XP TaskSwitcher

Posted in: Technology on Oct 30

Jason Kottke's written up some improvements to Panther's cmd-tab switcher. Microsoft has already beaten these suggestions with their TaskSwitcher alt-tab replacement for Windows XP (part of regrettably named PowerToys series). It not only switches between windows, it gives you a screen shot of the window to boot.

Ok, it's not always perfect--the screen shots render slowly on my PIII 800, and some apps (like HomeSite) behave like they have multiple windows open. But it's one feature that's induspitably better in Windows.

Posted by Gene Smith on Oct 30, 2003

Comments

2 comments. You're signed in as with your TypeKey ID. Post a comment below or Sign out. Sign in with your TypeKey ID to leave a comment.

Joshua Kaufman says...

I think Kottke's suggestions for Expose were shortsighted. Using Expose F9 or F10 (works better with hotcorners), and then clicking tab does practically the same thing that Jason mentioned. Does the XP TaskSwitcher cycle through apps and windows or just apps? If it cycles through windows and apps, then the only real difference compared to Expose it how it displays them.

P.S. Mark your required form fields. (i.e. the email address field)

Posted on Nov 4, 2003

Gene says...

TaskSwitcher only cycles through open windows--in that sense it's perhaps not as good Expose. On the other hand, you can keep frequently used apps in the Quick Launch bar.

> P.S. Mark your required form fields. (i.e. the email address field)

I'd love to, but that would require an upgrade to TypePad Pro.

Posted on Nov 4, 2003

Post a comment

About this Page

Posted by Gene Smith on Oct 30, 2003. Before this there was Mitchell v. Tarantino, Vol. I. Next up is Top 10 Pro Basketball Player Names (2003-2004 edition).

About the Author

Gene Smith is a principal with nForm, one of Canada's leading user experience consulting firms. He writes about information architecture, interaction design, community, the web and other such topics. More >

Get the RSS feed (full posts, no ads)

My Book

Elsewhere

You can also find me on Flickr, Upcoming, LinkedIn, Del.icio.us and Digg.

Work

Endorsements

Hosting by Dreamhost.