Windows 7 Taskbar Loses Text But Not Context

Okay, when I saw it in the first place, I was reminded of the dock (but better), but I wasn't going to write about it until my complete write-up of the day's the rest of PDC. (Been very busy, and I've had to put out more day to day coverage in favor of my view; hey, I wasn't there in person, so who is really watching?) 

Then I got into a conversation with quikboy about the Recycle Bin being moved into the Taskbar. I thought it was neat, and flowed into the dock bit, so was about to submit the idea to Long's Windows 7 Taskforce... but I checked if you could move the Recycle Bin onto the Taskbar already. Apparently, you not only can, but you can delete things by dragging stuff into the Bin that sits on the Taskbar.

I was then going to make a short Twitter about it, but it snowballed, and I will now post about it, before I do a post about the overall PDC events today.

So first I should probably explain what the Taskbar in has done, or has changed. And by "I should probably explain" I mean I should use this short bit that Ed Bott wrote:

For starters, the Quick Launch bar is gone; its capabilities are now integrated directly into the taskbar. If you recognize some similarities to the Dock in OS X, you’re half right. The new taskbar borrows some navigation concepts from the Dock and adds some enhancements of its own, all the way retaining the Windows DNA.

So yeah, the Quick Launch toolbar got moved permanently into the Taskbar. So even though this puppy resembles the Dock in functionality much more, it still has the Windows feel, or as Bott elegantly put it, the Windows DNA. (And if the user doesn't like it, text can be brought back.)

The only real change is that the text from each program box is gone now. All the important information on what windows you are actually opening is gone; it took that much to make a Dock. But unlike OS X, where unless you have minimized a window to the Dock, you can't tell what you are using unless you do an Exposé, Windows has thumbnail previews, which suddenly are justified in a way that Vista could never had done for this eye candy turned feature.

Seeing the new Icon-ified taskbar, you see it as everything a bar for tasks should be:

• International (There is no no text, save perhaps a clock, on the Taskbar, unless you interact with it!)
• Concise (Just enough info present to quickly update you on function, while allowing far more Windows to be easily used then before!)
• Ergonomic (The Taskbar, unlike the Dock, allows for snapping to the bottom, stopping, and clicking without overshooting, with the Start button orb being in one of the corners.)
• One Bar (Furthermore, the Taskbar does not take up the top and bottom of the screen, allowing convenient resize and close operations under the same principle above...)
• Customizable (Unless the user places the Taskbar on the top of the screen, which unlike the Dock and it's companion do not allow; the Taskbar, like most of Windows, is very customizable in contrast.)
• Keyboard Controllable (Windows Orb, first ten windows, and more all have shortcuts on the keyboard, allowing for superfast control.)
• Quick Control of Windows (Jumplists, Closable IE Tabs and more allow for the quick control of windows and Windows from the Taskbar.)
• Uncluttered (Notifications are now under control, and Icons allow for more open windows with less confusion.)
• And More...

So what am I getting at? Wait for it, it is coming...

Furthermore, Gadgets have been freed from the confines of a sidebar. They can now roam free. If you note the image of the Windows 7 desktop above, you'll note the desktop is clear of Gadgets, but is hit by a nasty... the Recycle Bin.

So maybe the Desktop's days as a place for Icons is over... perhaps it was meant for Gadgets all along. If so, then why is there still a Recycle Bin on it?

You can definitively move the Recycle Bin to the Quick Launch toolbar in previous versions of Windows. Placing everything in an always available Taskbar or Dock is a great idea. It allows for an always functionality (like always being able to switch Windows when working in a windowed environment) that enhances user confidence.

So my suggestion to Microsoft is to test this in usability tests. It might be worth looking into; it would certainly be easier to drag things into the Recycle Bin if it was on the Taskbar. Also easier then right click, delete for removing an icon from the Taskbar, or even possibly closing a program from the Taskbar!

Feature Request: Consider the Merits of moving the Recycle Bin to the Taskbar.

Feature Request: Consider the Merits of dragging running programs to the Recycle Bin to close them.

Any other thoughts? There is a comments section for a reason!