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How Do You Launch Your Apps?

How do you launch your apps?

  • Spotlight

    Votes: 40 36.7%

  • Launchpad

    Votes: 35 32.1%

  • Stack (fan)

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Stack (list)

    Votes: 10 9.2%

  • Stack (grid)

    Votes: 18 16.5%

  • Finder window

    Votes: 12 11.0%

  • Third-party solution

    Votes: 14 12.8%

  • Other

    Votes: 8 7.3%

  • Dock

    Votes: 48 44.0%
  • Total voters
    109
N

Nielsenius

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Apr 16, 2011
565
1
Virginia
There are so many different ways to launch applications on a Mac. You can use Spotlight, stacks in the dock, Launchpad, a Finder window, or a third party application, like Alfred. It's all up to personal preference. So, how do you launch your apps and why have you chosen that particular method?

You may chose multiple options in the poll!
 
Dock and Spotlight. I use Dock for frequently used apps so mainly when I'm rebooting. Spotlight for everything else.
 
I have a link to the Applications folder in the dock that shows list view. I tried Launchpad but find it too sickly sweet looking for everyday use and I don't like the fact that it updates and re-arranges itself and makes folders without checking with me first!

In an ideal world I would love to get a proper APPLE MENU option back :eek:
 
Frequently used apps in the Dock (I voted other because it's not from a stack, just on the dock), Spotlight for any that aren't on the Dock.
 
Currently using Drag Thing since I am OCD about having things super organized. Since Apple doesn't support users being organized in virtually any way anymore.... LOL. I really do not understand how dumping every icon into one big folder is BETTER??? Launchpad at first sucked with all the junk it dumped in there, but it's better now that Launchpad Control was created! But I am sold on Drag Thing as a dock replacement now... and hid my built in dock permanently using Dock Gone.
 
I almost always use something thats already in my dock, but other than that i use Alfred to find anything i don't have docked.
 
Sorry, I should have put an option for the "dock". I guess "other" will do.

Anyways, the reason I made this thread is because I've tried pretty much every method of app launching out there and I'm always switching around. Many people have complained about Launchpad. I find it to be quick and easy, but very poorly implemented. It just feels cheap and unprofessional. Right now I use the dock for my most used apps, a list stack for other apps, and Spotlight for apps that are located in some weird place. Undoubtedly, I'll be using some other method a month from now.
 
i just put my most-used apps on the default Launchpad page (and everything in logical folders on the second page).

on my macbook, one swipe, tap on an app, and am good to go.


love it.
 
Sometimes I use the dock, but as a whole I go to the Application Folder and open whatever I need. Then when I'm finished I close it and remove it from the Dock.

So while text and spreadsheet files are almost constantly open, others like Quicktime are shut off as soon as I'm finished.
 
Dock for the essential used apps, Spotlight for everything else. One of the first things I did after the upgrade was to remove the Launchpad icon from the Dock and turn off the gesture for it.
 
I think QuickSilver deserves to be a dedicated option on the poll. I've never had a reason to launch an app using any method requiring movement of my mouse. Apple seriously needs to buy out this app and incorporate it into the main OS.
 
Nielsenius said:
I'm surprised at the number of Launchpad users. I was under the impression that everyone hated it.
Click to expand...

on a trackpad at least, it's simple, immediate. i swipe, see my apps, click one once, and am working.

i used to use a third-party custom contextual menu, but this (once you ORGANIZE your apps LOL) is SO EASY...
 
I only keep my most used apps in the dock which is Chrome, iTunes, iCal, Mail, and TextEdit. Whenever I need to launch any other application like Games, Utilities, Microsoft Office, iPhoto, Gimp, Steam, etc. I use the launch pad.
 
Nielsenius said:
I'm surprised at the number of Launchpad users. I was under the impression that everyone hated it.
Click to expand...

Don't they? :p

I use the dock and spotlight. I really cant be bothered looking around for my app on a launchpad I haven't created the automatism for yet.
 
I use the new gesture to open launch pad and select the app. But I also keep most of my common apps open in full screen where I can or on their own desktop so I can just swipe to them or I swipe down and from mission control select my open app. Since lion I almost never use the dock now and have removed my stacks and most apps from it. I actually wish there was a way to turn the dock off.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
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