article by James Thomson<snip>
January 4, 2025 https://tla.systems/blog/2025/01/04/i-live-my-life-a-quarter-century-at-a-time/
---
So, we are coming up on a little anniversary for me this weekend. On the 5th of January 2000, Steve Jobs unveiled the new Aqua user interface of Mac OS X to the world at Macworld Expo.
Towards the end of the presentation, he showed off the Dock. You all know
the Dock, it's been at the bottom of your Mac screen for what feels like forever (if you keep it in the correct location, anyway).
article by James Thomson
January 4, 2025
---
So, we are coming up on a little anniversary for me this weekend. On the 5th of January 2000, Steve Jobs unveiled the new Aqua user interface of Mac OS X to the world at Macworld Expo.
<snip>
article by James Thomson January 4, 2025 https://tla.systems/blog/2025/01/04/i-live-my-life-a-quarter-century-at-a- time/
---
So, we are coming up on a little anniversary for me this weekend. On the 5th of January 2000, Steve Jobs unveiled the new Aqua user interface of Mac OS X to the world at Macworld Expo.
Towards the end of the presentation, he showed off the Dock. You all know
the Dock, it's been at the bottom of your Mac screen for what feels like forever (if you keep it in the correct location, anyway).
D Finnigan <dog_cow@macgui.com> wrote:
article by James Thomson January 4, 2025
https://tla.systems/blog/2025/01/04/i-live-my-life-a-quarter-century-at-a- >> time/
---
So, we are coming up on a little anniversary for me this weekend. On the 5th >> of January 2000, Steve Jobs unveiled the new Aqua user interface of Mac OS X >> to the world at Macworld Expo.
Towards the end of the presentation, he showed off the Dock. You all know
the Dock, it's been at the bottom of your Mac screen for what feels like
forever (if you keep it in the correct location, anyway).
I'm sorry to add a note of dissent, but the Dock was one of the main
things which made me decide not to install OSX. The Launcher and
Windowshade were far more useful and intuitive - things stayed where you
put them so your fingers always knew where to find them. That is why I
am still using a Beige G3 with OS 8.6 as my main office machine.
Before OSX, the Mac community used to ridicule Windows for having such a user-unfriendly interface where things disappeared and had to be
chased-after to get them back. Where you had to guess which icon
represented what you wanted and then wait until the mouseover told you
it was the wrong one. Then OSX came along, with all those
counter-intuitive things built-in and, worse still, refused to let the
user remove them.
I have been forced to use an OSX machine for Web browsing, but it was
driving me insane until I stuck the Dock where it wouldn't open by
accident and then left an open file (which I called "Launcher") across
the boittom of the Desktop with the icons *and names* of the items I
most use parked in it in a logical order.
I hate the Dock with a vengeance, it has spoilt the Mac platform for me.
D Finnigan <dog_cow@macgui.com> wrote:
article by James Thomson January 4, 2025
https://tla.systems/blog/2025/01/04/i-live-my-life-a-quarter-century-at-a- >> time/
---
So, we are coming up on a little anniversary for me this weekend. On the 5th >> of January 2000, Steve Jobs unveiled the new Aqua user interface of Mac OS X >> to the world at Macworld Expo.
Towards the end of the presentation, he showed off the Dock. You all know
the Dock, it's been at the bottom of your Mac screen for what feels like
forever (if you keep it in the correct location, anyway).
I'm sorry to add a note of dissent, but the Dock was one of the main
things which made me decide not to install OSX. The Launcher and
Windowshade were far more useful and intuitive - things stayed where you
put them so your fingers always knew where to find them. That is why I
am still using a Beige G3 with OS 8.6 as my main office machine.
Before OSX, the Mac community used to ridicule Windows for having such a user-unfriendly interface where things disappeared and had to be
chased-after to get them back. Where you had to guess which icon
represented what you wanted and then wait until the mouseover told you
it was the wrong one. Then OSX came along, with all those
counter-intuitive things built-in and, worse still, refused to let the
user remove them.
