I just wish that you could make Windows XP behave like Compiz in Linux. That is a cooler look then thumbnails. However, use both PCLinuxOS and Windows XP I like the Compiz 3D effect, it just makes more sense then this thumbs. I tried this program and when there is a window maximized I cannot see what else I have minimized....kind of a bad move if you ask me. I just don't run it all from the desktop view all the time. somewhere tell me where I can get a program that makes XP more like Linux with Compiz or Beryl.

qpease

BURNBLUE-
I could not agree more with you. If the thumbnails are on the desktop then what good are they in a maximized window? I liked the way it looked and felt but it did me no good because there was no way to make them be "always on top."
Thumbwin was also OK but you could not move the thumbnails anywhere and it had less options then miniMIZE.
Also, miniMIZE would crash on me whenever I would use rocketdock (which I love by the way, thanks LifeHacker.)
So if anybody knows of any other software like this that works a little bit better that would be sweet. If not...Happy Thanksgiving everybody!
Also on a quick side note...did everybody know that Lifehacker is bundled in with google reader when you go to into the geeky bundles package they have preset? I didn't until a little bit ago. Not that I didn't already have Lifehacker as a feed already but I thought that was kinda neat.

HMGS

I agree with "BURNBLUE", what's the point in this after you've maximized a window?

BuRn_sluG

@burnblue:

I don't get it either...

mropp

Everyone looks to get rid of the start bar, but for what? It is a perfectly fine small un-cluttering little bar (that actually looks good in XP + Vista) that houses the clock, date, few running programs, a handy quick launch, my programs and my much loved vista start menu. I am sure all of these can be replaced, but I have no problems with my start bar. But - I did enjoy thumbwin for a little while (until I got really annoyed and took it off)... Thanks for the suggestion, anyway!

ajskhan

I don't get it; if the thumbnails are on my desktop, then how do I click on them when I have a maximized window filling the screen? After all, the point of the taskbar is to quickly get to another window.

Might be a silly question, but someone please explain

burnblue

Reminds me of fvwm. People usually have this same effect on it.

DarkJesus

I agree with Blue and some of the others. What is the point? The only application similar to this that I use (occasionally) is Thumbwin. It goes on my 2nd monitor where I leave a 64 pixel "gutter" at the top of the screen for application icons on both monitors.

Definitely more attitude than substance.

NTC-Brendan

brilliant! this turns Windows XP start bar into windows 3.1 program manager, but without the folders! ingenious!

badsandwich

Not that I use it, but I guess when you have a window maximized you can use a hotkey to bring your thumbnails to the front.

I used Minimize ages ago and I can't really remember why. I guess it was just for the visual reminder of what was open.

At the moment I'm back using Windows standard shell, and am finding the taskbar to be generally quite a useful thing.

Alex Leonard

Sweet! XFCE (on Linux) has had this for years, and it's an excellent feature once you get used to it. In lieu of a taskbar, virtual desktops + desktop minimization + hotkeys mean that I almost never have to take my hands of the keyboard to use the mouse, at least when I'm working.

This will be great in combination with the Emerge Desktop shell, which implements a lot of the interface features of XFCE/*box/etc, like right-click on desktop main menus.

If you check out my screenshot in the Linux show & tell post awhile back, you can see that I've been running without panels or toolbars of any kind for awhile now.

black_rabbit

Meh. I still prefer RocketDock's minimize-to-dock feature (takes up less room, stays on top, and it's a multi-tasker). The only problem with RD's thumbnails is they screwy if you minimize all windows.

DogHead

I agree with the comments above. I run many apps full screen so putting things on the desktop just doesn't work for me. I do use TaskSwitchXP which gives me thumbnail views of each window when I alt-tab.

[www.ntwind.com]

SciotoSurfer

AppAholic finally got lifehackered =D
I knew the day would come... anyway...
I really liked this app as I hate to run things full screen. Im a widget guy. I like my desktop and use it quite a bit. I rarely alt-tab as I can normally click on where I want. If I do go fullscreen, its because I'm either gaming or using photoshop, and its pointless trying to swap beteen that and anything when you have under 1GB of ram. (give me a brake, I'm buying an extra 1GB very soon ok?)
TaskSwicthXP is rather sweet, although I often find it simply dosent show the thumbnail for so many of my apps.

Maybe it simply depends how big your screen is. Anything under 19" and It's a struggle to not use most apps full screen. I do happen to have 19".

relequestual

We should be worrying about the state of the world, not our freakin task bars!

philosopher_dog

@philosopher_dog: I think your on the wrong site mate ;)

@SciotoSurfer: Same as, its a great ALT-TAB replacement.

2kreative

The only way this could be useful would be if it could act like tile windows in compiz, in which you have a hotkey or an edge of the screen activate window thumbnails across the whole screen. That way, you would have an easy overview of all your stuff quite quickly. To say that it would replace the taskbar, however, is a great mistake.

shk

Microsoft also has something like this

"Scalable Fabric".. it's pretty elite ;)

[research.microsoft.com]

budz