OS X 10.7 - Top Menu Bar?

[roadbloc]

And while we're at it, even Windows 7's (or KDE's or Gnome's) start menu is also a much better solution than Apple's out-dated, weak Dock.

I disagree. I think Apple's UI is lightyears ahead of Windows and KDE's.

 

[jamied95]

One of the advantages of the Mac OS X menu bar is that is searchable since Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard, which often makes finding things easier though. And many professional applications would break if they would have no menu bar, as there is often no keyboard shortcut or equivalent icon.

As I switched from Windows only six years ago, I should understand where you come from, but to be honest, I often emulated the menu bar in Windows, either by menu bar add ons or hacks or by putting the task bar at the top. It just feels more natural for me. Maybe it has something to do with how one thinks.

EDIT

And what about applications with multiple windows, like Photoshop for example, where there are many elements like the toolbars or the layers or navigation or actions window don't have enough room to accommodate a hidden menu accessible via a hot key.
Or take a look at Avid Media Composer, comprised of four windows (often many, many more) at least, only one being maybe able to hold the full menu of that application at full length, thought that window is often situated on a second monitor on the bottom half.

It may make sense with single window applications like browsers or iPhoto or maybe even word editors, but taking a way the menu bar will seriously put other multi level applications in harms way.
Those applications might work in Windows without a top menu bar, but that is due to Windows being window orientated and having a big, frelling grey window behind the complete application (nice on multi monitor setups), and Mac OS X being document orientated, thus you can still se the Desktop (often confusing for Windows users).

That is by far in the way, the best explanation. Well done

I think there should be an option to show/hide it though, with the Alt key or something, because it doesn't always need to be there, maybe with the time and general are having a translucent background, that goes over all applications, when the menu bar is hiding - I don't know...

I just know I hate grey. So blooming grey

 

[spinnerlys]

I just know I hate grey. So blooming grey

That may be due to you being used to the "colours" of Windows?

When I switched, everything was white with a bit of grey there and here (Finder, Safari, iTunes) and stripes. It was okay for me then, as Windows was grey and a bit blue back then (2004) and I couldn't stand the bonbon look of XP, I just used the Windows 2000 theme for it, though I just used Windows 2000 most often.

I look at the grey theme from the point, that it doesn't intrude in your eyes and doesn't distract you with what you are doing.
I tested Windows 6 and 6.1 only less than a dozen of times, but its colourfulness was "blinding" me, I couldn't find where to go and all this transparency was just some schnickschnack I would expect from toys for kids, but not for a professional OS.

Anyway, it's late, my mind is kind of wandering where the next load of bread comes from, the kind of bread bought at the Turkish market and having milk in it, and what kind of cheese it should be plundered with. And is there a tea after the coffee? And why was Nunzio Stinky's dog?

 

[roadbloc]

I just know I hate grey. So blooming grey

Well use this app to make is black instead.

 

[jamied95]

That's even worse.

 

[willba4]

Well, I'm just thinking, the File, Edit, etc meus seem to be becoming more and more obsolete, as things move into the main window, look at Google Chrome, or Office 2011, I know Apple apps haven't done it yet, and maybe it's just because I'm from Windows recently, but it just seems to take up space unnecessarily... however, your opinions?

i just came across this topic and it actually got me to CREATE AN ACCOUNT, just so i could reply

now, i havn’t read the whole forum to see if someone els has mentioned this to you, but if i am not mistaken, doesn’t windows have the menu bar as well...?? which happens to be BIGGER than finders top menu bar. thus rendering your point of taking up unnecessary space useless.

and in case you haven’t noticed, windows has started to become themed more like a mac, especially in windows 7. so if anything, i think that windows will eventually adopt the top menu bar, as its already made its own start menu bar to be more like apple’s dock. however that is still unlikely to occur.

 

[jamied95]

Windows essentially combines the Dock and Menu bar into one. So no, it doesn't. They also once thought about it, like, in the days of 95, but decided against it, so I would doubt it. And plus, it seems that Microsoft copied the Mac, and then also exceeded it, the Windows 7 task bar is far greater than the dock. However that is an argument for another thread, of which, I'm sure, there already are millions.

 

[kuwisdelu]

I'm pretty sure most applications have menu bars in Windows and Linux.

So I'm not sure what this is about Windows and GNOME or KDE not having menu bars.


I do think the option to "hide" the menu bar like you can hide the Dock is a reasonable idea, though.

 

[jamied95]

I'm just saying, that for a number of applications (Chrome, Office 2011, etc), the menu bar, doesn't need to exist, well for all the apps I use, so I was questioning the need for it, which is obviously far greater than I ever realised.