Minimising to the dock

[Forkjulle]

There are two dock options:

- minimising to the dock with the app appearing on the right-side near the trash can,
- minimising to the dock and back into the app itself.

What are the pros and cons of the two options? Currently, I have it set so that the minimised app goes back into the app (so that the dock doesn't grow longer). However, the close and minimise button (at the top left of the app) end up with the same behaviour.

Or am I wrong?

What is the point of the minimised app appearing next to the trash can?

 

[tech4all]

Didn't know about this new feature. Is this new in Lion or Mt. Lion?

When an apps window(s) go behind the icon of the app and you mouse over it, do they appear or anything? Seems similar to how it is in Windows 7.

 

[Forkjulle]

Didn't know about this new feature. Is this new in Lion or Mt. Lion?

When an apps window(s) go behind the icon of the app and you mouse over it, do they appear or anything? Seems similar to how it is in Windows 7.

There's the option I am referring to.

 

[EmpyreanUK]

What are the pros and cons of the two options? Currently, I have it set so that the minimised app goes back into the app (so that the dock doesn't grow longer). However, the close and minimise button (at the top left of the app) end up with the same behaviour.

Or am I wrong?

What is the point of the minimised app appearing next to the trash can?

Well, with one option, the window is placed beside the trash can (as you have rightly observed). The 'pro' of this is that the window is clearly visible and readily identifiable beside the trash can. The 'con' is that it is not inside the app icon.

The alternative -- minimising into the dock item -- essentially yields the inverse of the aforementioned benefit/drawback matrix, in that the window is hidden inside the dock icon, saving dock space yet rendering the window invisible.

In neither scenario are the close and minimise buttons functionally the same. A consistent behaviour can be observed across both the close button, which closes the window (and any document it may contain), and the minimise button, which ironically enough, minimises the window (without closing it).

 

[Krazy Bill]

What is the point of the minimised app appearing next to the trash can?

Uh... a single mouse click to activate it? And you can see it in your dock?

I'm stating the obvious because I don't understand your confusion.

 

[Forkjulle]

Uh... a single mouse click to activate it? And you can see it in your dock?

I'm stating the obvious because I don't understand your confusion.

If it's hidden within the app, then a single click also maximises it. And I know it's open because there is a highlight below the icon. Closed apps don't have highlights below.

 

[laudern]

I dont see the point of minimising to the app icon. More annoying than anything. What if you have 2 windows open of the same app and you just want to bring back one of those windows? You can't, both have to be brought up.

Whereas if they are minimised beside the recycle bin you can see which window you need to bring back up and the other can stay minimised.

 

[tech4all]

I dont see the point of minimising to the app icon. More annoying than anything. What if you have 2 windows open of the same app and you just want to bring back one of those windows? You can't, both have to be brought up.

Whereas if they are minimised beside the recycle bin you can see which window you need to bring back up and the other can stay minimised.

In this case Windows 7 seems to handle this better; just rollover the app icon in the task bar and thumbnails show up and you choose which you want to maximize.

 

[Krazy Bill]

If it's hidden within the app, then a single click also maximises it.

Technically 2 clicks with a trackpad. One right-click to list the hidden windows, another to select the window and open it.

And I know it's open because there is a highlight below the icon.

Al that show is the app is running. It's possible to have something running even though it has no windows.

 

[gumblecosby]

Minimising to the dock icon was designed for Snow Leopard's (10.6) Expose. It was a new feature introduced in Snow Leopard. This version of expose shows minimised windows when activated. It's a leftover relic that can still be found in Application Expose in 10.7/10/8.