taskbar clutter solution

Is it me or is the Vista taskbar largely unchanged... in terms of functionality I mean? The other day I was lamenting how unweildy the taskbar is (the new preview feature notwithstanding). I had this idea... was wondering what other folks thought http://www.cflashsoft.com/documents/orgtask/orgtask.htm
It's not a radical change, but I think it goes a long way to improving usability if you run a lot of programs at the same time.
-- -C. Moya www.cmoya.com

Essentially... to clarify my post... the suggestion calls for 1) getting rid of the Taskbar's background... a nice visual thing I think and 2) providing a "stack" widget where the user can drag and drop tasks onto to stow them away (but not close them) and unclutter the taskbar. Check out the screenshots in the prior post.
Hopefully, if folks think this is a good idea, it can be incorporated into Vista. It's not too late! :-)
-- -C. Moya www.cmoya.com
"CMM" wrote in message

Is it me or is the Vista taskbar largely unchanged... in terms of functionality I mean? The other day I was lamenting how unweildy the taskbar is (the new preview feature notwithstanding). I had this idea... was wondering what other folks thought http://www.cflashsoft.com/documents/orgtask/orgtask.htm
It's not a radical change, but I think it goes a long way to improving usability if you run a lot of programs at the same time.
-- -C. Moya www.cmoya.com

CMM wrote:

Essentially... to clarify my post... the suggestion calls for 1) getting rid of the Taskbar's background... a nice visual thing I think and 2) providing a "stack" widget where the user can drag and drop tasks onto to stow them away (but not close them) and unclutter the taskbar. Check out the screenshots in the prior post.
Hopefully, if folks think this is a good idea, it can be incorporated into Vista. It's not too late! :-)

At this point in development it's waaaay too late to anything that complex.

I dunno, making the backround itself transparent can be done via a simple flag in code. The stack can be offerred as a widget or an optional add-on... if it's too much to do right now (frankly, it should take a week to code).
You're probably right considering MS's development efforts move at ludicrously glacial speeds. :-(
-- -C. Moya www.cmoya.com
"Mike Williams" wrote in message

CMM wrote: Essentially... to clarify my post... the suggestion calls for 1) getting rid of the Taskbar's background... a nice visual thing I think and 2) providing a "stack" widget where the user can drag and drop tasks onto to stow them away (but not close them) and unclutter the taskbar. Check out the screenshots in the prior post.
Hopefully, if folks think this is a good idea, it can be incorporated into Vista. It's not too late! :-)
At this point in development it's waaaay too late to anything that complex.

Is it me or is the Vista taskbar largely unchanged... in terms of functionality I mean? The other day I was lamenting how unweildy the taskbar is (the new preview feature notwithstanding). I had this idea... was wondering what other folks thought http://www.cflashsoft.com/documents/orgtask/orgtask.htm
It's not a radical change, but I think it goes a long way to improving usability if you run a lot of programs at the same time.

I could see your stack idea getting implemented as a sidebar widget.
Personally I use a utility that lets me minimize applications to the system tray (next to the clock) instead of waste space on the taskbar itself. Just having that built into the OS would already go a long way, IMNSHO...

I know. I run the same sort of utility.The stack is a similar concept.... but (I think) more intuitive and easier to use because of drag and drop.
The "Minimize to Tray" things smacks against several Win UI concepts (the tray relays "status" and not a "dock" for apps).... and switching through tasks that are individual icons in the tray is even more laborious than using the taskbar itself!... unless they're accessed via a single icon that pops up a menu- which is the same thing as the Stack idea.
-- -C. Moya www.cmoya.com "Homer J. Simpson" wrote in message

Is it me or is the Vista taskbar largely unchanged... in terms of functionality I mean? The other day I was lamenting how unweildy the taskbar is (the new preview feature notwithstanding). I had this idea... was wondering what other folks thought http://www.cflashsoft.com/documents/orgtask/orgtask.htm
It's not a radical change, but I think it goes a long way to improving usability if you run a lot of programs at the same time.
I could see your stack idea getting implemented as a sidebar widget.
Personally I use a utility that lets me minimize applications to the system tray (next to the clock) instead of waste space on the taskbar itself. Just having that built into the OS would already go a long way, IMNSHO...

