One of the nice things about Linux is the one’s ability to choose among a myriad of window managers and desktop systems to satisfy one’s own notions of the perfect UI.

Now that the Mac OS is based on semi-open-source Unix, it is theoretically possible for third parties to develop alternate window managers, or at least tweaks to the existing Mac desktop that can address the varying GUI-related desires of its users.

So, Mac software developers: consider anew this underserved market!

Secondbar is an app that adds a second (maybe more?) menubar:

http://blog.boastr.net/?page_id=79

Being able to adjusting the font sizes across the GUI would make a huge difference to the menu bar on a high res screen and increase the error tolerence when applying Fitt’s law….

I think the only one being cranky is you. Perhaps the blog post could be better titled, but the point is right on the money. One of the reason people choose the Macintosh is that a lot of the little details are worked out exceptionally well. In the case of multiple monitor support, that is conspicuously lacking, and deserves to be fixed. How would it get fixed if people didn’t mention it.

This is not a matter of personal preference. I can see how some people would prefer to have an application’s menus inside the window, for example. I disagree, but I can see it as a matter of personal preference. On the other hand, I can’t envision any rational user thinking “I prefer to have my application’s menu on my other monitor, because I enjoy lots of extra hand motion.” It’s a design mistake, pure and simple.

I _can_ see a user thinking “I need 100% of the screen real estate for this monitor”. But that doesn’t explain why Apple should _prevent_ the menu from being shown on both screens if a user wants.

first of all the blog post title is wrong, as correctly pointed out earlier by michael.

secondly all of you guys are talking about habit and not whats right or wrong. its like the americans and the brits drive on different sides of the road. which one is right? pronunciations differ for many words (american ‘either’ or brit? or australian?) as do spellings (color vs colour?).

i have been using macs since some 1994 or so. I have worked on very large files and 24-30 inch macs, dual display as well. never felt the size of the display was an issue.

I have also worked extensively on windows. not that I find anything wrong with windows, but I prefer macs. its just emotional preferences.

instead of being cranky pestering cribsters, go out and do something useful. go plant a tree or water one. go help clean your street. go get a life. enough said. i gotta godo something good.

The other thing that makes Mac OS X difficult to use for multiple applications is a total lack of mouse focus window (very common in Linux, available in Windows XP and older with TweakUI). The mouse focus allows you to type into a background window, while another window is on top, which can be particularly useful for programmers. I believe the closest you can get is some 3rd party apps that give you auto raise on mouse over, which is not at all the same thing.

So OS X lacks the feature that improves multiple monitor usable, and mouse focus window which makes single monitors easier. I’m guessing that Apple assume people are going to be using very large monitors, which mostly hides the problem.