I think it rocks. But it needs improvements, too. Some things I'd like to see:
1. More customizability. Let the user decide where separators go, what each section of the dock is devoted to, and also add some sort of GUI manager for adding folders filled with aliases to the dock. I've noticed that most OS X users can't figure out how to make their own "apple menus", so Apple should make it an official "feature". Just open this "apple menu manager" create a folder/apple menu, select a pre-made icon for the folder or add your own, and then drag items into the folder to create aliases, just like the dock works. Allow the user to create as many as they like, and add as many items and folders to the applemenu as they like. Of course this can be done now, but if Apple built a GUI manager for it, newbies would get it right away and it would become a much lauded feature of OS X, far better than any stinkin' start menu!
2. Allow one to create multiple docks, and decide the purpose of each dock with respect to apps, minimized windows, items and folders/applemenus, etc. Furthermore, allow one to "tear off" the trash so it can reside in it's own special dock. This way I could have my dock in say, the left side of the screen, and put the trash on the right lower corner. Best of all, make each individual dock independently customizable, so I could have different sizes and properties for each dock, for example, I'd have my apps pretty small, minimized windows large so I could see the contents easier, and I'd leave them both on permanently. Then I'd make the trash dock large, and set it to autohide (nobody want's to see the trash left out!), and to delete stuff just drag it to a corner and voila! done.
3. Spring loaded folders. For each of those "applemenus" I spoke of, I should be able to drag items onto them and have the heirarchy explode into full view, then drill down throgh the file structure and place the items anywhere within it.
4. For apps, let me right click and get a list of open and minimized windows for that app. That way I can access the windows either from their minimized position, or from the app itself.
5. Make the hideing behavior easier: right now double clicking an icon in the dock has no function. Why not make it so that if I double click an icon, it hides everything but that single app? If I double click the finder, it hides everything but the DESKTOP, please don't open a finder window automatically (or make it an option).
6. Force developers to make cool icons!
Don't get the wrong idea based on my list, I love the dock. Based on photos of OS X, I didn't think I would, but after using it for a while, I've now realized that it's the best GUI tool I've ever used for what it does. I think for it's size it packs a hell of a lot of functionality, and it's just plain cool.
Comments
1. More customizability. Let the user decide where separators go, what each section of the dock is devoted to, and also add some sort of GUI manager for adding folders filled with aliases to the dock. I've noticed that most OS X users can't figure out how to make their own "apple menus", so Apple should make it an official "feature". Just open this "apple menu manager" create a folder/apple menu, select a pre-made icon for the folder or add your own, and then drag items into the folder to create aliases, just like the dock works. Allow the user to create as many as they like, and add as many items and folders to the applemenu as they like. Of course this can be done now, but if Apple built a GUI manager for it, newbies would get it right away and it would become a much lauded feature of OS X, far better than any stinkin' start menu!
2. Allow one to create multiple docks, and decide the purpose of each dock with respect to apps, minimized windows, items and folders/applemenus, etc. Furthermore, allow one to "tear off" the trash so it can reside in it's own special dock. This way I could have my dock in say, the left side of the screen, and put the trash on the right lower corner. Best of all, make each individual dock independently customizable, so I could have different sizes and properties for each dock, for example, I'd have my apps pretty small, minimized windows large so I could see the contents easier, and I'd leave them both on permanently. Then I'd make the trash dock large, and set it to autohide (nobody want's to see the trash left out!), and to delete stuff just drag it to a corner and voila! done.
3. Spring loaded folders. For each of those "applemenus" I spoke of, I should be able to drag items onto them and have the heirarchy explode into full view, then drill down throgh the file structure and place the items anywhere within it.
4. For apps, let me right click and get a list of open and minimized windows for that app. That way I can access the windows either from their minimized position, or from the app itself.
5. Make the hideing behavior easier: right now double clicking an icon in the dock has no function. Why not make it so that if I double click an icon, it hides everything but that single app? If I double click the finder, it hides everything but the DESKTOP, please don't open a finder window automatically (or make it an option).
6. Force developers to make cool icons!
Don't get the wrong idea based on my list, I love the dock. Based on photos of OS X, I didn't think I would, but after using it for a while, I've now realized that it's the best GUI tool I've ever used for what it does. I think for it's size it packs a hell of a lot of functionality, and it's just plain cool.
When the dock is turned off, a kind of windowshade is active.
currently I give the dock a score of 0.25 out of 100. I just hate it.