4 ms·

I rarely ever see my desktop, because apps are usually maximized. Doesn't everybody do that? What kind of apps did people use back in the day when desktops were

I rarely ever see my desktop, because apps are usually maximized. Doesn't everybody do that? What kind of apps did people use back in the day when desktops weren't hidden all the time? Maybe the idea was to occasionally quit apps and open other ones, not to keep them all open at the same time?

deleted 8y ago
[deleted]
sovande 8y ago
> What kind of apps did people use back in the day when desktops weren't hidden all the time? Emacs to the left and one xterm window in the bottom right corner.
- FlyMoreRockets 8y ago
  ... with xclock top center.
deleted 8y ago
[deleted]
misterdoubt 8y ago
Well with your live stats and feed plugin running transparently over the desktop and Winamp taking up non-rectangular space, it was critical to consider a desktop peeking through.
mmphosis 8y ago
Zoomed, not maximized. Windows are sized only as large as they need to be. You can drag and drop between windows/apps, for example dragging to the trash can on the desktop. I think full screen is excellent for a few consumer apps like presentation/slide show, watching shows/movies and playing games. It's definitely a preference as I don't like tabs/MDI, snapping windows, and windows that consume screen space.
dmos62 8y ago
Not sure about back in the day, but what I use is one or more terminal windows at 80 chars width, so that's rarely more than 50% of the screen. I regularly use only one large app, the browser, but I don't keep it maximized if I don't need it, because then it's just visual noise. Sometimes I'll find myself feeling cluttered and confused while working, and I'll minimize or close everything, and reopen only the stuff I need at that time, and a feeling of ease will wash over, a bit like exhaling after holding your breath. I'm coming off peculiarly sensitive to distraction, because it's true. I wouldn't say I'm ADD, but I'd definitely say that as far as I can tell the casual stimuli bombardmant affects me more than most people I encounter. At the same time, I think that these days everyone is susceptible to sensory overexcitation.

deleted 8y ago

[deleted]

sovande 8y ago

> What kind of apps did people use back in the day when desktops weren't hidden all the time? Emacs to the left and one xterm window in the bottom right corner.

FlyMoreRockets 8y ago
... with xclock top center.

deleted 8y ago

[deleted]

misterdoubt 8y ago

Well with your live stats and feed plugin running transparently over the desktop and Winamp taking up non-rectangular space, it was critical to consider a desktop peeking through.

mmphosis 8y ago

Zoomed, not maximized. Windows are sized only as large as they need to be. You can drag and drop between windows/apps, for example dragging to the trash can on the desktop. I think full screen is excellent for a few consumer apps like presentation/slide show, watching shows/movies and playing games. It's definitely a preference as I don't like tabs/MDI, snapping windows, and windows that consume screen space.

dmos62 8y ago

Not sure about back in the day, but what I use is one or more terminal windows at 80 chars width, so that's rarely more than 50% of the screen. I regularly use only one large app, the browser, but I don't keep it maximized if I don't need it, because then it's just visual noise. Sometimes I'll find myself feeling cluttered and confused while working, and I'll minimize or close everything, and reopen only the stuff I need at that time, and a feeling of ease will wash over, a bit like exhaling after holding your breath. I'm coming off peculiarly sensitive to distraction, because it's true. I wouldn't say I'm ADD, but I'd definitely say that as far as I can tell the casual stimuli bombardmant affects me more than most people I encounter. At the same time, I think that these days everyone is susceptible to sensory overexcitation.