barnone the best), AmaroK (barnone the best), Kopete, GIMP, etc. So games, yes. Applications? Not quite.

 

[Burger]

That's the Start Menu, not Taskbar.

OK, Start Menu, kinda the same shit though.