I have been forced to use an OSX machine for Web browsing, but it was
driving me insane until I stuck the Dock where it wouldn't open by
accident and then left an open file (which I called "Launcher") across
the boittom of the Desktop with the icons *and names* of the items I
most use parked in it in a logical order.
I hate the Dock with a vengeance, it has spoilt the Mac platform for me.
On 2025-01-11 12:30:59 +0000, Liz Tuddenham said:
D Finnigan <dog_cow@macgui.com> wrote:
article by James Thomson January 4, 2025
https://tla.systems/blog/2025/01/04/i-live-my-life-a-quarter-century-at-a- >>> time/
---
So, we are coming up on a little anniversary for me this weekend. On the 5th
of January 2000, Steve Jobs unveiled the new Aqua user interface of Mac OS X
to the world at Macworld Expo.
Towards the end of the presentation, he showed off the Dock. You all know >>> the Dock, it's been at the bottom of your Mac screen for what feels like >>> forever (if you keep it in the correct location, anyway).
I'm sorry to add a note of dissent, but the Dock was one of the main
things which made me decide not to install OSX. The Launcher and
Windowshade were far more useful and intuitive - things stayed where you
put them so your fingers always knew where to find them. That is why I
am still using a Beige G3 with OS 8.6 as my main office machine.
You can get Dock apps for Classic versions of MacOS. "A-Dock" is
perhaps the best of them.
<http://macintoshgarden.org/apps/a-dock-301>
On 2025-01-11 12:30:59 +0000, Liz Tuddenham said:
D Finnigan <dog_cow@macgui.com> wrote:
article by James Thomson January 4, 2025
https://tla.systems/blog/2025/01/04/i-live-my-life-a-quarter-century-at
-a- time/
---
So, we are coming up on a little anniversary for me this weekend. On
the 5th of January 2000, Steve Jobs unveiled the new Aqua user
interface of Mac OS X to the world at Macworld Expo.
Towards the end of the presentation, he showed off the Dock. You all
know the Dock, it's been at the bottom of your Mac screen for what
feels like forever (if you keep it in the correct location, anyway).
I'm sorry to add a note of dissent, but the Dock was one of the main
things which made me decide not to install OSX. The Launcher and Windowshade were far more useful and intuitive - things stayed where you put them so your fingers always knew where to find them. That is why I
am still using a Beige G3 with OS 8.6 as my main office machine.
You can get Dock apps for Classic versions of MacOS. "A-Dock" is
perhaps the best of them.
<http://macintoshgarden.org/apps/a-dock-301>
--I hate the Dock with a vengeance, it has spoilt the Mac platform for me.
Your Name <YourName@YourISP.com> wrote:
On 2025-01-11 12:30:59 +0000, Liz Tuddenham said:
D Finnigan <dog_cow@macgui.com> wrote:
article by James Thomson January 4, 2025
https://tla.systems/blog/2025/01/04/i-live-my-life-a-quarter-century-at >>>> -a- time/
---
So, we are coming up on a little anniversary for me this weekend. On
the 5th of January 2000, Steve Jobs unveiled the new Aqua user
interface of Mac OS X to the world at Macworld Expo.
Towards the end of the presentation, he showed off the Dock. You all
know the Dock, it's been at the bottom of your Mac screen for what
feels like forever (if you keep it in the correct location, anyway).
I'm sorry to add a note of dissent, but the Dock was one of the main
things which made me decide not to install OSX. The Launcher and
Windowshade were far more useful and intuitive - things stayed where you >>> put them so your fingers always knew where to find them. That is why I
am still using a Beige G3 with OS 8.6 as my main office machine.
You can get Dock apps for Classic versions of MacOS. "A-Dock" is
perhaps the best of them.
<http://macintoshgarden.org/apps/a-dock-301>
That's the last thing I should want to do, why ruin a good operating
system? I want to completely remove the Dock from OSX and use a
combination of Launcher and Windowshade.
