Do you use a taskbar?

GrapefruiTgirl · 10-03-2010, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bret381

Grapefruitgirl, is that Awesome WM you are running???

No, it's called i3 tiling WM

realbluntz · 10-03-2010, 07:18 AM

Hotkey shows all windows on my desktop: http://wtfisgmail.com/shit/windows.jpg
or all windows on all desktops. Possibly, the most significant tool that trumps the taskbar as far as I'm concerned.

MTK358 · 10-03-2010, 07:22 AM

How is it possible to use a GUI without a taskbar? I often have a few windows maximized and switch them with the taskbar.

Really, I wonder how do you work without one?

realbluntz · 10-03-2010, 07:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MTK358

How is it possible to use a GUI without a taskbar? I often have a few windows maximized and switch them with the taskbar.

Really, I wonder how do you work without one?

lol, this is what I'm trying to convey! It's hard to list all of my tools, perhaps I shall just do that....

MTK358 · 10-03-2010, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by realbluntz

lol, this is what I'm trying to convey! It's hard to list all of my tools, perhaps I shall just do that....

OK, that would be nice!

H_TeXMeX_H · 10-03-2010, 07:53 AM

Yes, do post how.

bret381 · 10-03-2010, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GrapefruiTgirl

No, it's called i3 tiling WM

Thanks, I'll have to look into that

rokytnji · 10-03-2010, 10:18 AM

Did not vote as I use Icewm and Fluxbox. So I am yes and no. Icewm taskar auto hides easy so no big deal for me. This is on EEEPC 9" and 7" screen real estate.

Amdx2_x64 · 10-03-2010, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catkin

This also sounds more like a menu than a taskbar ... ?

This is from Wikipedia and it talks a lot about MS Windows, Of Course Linux (Gnome, KDE, etc...) does it better and in some cases did it first :-) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taskbar#Taskbar_elements

Quote:

Taskbar elements

* The Start menu, which is accessed by a button on the taskbar, contains commands that can access programs, documents, and settings.
* The Quick Launch bar, introduced with Internet Explorer 4, contains shortcuts to applications. Windows provides default entries, such as Launch Internet Explorer Browser, and the user or third-party software may add any further shortcuts that they choose. A single click on the application's icon in this area launches the application. This section may not always be present: for example it is turned off by default in Windows XP and Windows 7.
*Windows XP introduced taskbar grouping, which can group the taskbar buttons of several windows from the same application into a single button. This button pops up a menu listing all the grouped windows when clicked. This keeps the taskbar from being overcrowded when many windows are open at once.
* Windows Vista introduced window previews which show thumbnail views of the application in real-time. This capability is provided by the Desktop Window Manager.
* Windows 7 introduced the ability to pin applications to the taskbar so that buttons for launching them appear when they are not running. Previously, the Quick launch was used to pin applications to the taskbar; however, running programs appeared as a separate button.

And the list goes on.

Here are three screen shots. Ubuntu 10.04 (Gnome,) Suse 11.3 (KDE4.)

Ubuntu (Gnome) x2:
http://www.imagebam.com/image/2a9112100493291

http://www.imagebam.com/image/bbaaf3100493303

Suse (KDE4) x1:
http://www.imagebam.com/image/e7093e100505929

MTK358 · 10-03-2010, 10:32 AM

I think of the taskbar not an in the Windows Taskbar, but as the panel applet that has buttons to de-iconify windows.

catkin · 10-03-2010, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MTK358

I think of the taskbar not an in the Windows Taskbar, but as the panel applet that has buttons to de-iconify windows.

That's where I was coming from; in Xfce it is called the Task List.

lumak · 10-03-2010, 12:44 PM

Does fluxbox count if I change it to only support the workspace name(number in my case), time/date, and system tray?
... That and I have extra mouse click events ontop of it for displaying a calendar and using xmms2.

DavidMcCann · 10-03-2010, 05:12 PM

An I being dim: what is the difference, if any between the panel and a taskbar?

GrapefruiTgirl · 10-03-2010, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavidMcCann

An I being dim: what is the difference, if any between the panel and a taskbar?

I don't think it's a dim question.. My take on it is:

Linux perspective: a "taskbar" is a specific gadget, which can be placed onto a panel. The taskbar's only goal is to have the tab things that allow you to click from one (maximized/minimized) app (task) to another that you have open. A taskbar is like a "tray" only magnified.
A "panel" is an object or space (a bar, a floaty-thing, a side-bar..) onto which you can put things like applets, taskbar, clock, menu button, tray, launchers, etc..

Windows perspective: what I remember from the last time I used Windows (XP) was that there was only one "panel", called the "taskbar"; it was the one and only, all-in-one. So on this platform, the terms are interchangeable.

EDIT:
Real example: when I used KDE3 and two monitors, I used a single long "panel" that spanned across both monitors. This "panel" had a flexible space in the center, and two "taskbars", one for the apps on the left monitor, and one for the apps on the right monitor. The flexible space kept each taskbar on its own side..

So, panel & taskbar are two distinct things. If someone's got a different understanding or thought about taskbar vs panel, by all means, share it!

Amdx2_x64 · 10-03-2010, 06:18 PM

I am confused. It sounds like what Gnome panels "add to panel" calls a "Window List."