Isn't this similar to OS X and how it closes windows up to the windows title bar?
I can hear it now...
-- Richard Hay Webmaster http://WindowsObserver.com
"CMM" wrote in message

I know. I run the same sort of utility.The stack is a similar concept.... but (I think) more intuitive and easier to use because of drag and drop.
The "Minimize to Tray" things smacks against several Win UI concepts (the tray relays "status" and not a "dock" for apps).... and switching through tasks that are individual icons in the tray is even more laborious than using the taskbar itself!... unless they're accessed via a single icon that pops up a menu- which is the same thing as the Stack idea.
-- -C. Moya www.cmoya.com "Homer J. Simpson" wrote in message Is it me or is the Vista taskbar largely unchanged... in terms of functionality I mean? The other day I was lamenting how unweildy the taskbar is (the new preview feature notwithstanding). I had this idea... was wondering what other folks thought http://www.cflashsoft.com/documents/orgtask/orgtask.htm
It's not a radical change, but I think it goes a long way to improving usability if you run a lot of programs at the same time.
I could see your stack idea getting implemented as a sidebar widget.
Personally I use a utility that lets me minimize applications to the system tray (next to the clock) instead of waste space on the taskbar itself. Just having that built into the OS would already go a long way, IMNSHO...

The stack? No. Did you look at the screen shots?
-- -C. Moya www.cmoya.com "Richard Hay" wrote in message

Isn't this similar to OS X and how it closes windows up to the windows title bar?
I can hear it now...
-- Richard Hay Webmaster http://WindowsObserver.com
"CMM" wrote in message I know. I run the same sort of utility.The stack is a similar concept.... but (I think) more intuitive and easier to use because of drag and drop.
The "Minimize to Tray" things smacks against several Win UI concepts (the tray relays "status" and not a "dock" for apps).... and switching through tasks that are individual icons in the tray is even more laborious than using the taskbar itself!... unless they're accessed via a single icon that pops up a menu- which is the same thing as the Stack idea.
-- -C. Moya www.cmoya.com "Homer J. Simpson" wrote in message Is it me or is the Vista taskbar largely unchanged... in terms of functionality I mean? The other day I was lamenting how unweildy the taskbar is (the new preview feature notwithstanding). I had this idea... was wondering what other folks thought http://www.cflashsoft.com/documents/orgtask/orgtask.htm
It's not a radical change, but I think it goes a long way to improving usability if you run a lot of programs at the same time.
I could see your stack idea getting implemented as a sidebar widget.
Personally I use a utility that lets me minimize applications to the system tray (next to the clock) instead of waste space on the taskbar itself. Just having that built into the OS would already go a long way, IMNSHO...

Actually, I think they were playing around with this idea in early Longhorn prototype, but probably canned it because it seemed un-userfriendly. http://www.winsupersite.com/images/showcase/lh-proto.png -- Andre Extended64 | http://www.extended64.com Blog | http://www.extended64.com/blogs/andre http://spaces.msn.com/members/adacosta "CMM" wrote in message

Is it me or is the Vista taskbar largely unchanged... in terms of functionality I mean? The other day I was lamenting how unweildy the taskbar is (the new preview feature notwithstanding). I had this idea... was wondering what other folks thought http://www.cflashsoft.com/documents/orgtask/orgtask.htm
It's not a radical change, but I think it goes a long way to improving usability if you run a lot of programs at the same time.
-- -C. Moya www.cmoya.com

"CMM" wrote in message

Is it me or is the Vista taskbar largely unchanged... in terms of functionality I mean? The other day I was lamenting how unweildy the taskbar is (the new preview feature notwithstanding). I had this idea... was wondering what other folks thought http://www.cflashsoft.com/documents/orgtask/orgtask.htm
It's not a radical change, but I think it goes a long way to improving usability if you run a lot of programs at the same time.
-- -C. Moya www.cmoya.com I read your post today and saw this in the evening:

http://research.microsoft.com/vibe/groupbar.aspx
The Canuck

That's cool. I really wish MS had put a little more research into advancing the Windows desktop experience in Vista... other than the the "eye candy" that Vista offers. Especially for power users that run more than a couple of apps at a time.
-- -C. Moya www.cmoya.com "The Primate" wrote in message

"CMM" wrote in message Is it me or is the Vista taskbar largely unchanged... in terms of functionality I mean? The other day I was lamenting how unweildy the taskbar is (the new preview feature notwithstanding). I had this idea... was wondering what other folks thought http://www.cflashsoft.com/documents/orgtask/orgtask.htm
It's not a radical change, but I think it goes a long way to improving usability if you run a lot of programs at the same time.
-- -C. Moya www.cmoya.com I read your post today and saw this in the evening:
http://research.microsoft.com/vibe/groupbar.aspx
The Canuck