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lordcarter — Idea for new Windows GUI
Published: 2005-06-12 23:30:00 +0000 UTC; Views: 20550; Favourites: 15; Downloads: 7437
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Description
I've noticed that most operating systems seem to be either Mac OS, or Windows clones, and all have some sort of a taskbar. Personally, this system seems to have become the standard system. I for one, and bored with this design, and have submitted an idea to see what people think of this idea. Anyway, thanks for taking the time to check this out.Related content
Comments: 44
Wow, this is nice!
I do agree that the Start Menu idea has been run into the ground.
Your idea would revolutionize the way programmers develop OS GUIs.
And would damn cool, too!
In fact, I half expected this to be some sort of downloadable app that one can use to replace their start menu/ task bar.
That and a translucent start menu would seriously kick ass!
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I haven't worked on this much, but lately I have revisited the design. Currently I am working on implementing something to replace the "taskbar". I thought about using a dock, but thats been done before too.
I haven't given up by any means, and the struggle continues!
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awesome it would be one of the best,things to come about in a long time.go for it ,,id definatly use it.
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Yeah I'd use it, there's not much Transperant Visual Styles around, god knows why.
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this ideas look like the whistler-blackcomb-vienna-se7en things
in win7 there is no taskbar anymore
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Great idea. I very much agree with what has been said in above comments -- I can't wait to see it in action!
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oh, i forgot, Control Panel etc could be added if required tgo the menu.
zelink, you can move the button around, so you CAN have it in the top-left corner. I think, however, if its in a corner it should have an option to 'mold' into the corner by creating a square corner as part of what would otherwise be a circle.
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cool idea, cant wait to see it in action!
As for the tasks thing, how about a rollout which has a second button next to the Task Button, which can also be triggered with a key, say pressing shift twice in quick succession, cos its near the arrows and Enter, which can then be used to navigate the rollout and select a window to switch to. Alt+Tab can also be integrated into this approach, with the first press of Alt+Tab bringing out the rollout, and subsequent presses scrolling through items. A clock could also be integrated into the menu or the task button itself. Or, if you want to stick to one button, how about: Left click for this menu, right click for the apps rollout, and the button is an analog clock face. Or, going back to the whole single button thing, the menu's left pane is tasks, the right pane is favorite apps and places, so on the left is everything that's running, and on the right is web, email, pinned apps, My Docs, My Comp, and My Net Places. Let's face it, who ever uses the Control Panel, Set User Access, and Printers and Faxes options? Help and Support can be moved into the currently rather barren grey area, Search and Run can be a single input field, with two OK buttons reading Search and Run. Scratch that, there's no buttons, when you type it searches, and if the entry is a valid Run command it appears, as well as programs that match the criteria. Also, I like Vista's all programs approach where all programs appear as part of the pane.
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Cool! If only Windows Vista has that concept...
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This is a really neat concept! To be able to move the 'task bar' around would free up a lot of space and it would be different from anything else out there.
One thing I love about the bar down there though is the shortcut icons right next to the start button. Then i don't have to try and find the programs from a list. If you could figure out how to do that with this concept, that would be really awesome.
The transparent effect is one of the neatest things on there in my oppinion. Also in my oppinion, i rarely use the actual 'log off' button, normally i just use 'ctrl+l'; it's a lot faster. Then again, if i could do _everything_ using the keyboard i would, so there's probably people out there that like that idea.
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interesting idea, sounds a bit like a linux desktop... I'd like to see this if you ever pull it off.
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the idea sucks. inorder to access the menu, you would have to click towards the center fo the screen which requires mroe thought and efforst as opposed to locating the launch button for the menu at a corner.
I will say that your implementation is very elegant and beautiful though. Perhaps if you had moved it to the upper left corner...
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The reason everything is docked to the edge of the screen is because according to Fitts' Law, The time it takes to access a button is proportional to its size and distance from the mouse, the edge of the screen is "infinitely" deep, therefore, is the place on the screen that can be most easily accessed, that would be why they are forced on the screen edge.
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A lot better than Windows ever came up with --or OSX. More intuitive and flexible. I can see how a simple shell replacement could modify Windows to behave like this.
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Actually, my only problem with that is that the taskbar (or some form thereof) allows a constant running "list", of sorts, of the applications I'm running. It actually improves workflow when multitasking, for me.
