Kinda meh

from Stardock Forums

Must say I'm disappointed with ObjectDock 2.0.

ObjectDock has been excellent with Vista, but after I installed Windows 7 I found I didn't need it any more. The great new features of the Windows 7 Taskbar - the new prominent features and the more subtle enhancements alike - are far better than having a slightly prettier dock that zooms.

The performance is also slightly worse than 1.9, but the performance of the new blur feature is abysmal. I'm running a powerful machine that's able to handle some pretty impressive desktop effects, yet the blur features make it stutter. As OD+ 2.0 is still in beta, the performance issues are fine if Stardock irons them out before final release.

Back to the features though, when I noticed availability of OD+ 2.0, I was excited as I thought there would be some great new features to bring it up to speed. After buying it and installing the beta, I was very disappointed to find almost no new features. The settings interface uses some new useless skin but the important part of the product - the part you actually use - hasn't really changed at all. The new reflection feature looks really cool, whoopdy-doo! Yes it looks really cool but there is nothing else that I can see that justifies the price of the upgrade (yes I realise it was $10 - still not worth it), nor the version number increase. Really, it should be called ObjectDock 1.10, not 2.0.

A co-worker is using OD+ 1.9 with Vista after I recommended it to him. He also reckons it's a great product. But he is also now using Windows 7 at home and has found OD+ unnecessary too.

If ObjectDock continues to be intended for use as a Taskbar replacement, I suggest Stardock start implementing similar features for ObjectDock, otherwise it will become useless to all except those who'd rather have a pretty shiny shortcut launcher that zooms, over the excellent new Windows 7 Taskbar which is so much more powerful and saves a lot of time and effort.

 

Edit: apologies, I meant to add this to the ObjectDock 2.0 feedback thread. I clicked the create post button thinking it would add to that thread. Little did I know, "Create Post" doesn't just create a post, it also creates a thread. Not a very good choice of words there.

objectdock
2,120 views 7 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

Windows 7 superbar isn't actually the same as dock is. Taskbar is very usefull but has mostly practical meaning as it lacks of customizing features. The good dock we may use not only as usefull apllication launcher but also for customizng.

ObjeckDock really lacks of support. I understand that here'r many projects which are more important for StarDock as more profitable. But we still have OD+ which is payed and here'r enough poeple who bought it. So what do we have for our money? Beta version of OD2 - good. But we also have long request list already: none from requested feauteres is updated yet and no one knows when will be (if ever will be).

You may say: "No one forces you to buy OD2+". It's so, but what if you already have payed hoping for regular support as for any payed software? Will developers refund me if they don't have time to work, for not-updating for a long time?

So main problem with OD - lack of support as OD actually doesn't offer any features which would give it any real advantages over other similar programs. Let's say reflection has been realised long time ago in other (and free, btw) dock program as many other cool things. So OD2 is actually outsider here and the way to change it is only one: to don't slack and work at updates faster than other people develope whole docks.

Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top

i agree. i suggest you try winstep's 'nexus dock'. the only limitation is that the multi-docks and subdocks (nice) come prepackaged with the other winextreme programs. otherwise my feeling is that, design wise,  it is now currrently superior to object dock.

Ashes of the Singularity II
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I'd say give the free NeXuS Dock a try and realize that Jorge Coelho (the developer of WinStep) is always developing The various programs comprising it.

Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting mr, reply 2
i suggest you try winstep's 'nexus dock'.
End of mr's quote

XWindows Dock and as its developing has been stopped -> Nexus Dock.

Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top

It know that. But 2 beta still has some problems. Vladimir (XWD developer) currently doesn't have enough time and no one knows when he could to return.

Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top

Hi again, been on holidays :)

Thanks for the nexus dock suggestion, I will take a look at it.

Quoting di7ra, reply 1
Windows 7 superbar isn't actually the same as dock is. Taskbar is very usefull but has mostly practical meaning as it lacks of customizing features.
End of di7ra's quote

Exactly. It's useful and practical. It looks pretty too, admittedly not as much as a zooming dock but still pretty. Practicality, power and usefulness shouldn't be sacrificed for eye-candy (unless you work for Apple...). Which is what makes the new Taskbar so great.