'Minimising' things into the Dock is like having a dilligent but stupid secretary who removes every sheet of paper from your desk except the one
you are reading and files it away in an ever-changing filing system that
you have to search by pictures to get it back. With Windowshade you
just rolled up the window so you could see what was underneath it - then
you knew exactly what it was and where to find it when you wanted it
again.
On 2025-01-12 07:44:08 +0000, Liz Tuddenham said:
Your Name <YourName@YourISP.com> wrote:
On 2025-01-11 12:30:59 +0000, Liz Tuddenham said:
D Finnigan <dog_cow@macgui.com> wrote:
article by James Thomson January 4, 2025
https://tla.systems/blog/2025/01/04/i-live-my-life-a-quarter-century-at >>>>> -a- time/
---
So, we are coming up on a little anniversary for me this weekend. On >>>>> the 5th of January 2000, Steve Jobs unveiled the new Aqua user
interface of Mac OS X to the world at Macworld Expo.
Towards the end of the presentation, he showed off the Dock. You all >>>>> know the Dock, it's been at the bottom of your Mac screen for what
feels like forever (if you keep it in the correct location, anyway).
I'm sorry to add a note of dissent, but the Dock was one of the main
things which made me decide not to install OSX. The Launcher and
Windowshade were far more useful and intuitive - things stayed where you >>>> put them so your fingers always knew where to find them. That is why I >>>> am still using a Beige G3 with OS 8.6 as my main office machine.
You can get Dock apps for Classic versions of MacOS. "A-Dock" is
perhaps the best of them.
<http://macintoshgarden.org/apps/a-dock-301>
That's the last thing I should want to do, why ruin a good operating
system? I want to completely remove the Dock from OSX and use a
combination of Launcher and Windowshade.
Potentially having a Dock in Classic MacOS helps to get used to using
it in newer MacOS versions.
'Minimising' things into the Dock is like having a dilligent but stupid
secretary who removes every sheet of paper from your desk except the one
you are reading and files it away in an ever-changing filing system that
you have to search by pictures to get it back. With Windowshade you
just rolled up the window so you could see what was underneath it - then
you knew exactly what it was and where to find it when you wanted it
again.
You didn't mention minimizing in the original post, although I don't
think A-Dock does that anyway.
There are Windowshade apps for MacOS X, but I've never used them:
Deskovery
<https://www.neomobili.com/products/deskovery/>
WindowMizer
<https://www.windowmizer.com/windowmizer>
For older Macs / MacOS X versions there is:
WindowShade X
<http://macintoshgarden.org/apps/windowshade-x>
You can't remove the Dock from MacOS X because it is expected to be
there by the OS and many apps. Best you can do is hide it. Many of the
"Dock replacement" apps simply hide the Dock.
I hate the Dock with a vengeance, it has spoilt the Mac platform for me.
In article <1r5zwor.15ub1rpf2vodeN%liz@poppyrecords.invalid.invalid>, liz@poppyrecords.invalid.invalid (Liz Tuddenham) wrote:
<snip>
I hate the Dock with a vengeance, it has spoilt the Mac platform for me.
I first used a Mac in 2007, a MacBook running OSX Tiger, so I have only
ever known the Dock really and, in honesty, I've never had a problem with
it. Seems like a fine way to keep useful apps close at hand for quick launching.
I usually make the Dock as small as possible, or close enough to it, and
have a couple of dozen or so app icons on it. Works well for me!
scole <vintageapplemac@gmail.com> wrote:
In article <1r5zwor.15ub1rpf2vodeN%liz@poppyrecords.invalid.invalid>,
liz@poppyrecords.invalid.invalid (Liz Tuddenham) wrote:
<snip>
I hate the Dock with a vengeance, it has spoilt the Mac platform for me.
