Dock in Vista?

[hpkeeper]

I was just in Staples today and I was fooling around on the laptops, I'm assuming it was vista, unless windows 7 is already out and they've put the OS on display in the new machines...

but I saw a really cool Mac-like Dock in the upper middle portion of the screen...

if this is Vista... how do I do that????

 

[VinDSL]

I run StarDock ObjectDock on all of my Windows machines...

http://www.stardock.com/products/objectdock/

Is this what you're talking about?!?!?

 

[hpkeeper]

Originally posted by: VinDSL
I run StarDock ObjectDock on all of my Windows machines...

http://www.stardock.com/products/objectdock/

Is this what you're talking about?!?!?

it may possibly be that... but I don't see why they would install a program like that in a display model laptop in Staples.

 

[lxskllr]

RocketDock is another option. I use RocketDock on the side, and ObjectDock on the top of my display.

 

[lxskllr]

Originally posted by: hpkeeper


it may possibly be that... but I don't see why they would install a program like that in a display model laptop in Staples.

I don't know why they would either. Maybe it's a value added program that comes with the machine. I install ObjectDock on machines I build for people. I think it's pretty cool, and it impresses the natives :^)

 

[hpkeeper]

Originally posted by: lxskllr
RocketDock is another option. I use RocketDock on the side, and ObjectDock on the top of my display.

that rocketdock looks a lot like it... but again, why would they install a non indigenous program onto a display model laptop, which makes me wonder if Vista is capable on it's own of doing the same thing without actually running an additional application.

 

[lxskllr]

There's no dock in Vista. Those are definitely addon programs.

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: hpkeeper
that rocketdock looks a lot like it... but again, why would they install a non indigenous program onto a display model laptop...?

These docks are like heroine!

EVERYONE that catches a glimpse of ObjectDock on my machines HAS to ask about it!

It's amazing really!!! They just can't help themselves...

Face it - we wouldn't be having this discussion if YOU hadn't seen it today!

 

[Rhonda the Sly]

Was it a Dell? Dell installs its Dell Dock software on many (all?) of its models these days, which is a re-skinned Rocket Dock.

 

[pcslookout]

Originally posted by: lxskllr
RocketDock is another option. I use RocketDock on the side, and ObjectDock on the top of my display.

I watched their video on the main site. Trying it now but can't get a video to keep showing it playing the picture part after the player is minimize. At first I tired VLC player but then thought hey they are using windows media player maybe it doesn't support VLC player. After trying windows media player same thing happens I can't see video still moving when minimizing windows media player. I can still hear it but not see it playing live.

What option do I need to enable or how did they do this ?

 

[lxskllr]

I'm not sure. I don't use the dock that way. I was just playing around with it, but I couldn't get the animation to work. I did find that if you mouse over minimized window the animation will update as the mouse passes over :^/ I wonder if it's a incompatibility with Vista64. It isn't officially supported by RocketDock.

 

[pcslookout]

What about StarDock ObjectDock then ?

 

[lxskllr]

I get the exact same behavior with ObjectDock. I'm thinking it might be a Windows setting that's messing it up. I'll poke around and see if I can find anything.

 

[pcslookout]

Originally posted by: lxskllr
I get the exact same behavior with ObjectDock. I'm thinking it might be a Windows setting that's messing it up. I'll poke around and see if I can find anything.

Thanks. I did find this on rocketdock help files but the option is enabled on my system.

In Windows Vista, they will be rendered as a real-time preview if you have Desktop Composition enabled in your Windows performance settings and the ability to use Aero Glass.

Not sure if this means what I am talking about though.

Did you find anything to get this working on ObjectDock?

 

[lxskllr]

No I haven't. I saw that link also, and desktop composition is enabled on my system. I thought it might be an issue with Vista64, but it doesn't work on my 32bit laptop either :^/

 

[lxskllr]

I've noticed that animations are disabled on the stock Vista taskbar if the application's minimized, but they work if the app screen is up, and you mouse over the taskbar tab. That's why I'm thinking it's a Windows issue, but I don't know how to change it.

 

[pcslookout]

Originally posted by: lxskllr
No I haven't. I saw that link also, and desktop composition is enabled on my system. I thought it might be an issue with Vista64, but it doesn't work on my 32bit laptop either :^/

That is strange. Do you even know if ObjectDock supports this feature? What did you try it on?

I prefer ObjectDock because you can change the icons of minimized windows where in RocketDock you can't. You can only change icons for shortcuts you have on that. I tried both.

 

[lxskllr]

It looks to me like ObjectDock is supposed to support this feature also. I tried RocketDock in Vista64, and ObjectDock in Vista32/64. Neither of these works.

 

[pcslookout]

Do you know if there is anyway to get ObjectDock to take the spot of the taskbar but not go over the start menu or the system tray ? Bascially having it sorta look like the new taskbar in Windows 7. Like this. And this.

It doesn't have to have the same colors or preview option but that would be nice if possible. I just want to be able to have ObjectDock be my new taskbar instead while it keeps the start button and system tray icons.

 

[lxskllr]

Not really. the best you'll get is having it sit directly over the taskbar. In trying to find out why minimize animations don't work, I found forum posts complaining about taskbar replacement in Vista64. I think it's supposed to do what you want, except icons and start button will be on the ObjectDock, but it's currently broken.

 

[pcslookout]

Originally posted by: lxskllr
Not really. the best you'll get is having it sit directly over the taskbar. In trying to find out why minimize animations don't work, I found forum posts complaining about taskbar replacement in Vista64. I think it's supposed to do what you want, except icons and start button will be on the ObjectDock, but it's currently broken.

That sucks hope they fix it! I think I tried some kind of system tray option thing just to see what it did but it told me it is not supported in Windows 64 bit yet

 

[lxskllr]

It would be nice to have that option, but I don't use the dock that way. I'm too used to using the Windows taskbar. I keep my docks hidden off screen, and they popup when I mouse to the edge. I like them for alleviating desktop clutter, and quick access to different file locations.

 

[pcslookout]

Originally posted by: lxskllr
It would be nice to have that option, but I don't use the dock that way. I'm too used to using the Windows taskbar. I keep my docks hidden off screen, and they popup when I mouse to the edge. I like them for alleviating desktop clutter, and quick access to different file locations.

Yeah. I am testing it out right now to see how I want it. Right now I have the option to hide taskbar totally. Just a pain when I close a program that goes to my system tray but doesn't close. I have to always remember to minimize these programs. I like how it is sorta like the new Windows 7 taskbar where it feels like you are opening a program like firefox, word, or email instantly when in reality it was already open in the background. I guess just having the icon there gives the effect it is like a desktop icon but on a new kind of taskbar. So when you click the icon it feels like it is just opening a application for the first time when it is really not. I know you can have the option to just put shortcuts on it but I prefer just all my minimize windows so it gives this effect of instant application opening

Not sure if you know what I am talking about but I thought that was pretty cool with the new taskbar in windows 7.

Just trying to find the right effect for the icons now when maximaxing and minimizing the applications on the ObjectDock taskbar. Do you know if the same windows 7 effect is available ?

 

[lxskllr]

You mean with the huge preview? I don't know. You could try playing with the zoom size to see if it magnifies the preview also.

 

[pcslookout]

Originally posted by: lxskllr
You mean with the huge preview? I don't know. You could try playing with the zoom size to see if it magnifies the preview also.

No talking about when you click on the minimized window icons to bring the program back open. That effect.

Though I wouldn't mind that effect either.