I have a slight problem with the standard interface for most computers. That problem is simply this: whoever designed the OS doesn't think the way I do, and generally neither does the computer. Interestingly, this is also why I changed my major from Computer Science. I don't think like a computer.
First, though, before I embark on some exposition, I should break down some terminology. From Dictionary.com:
operating system
–noun Computers. the collection of software that directs a computer's operations, controlling and scheduling the execution of other programs, and managing storage, input/output, and communication resources. Abbreviation: OS
This is the part of the computer that drives everything, and really, it's the part that you DON'T see when you turn on your computer. This is background. In front of this, is what we call the "Shell."
There are two layers of Shell. There's the Command Line, which few Windows users see anymore, (Maybe you've heard it called the "DOS Shell") unless they've got a problem and need to fix it the hard way (it's happened to me too often. . . ). Some Linux users like to spend long periods of time here, but then again, some Linux users have to run a compiler to get their operating system installed. Personally, I take that as a bad sign, but hey, I'm not a Linux guy.
The upshot is that if you learn your way around the command prompt, you look like a genius. The downside is that it's not intuitive. At all. Mostly it's controlled by a series of fairly arbitrary commands, and there's no really 'natural' way to learn what these commands ARE, unless you already know at least a few of them.
The part of the Shell that you USUALLY see and interact with is the Graphical User Interface, or just GUI. When I talk about the shell, this is usually what I mean. The GUI (Or Shell - let's just agree that I'm going to call it the Shell) is your desktop and taskbar or dockbar and system tray/notification area, the "start menu" or other variant. . .
You have to understand that I AM a Windows user, and so my greatest degree of familiarity is with the Windows Shell. And there are a few. . . problems. . . with the default Windows shell, hereafter known as the Explorer Shell. Not to be confused with the Explorer File Manager, because while they're part of the same program, they serve different purposes.
MOST of the overall desktop environment is the Shell, but not all. So let's discuss the whole environment for a bit; what does a computer need in order for it to do what you need it to do?
A) It must have some means of keeping track of currently running programs, ideally one that divides itself between
i) the programs the user is actively wanting to interact with, and
ii) the programs that run in the background for various other tasks.
Windows, classically, has handled this through the taskbar and system tray. Most variants of Linux use some version of this as well, and Mac. . . well. . . from all I've read, OS X's equivalent to the system tray is kinda. . . meh. On the other hand, if I remember correctly, OS X uses the dockbar to keep track of those running tasks, and compared to the classic Windows taskbar, this is by far a much more eye-pleasing solution.
Of course that's ignoring the Windows 7 "Superbar," which is pretty much just awesome. Read about it. and other reasons why upgrading to Windows 7 might be a good idea for any XP or Vista users, by clicking here.
Winner? Well, the Dockbar. . . until the Superbar.
B) It doesn't strictly have to be part of the Shell, but the desktop environment must have some method of easily switching between said Windows, and eyecandy doesn't hurt here, at least in my opinion. Unfortunately, Windows, out of the box, has kinda . . . goofed this one. Older versions of Windows just used Alt-tab, and while sometimes that's ok . . . it could be better. Breakdown of concepts follows.
Vista's window switching concept, the 3D "Aero Flip", LOOKS really cool. . . but as far as using it goes, most of the time it seems like there's not much point to it. Except to show off to your friends (Look what Vista can do! Shiiiiny. . . .) or something, but half of them will say, "Haha, you fool, you BOUGHT Vista," the other half will go, "Yeah, well check out my Mac and its cool Expose! It's pretty, AND useful."
For those of you who haven't seen or heard of it, Mac has this cool window management thing called Expose that tiles all of your windows on the screen so you can choose the one you're looking for. It's very cool, and it's enough to make just about any Windows user jealous. . . until we remember that all the cool games come out on the PC first. What does Mac have in the way of games, anyway? Chess? Sweater Assault? Photoshop?
I'm kidding. Sort of. At least about the last two. I'm fairly certain that no one has actually made a game titled Sweater Assault, but feel free to prove me wrong.
So, out of the box, Mac wins the window-switching round. Luckily, it doesn't end out of the box. More on this in a later entry.
Where was I? Oh, yeah.
C) The desktop. Most default Shells have one, and it's comfortable, familiar, and usually full of needless clutter. Not unlike a lot of people's actual desks . . .
D) Some easy way of accessing programs that are used a lot. Aside from the desktop.
Windows has . . . Quicklaunch. Mac offers the dockbar, and again, of the two options, the dockbar is . . . much . . . prettier. Though again, Windows 7's Superbar wins this one; see the above link.
But until then, Windows users are a bit jealous of the dock. You might as well admit it; I know I am. Was. Until I got a dock.
Except! There are free dockbars for Windows, and even at least one very, very slick commercial offering. StarDock offers up a product called ObjectDock, which comes in both free and paid versions - the paid version has a few extra features that are nice, but the average user won't always need them. There's also the free RocketDock, rkLauncher, Y'z Dock . . . if you want a dock, you can have a dock. I've got a dock. Two, actually. I like them. They're cool.
I'll explore a few of these options in more depth in a later entry. Meanwhile, onward.
E) Lastly, it needs some easy way of accessing programs that aren't used as frequently. Most Shells handle this through some variant of either the Start Menu (Windows and Mac, both), or a rightclick menu of some sort (Linux's BlackBox shell and others). These solutions are far from elegant, but they work.
I say far from elegant, because . . . well, let's be honest. The Windows start menu is usually one of the most poorly organized places on your entire computer. You're never sure where to find anything, and some programmer decided for you where his work ought to be stored, and you're never sure what he was thinking, so you go browsing through . . . and get lost maybe half the time.
It's not just me, is it? -whew- Thank God, I was scared for a minute there.
See, the 'start menu' solution is great if you want to see a list of everything you have installed because you're trying to decide what it is you want to use right now, and you don't have any particular goal. Otherwise it's mostly an obstacle.
Luckily there are more elegant options for Windows users in the form of the application launcher. But more on that later.
Now, you've got the basics. See? You learned something. Good for you! Just wait until we get to the actual improving part of things.
One last little teaser. Yes, the Explorer shell is clunky sometimes, and it's a bit of a memory hog. But there are alternatives, even for those of us who want to stick with Windows. Stay tuned.
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