For the longest time, I have hated the taskbar (my whole life - especially in windoze).
I find using the taskbar to be unorganized, unergonomic and slow. I prefer using commands and shortcuts/hotkeys.

My supreme window management and organization is made possible thanks to Compiz. From the desktop cube's virtual desktops, to the fast window switching, window transparency/brightness/saturation, oh the list goes on...

Anyways, what I'm getting at is:

Do you use a taskbar?

http://wtfisgmail.com/shit/wm.jpg

But only for minimized Windows. The taskbar is blank when all my Windows are maximized. I have a single taskbar for minimized Windows across all desktops. KDE4 is sweet.

I agree with you so much, at least about the taskbar.
Although I'm not into flashy window managers... I guess most people that don't like taskbars probably like light/fast window managers, or at least I do^^.
I don't like the idea of needing a graphic card to switch windows, and don't find transparency very useful either...
But of course fast/light and wholly customizable window managers without taskbars are great to use with a terminal. I use sawfish.

No!

A status-bar (dzen2) currently I use, but not a taskbar. Workspaces are switched by keystrokes (Alt1, Alt2,...), and it's a tiling WM that doesn't "minimize" anything, just compartmentalizes everything. Apps are launched from a terminal or from Dmenu (CtrlMeta+M). Focus is by mouse or keyboard.

Desktop: desktop.jpg

I see how maximized windows not showing on the taskbar helps the situation. BUT if you're NOT using a taskbar, you have the entire screen to view at all times, no wasted space.

Yes, I understand how needing a gfx card to manage windows can seem a bit much, but I'm a graphics guy, always will be. Also, I have a high-end system I game with so it only makes sense to make use of the gfx. Sawfish - I'll keep that in mind.

I must admit, I'm a bit of a noobie, using ubuntu 10. I'm not sure how to get rid of gnome's top taskbar. The thing is - that's the only way I know how to change wireless networks - is from the top taskbar wireless icon.

I like it... aside from the obvious - taskbar = dead space

haha, i think i just voted yes on accident

I agree that both "taskbar" and/or "statusbar" are something of a waste of space unless a person really likes them and doesn't mind; but with a ridiculous number of usable workspaces, plus the 'full-screen' option of any given app or global fullscreen of the WM, plus ultimately the option to turn off the *bar, there's never a shortage of potentially usable real-estate.
When I used to use KDE, I chose the "Auto-hide" option for the taskbar.

I use a taskbar in GNOME. Always have, never gave it a second thought, never had a problem.

I tried to get rid of the taskbar and use Docky once; couldn't stand it.

I use a Taskbar, set to auto-hide (more precisely I use Xfce with a bottom panel set to autohide and mostly devoted to Task List). It complements <whatever the name of the thing Alt+Tab shows> which I use most of the time because the Taskbar is more effective at identifying instances of the same task. For example, when developing software, there may be several instances of a terminal emulator: one for editing the software, one for editing the configuration file, one for running the software and one for examining logs. The Alt+Tab window does not identify the instances but the Taskbar does, by their position.

I use tint2

*edit
Grapefruitgirl, is that Awesome WM you are running??? I have been using Openbox for a while and just recently installed Awesome. Hard to switch over just yet.....

being a Gnome diehard i like it 99% of the time
i keep a link to the terminal,gedit , the std. menu ,and the weather and system monitor apps on the top .All nice and out of the way , but can be seen .

"i keep a link to" sounds more like a menu than a taskbar ... ?

I am a taskbar user. I think it helps to keep things organized. I hate having icons on the desktop, or a lot of them. I have seen some peoples computers littered with icons all over the place. It drives me crazy. My taskbar keeps everything nice, neat and in order.

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

I use fluxbox and it has only the toolbar with iconbar:
http://draconishinobi.50webs.com/linux/artwork/bwyg.jpg

It is useful for switching windows, and minimizing. However, I have remove the other things that could be on there, which annoy me and waste space.