I first used a Mac in 2007, a MacBook running OSX Tiger, so I have only
ever known the Dock really and, in honesty, I've never had a problem with
it. Seems like a fine way to keep useful apps close at hand for quick
launching.
I usually make the Dock as small as possible, or close enough to it, and
have a couple of dozen or so app icons on it. Works well for me!
That's what the Launcher used to do - except that the icons could be
arranged logically according to your needs and they had names so you
could see instantly what they were.
The Windowshade was activated by double-clicking on the titlke bar of a window, the window just rolled up to reveal what was underneath but the
title bar stayed exactly where it was. Double-clicking the title bar a second time rolled the window back down. Thus, if you wanted to see
what was under a window you did a double-click and another double-click
in exactly the same place; there was no need to open the dock and go searching through the icons to find out where your window had gone.
If that system were re-introduced and the Dock abolished, it would be
hailed as a great step forward in useability.
Another option is pressing Command-spacebar and then start typing the
app's name. If Spotlight's first choice isn't the correct one, you can
keep typing more letters or use the arrow keys to pick from the options.
Your Name <YourName@YourISP.com> writes:
Another option is pressing Command-spacebar and then start typing the
app's name. If Spotlight's first choice isn't the correct one, you can
keep typing more letters or use the arrow keys to pick from the options.
I've found that LaunchBar is better at this than Spotlight is. In fact,
I almost never use Spotlight. Alfred could be another good choice, and
I've talked to people that prefer Quicksilver for this.
I always launch apps from the keyboard with LaunchBar. It's more
convenient for me than having to use the mouse.
On 2025-01-25 02:06:07 +0000, Bud Frede said:
Your Name <YourName@YourISP.com> writes:
Another option is pressing Command-spacebar and then start typingI've found that LaunchBar is better at this than Spotlight is. In
the
app's name. If Spotlight's first choice isn't the correct one, you can
keep typing more letters or use the arrow keys to pick from the options.
fact,
I almost never use Spotlight. Alfred could be another good choice, and
I've talked to people that prefer Quicksilver for this.
I always launch apps from the keyboard with LaunchBar. It's more
convenient for me than having to use the mouse.
On my old Mac running MacOS 9.2 and X 10.2 I had the function keys
set-up to run the usual apps (email, web browser, Usenet app,
etc.). After booting I just had to press F1, F2, and F3 to get them
all running. I could ouf course had them as startup items, but didn't
want to run them every time the Mac was started up.
I haven't bothered on this newer Mac with MacOS X 10.13. It's just as
easy to use the Dock icons.
Your Name <YourName@YourISP.com> writes:
On 2025-01-25 02:06:07 +0000, Bud Frede said:
Your Name <YourName@YourISP.com> writes:
Another option is pressing Command-spacebar and then start typingfact,
the
app's name. If Spotlight's first choice isn't the correct one, you can >>>> keep typing more letters or use the arrow keys to pick from the options. >>> I've found that LaunchBar is better at this than Spotlight is. In
I almost never use Spotlight. Alfred could be another good choice, and
I've talked to people that prefer Quicksilver for this.
I always launch apps from the keyboard with LaunchBar. It's more
convenient for me than having to use the mouse.
On my old Mac running MacOS 9.2 and X 10.2 I had the function keys
set-up to run the usual apps (email, web browser, Usenet app,
etc.). After booting I just had to press F1, F2, and F3 to get them
all running. I could ouf course had them as startup items, but didn't
want to run them every time the Mac was started up.
I haven't bothered on this newer Mac with MacOS X 10.13. It's just as
easy to use the Dock icons.
⌘-space and type "ff" for firefox. "mi" for my mail client. "si" for signal. I rarely start an app with an icon on the Dock. I like to keep
my hands on the keyboard and not keep one hand on the mouse.
I use Stage Manager on this Mac but not on my work Mac. I have different workflows for each and use them a bit differently.
It's good that we have plenty of options though. I'm glad that you've
found something comfortable for yourself. :-)
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