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can easily be rethought into a BeOSesque taskbar, that could be hidden in a side and called upon when leaving the mouse in a position (for instance could appear when you focus the title bar for too much)...
As for the concept of the Start button... we could say that for us left-to-righters its better if it's left but i doubt it would work the same for say up-to-downers or right-to-lefters, so the concept of a movable start button should be nice (say like right clicking anywhere when the wallpaper is visible and if the window is maxed then the button stays here or there)
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Yeh I have to agree, you really need something to help you switch applications. But I admit to loving MacOSX's alt+tab kinna thing.
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this ones nice! would like to see you creating this 1!!!
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startbutton as widget? and what with taskbar? tasks control from taskmgr? and CLOCK lol?
sorry for my english
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Ok, so many neat things here, too many to point out, I am just going to give you some troubles I see. The All Programs menu is up at the top. You give good reasoning, but as is, the start menu expands down to up. The logical spot is near the mouse, already at the bottom of the screen. The yellow bg/white text is hard to read, I personally think MS would do something more black or silver or blue, as that is the way they are going. Other than that good work, however, I do not think this deviation belongs in this catagory.
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nice and could easily be made in LS.. infact i may give it a go sometime..
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This could *easily* be made in samurize. Check out this samurize config someone made as a replacement for Explorer. [link] I currently use a heavily modded version of this config as an Explorer replacement, take a look at my setup [link] So as you can see, it is possible to make this, it would just be very time consuming. However, if you really would lie to make this, I suggest you get samurize and try it out, you may be able to turn your idea into a reality.
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Very cool idea-love it! The only thing that bothers me is the orange background for system admin - doesn't fit the rest of the color sceme... maybe the grey/dark blue/orange could just be a dark blue with gradient? Well tastes will vary-lol ... I hope you do this as a skin!
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do you think you could do this with avedesk or aveshell ?
nice design
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Just one question, how would you have quick access to the windows in use? That's what the taskbar is for...
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marvelous! can't say much else, i am pretty speechless. however this is a wonderful idea that probably will never be implemented less you create your own OS...
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Supremely awesome!
I would jump for this anytime. This could be easily done using something other than explorer. Check out some 3rd-party windows theme software, and see what sort of customization you could create.
Also, I'm sure if enough people around here like this idea, a coder will come along to give you a hand. 
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i like it. try to do enough variations... i personally like the KuantumVS_1_2 best of all. Try to do some nice metallic variations. maybe with some subtle carbon fibre style.... do 1 colourful one but then stick to nice harmonious colours... i would expect the majority of people who like this kind of style like a rich but minimalistic look.
very nice concept. not too sure about the start button, i like mine as inconspicuous as possible. never forget the beauty of shadows and fades.
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Where do the currently open programs go? What about quicklaunch? The system tray? It looks good, but it needs more thought and it'll be tough to do right.
Also, this should be in the Designs -> Interfaces section, not the Visual Styles section (as there is no visual style to be downloaded).
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Speaking of which, do any of you guys know where I can find a tutorial or guide about making msstyles? Thanks again, for the nice comments. If I ever learn to program, I will try to develop something like this, maybe even a new OS. <------- Heh, Dream on.
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very nice except a few things: the thing will get in the way, when the system bugs up it will piss of somewhere unknown trust me i talked to my ucle about this(works for MS & also a asm programer) he said that "windows developing teams are very unlikely to take this into thoguht because people are too supid to know how to use windows as it is, would be a good idea as an optional thing, except if the system fucks up it will disapear and then cause users to restart! which is always a hassle" sorry dude great idea but will never get anywhere
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this is a really nice idea, id like to see it in action 
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Lol, thanks for all the great comments guys, I guess I nailed it. However, Im just a graphics guy, and I can't program worth a flip. If I did, I'd be working on this, you can bet on that.
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Litestep.................... Unless you have a working version of the idea for the explorer shell, this is being done already ...more or less... with Litestep...
You can place everyting just about anywhere you want. As long as you know how...but doing this with explorer would be extremely sweet.... good luck
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Not only imaginative and bold, this would be a great improvement to the current "standard" desktop. if you're like me keeping clutter off the screen is very important and your design for the new start menu is both "clean" and functional, great job!
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Definitely a good idea, can't wait to see it in action.
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I forgot to mention that you cannot download this, it's just an idea I submitted to see how people responded to the idea.
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