Aqua-Soft ForumsI'm trying to decide on using either YzDock, RkDock, or using either Object Dock or purchasing Object Dock plus. I have used all of the above mentioned, except for RkDock, but have read through the preview thread. I have noticed the main visual difference between YzDock and Object Dock is the fact that running apps that show up on the taskbar show up on the Dock. Reading through the thread for RkDock, it will have the same feature as Object Dock. Is that how it truly works on a Mac? Or does it work the way YzDock does, which is always on top and just showing pointers at the applications that are currently running? I searched throughout the forum and there are comparisons on what's better, what's faster, what's still being developed and what's no longer developed or supported, but found that answers my question. Thanks in advance.
[Question] How does the Dock truly work on a Mac?
i'd recommend using objectdock normal until rk is released. also, you can use yz dock only if you computer can't hand the objectdock's performance, if you can do without the taskbar (which is the only reason why i used objectdock over yz dock.
i think the moby dock emulates the original dock best, because objectdock dosen't have trash at the other side of the taskbar and also it's magnification (to me) is quite simaler to the original dock. yz dock is also a good replica of the original dock, but it dosen't have taskbar.
i'd recommend using objectdock normal until rk is released. also, you can use yz dock only if you computer can't hand the objectdock's performance, if you can do without the taskbar (which is the only reason why i used objectdock over yz dock.
i think the moby dock emulates the original dock best, because objectdock dosen't have trash at the other side of the taskbar and also it's magnification (to me) is quite simaler to the original dock. yz dock is also a good replica of the original dock, but it dosen't have taskbar.
Performance isn't an issue. I just want to emulate the Mac as close as I can, and one of those features is through the Dock. If the Original Dock on a Mac shows the taskbar and shows pointers under all of the current running applications as well as show each instance of the current running application, then I want the Dock I use to do the same. But if it doesn't do all of that, then I don't want it to. I know that I can turn off the taskbar feature of Object Dock Plus, but can you turn off the seperate instance of each running application? Or would it even be worth the money since YzDock doesn't show either one of those things?
none of the apps can emulate as closely as rk's dock for now. the windows that are open and not minimized won't show up in the tasks section of the dock, however all the docks don't do that.
mac osx dock has:
-------------------------------
osx icons
an internet address and trash icon on the very right part of the dock, and the task icons are between those two icons and all the rest of the shortcut icons.
when window is open, it does not show up in task section. which is rk's coolest feature for now. (also he's developing the genie effect too, which no current windows dock has.
a running task indicator on the icon indicating whether the program is running or not. default is a black tiny triangle
magnification
autohide + autohide delay settings (i think)
-------------------------------------------
rk's dock is closest to the real mac dock as possible (however, it's in development and hasen't been fully completed yet). otherwize, the next alternative and next closest emulator is object dock.
Thank you Steelfist. You have answered my question. I'll check out RkDock for now. I know it's in beta, but from what I've heard, it's almost more stable than Object Dock. I was planning on upgrading from Windowblinds to the Object Desktop and was trying to figure out whether or not to spend an additional $20 for the Object Dock, but I don't like having to configure every single instance's icon, but would if that's what it looked like on a Mac, which you've answered here for me. Thank you once again.
This topic can be closed now. Thank you.
The way it works on OS X which I hope RK is working on putting right now is (and is almost there) is on the left side you have shortcuts AND tasks integrated. What do I mean by that?
When you have shortcuts in there they have no arrow when the program is closed but an arrow when the program is open. But if there is no shortcut for the program and you open a new program it appears at the end of the shortcuts with an arrow again to show it's a task. But once you choose "always in dock" it becomes an item which writes into the dock and has an option for either removing just the arrow if you want to keep it as a shortcut or hide the icon completely if you took off "stay in dock" so for example if you have 3 shortcuts and you remove "stay in dock" from the second one, the next time you open that program it'll show up as the second icon.
That's what the arrows are for and so far no dock has come close to that behavior except Moby which allows you to hide certain tasks but that's a kludge it's not the full way like I mentioned.
Right of the seperator is supposed to work as it is now in RK Dock with minimized apps appearing there and dissapearing when you click on them (with transition effects). Then that area is also to put folder shortcutsdocumentstrash can.
So that's pretty much how it works on OS X and it seems that RK Dock is heading in that direction and that makes me excited.
BTW, Objectdock isn't a bad program. I use it as a tabbed launcher like dragthing
so I don't have to have 40+ icons in Rkdock. Rkdock is just a better dock to use if you want a normal OS X style dock.
Also the only thing Y'z had going for it was looks and speed. It wasn't close to the real dock in terms of features.
Wow, thanks Smoke. That's exactly what I was asking. Cool. Thanks to both of you. Now all I have to do is save up $6,000 so that I don't have to emulate it anymore. 
Or you could get a mini mac or emac 
I thought about that, and I realized that I wouldn't truly be happy with it. What would make me truly happy for the amount of money I'm going to end up spending on it would be to get the faster Powerbook, loaded up with everything that I could get into it so I don't have to add anything later. It's just very difficult saving up that amount of money for something like that when it's what you could use for down payment on either a house or a car. *LOL* And convincing my wife to go along with that is the most difficult thing. I'm going to have to wait until I can place something more expensive for her in one hand so she will forget about the $6000 Powerbook in her other hand. *LOL* Besides, I'm a power user. I have to have a lot of RAM, a lot of processor muscle, a lot of space, and be able to put it to the test on a daily basis. I don't think I can accomplish that with either of the entry level Mini's or iMac's with nothing added to them. Once you add in everything I would want, I'm close to $2000, which then I say, hmm, if I'm going spend that much money, then I want what I truly want. Then we're back to trying to convince my wife that we truly need this $6000 Powerbook because it will help me with everything else in life. 
If you truly want something that can be like that and you are willing to spend 6 grand on it you should really consider a G5 tower with a nice big cinema display instead. Plus you get more expansion options with the tower.
6 grand is an awfull lot to pay for a G4 Powerbook when it might be obseleted in the next year and you can't upgrade it to G5 if a G5 powerbook comes out.
Yeah, but then I wouldn't be able to take it up to work with me or anywhere else for that matter. Right now I use a laptop and have enjoyed the aspect of taking this everywhere I go. My job doesn't care if I use my own laptop for work, which is what I'm currently doing, just as long as I can still perform my job. With a Powerbook, I can install Virtual PC and run a Windows XP Professional workstation to do all of my Network Administration work and use the OS X for everything else. 
I can't do that with a G5. I would have to tote it and all the accessories along with me everyday and everywhere I go, which would put a little strain on my back. *LOL* Anyway, we could go on and on about this, but I think this topic should be closed. Thank you all for everything. Chat with you later Smoke.
Can an administrator please close this topic? Thank you in advance.
http://www.macos.utah.edu/Documentation/Ma..._MovieDock.html
is a quicktime video that demonstrates everything that the dock does. a picture is worth a thousand words, a video is worth a million words. sorry that i can't really explain everything clearly. have fun