I don't maximize things like Safari because most webpages aren't designed to be resolution independent, so on most websites you get a huge swath of white all around the page (sometimes the designer will mix it up with gray, or tulips or some such) and this is on my little 13" screen. Imagine how horrid it was when I was dual screening with a 23" Cinema Display!
By all means, refuse to maximize all you want. I'm merely explaining how I work best -- and that's
generally with each window filling the screen. As I've already pointed out, I don't generally look at too many websites with fixed div widths, like blogs and stuff. Most of what I look at when I am online are databases that actually benefit from increased real estate.
...uses for not maximizing...
That's fantastic, but surely you understand that switching between multiple applications rapidly is not the same as performing them simultaneously. As pointed out, I do that too -- by watching movies on my Apple TV, by listening to music in iTunes, by using the Dock or Exposé to switch between multiple applications (when conversing in iChat and so forth).
I also explained that I don't maximize all of my windows -- in fact, that whether or not I maximize a window depends on what I am currently doing with it. I do a lot of stuff in Terminal and in the Finder.
Exactly. You're exactly the type of person I was talking about in a previous post of mine. You have been trained to be completely uncomfortable when presented with "too many" windows, as you put it.
Perhaps you have been "trained" to forget background applications if they're not peeking out behind something. I haven't -- I'm well aware of every application I currently have open. I can drag any element from any window of any application to any section of any other application I have running. I can view every single application and every single window I have open just by pressing a button.
So far I've made the argument that maximizing an application is beneficial because many apps benefit from having a larger work area. Is this being "trained"? I'm perfectly capable of working with many, many small applications on a screen at one time -- I used to use gDesklets
What I have trained myself to do, though, over years of computer usage, is to eliminate clutter and maximize efficiency. Shutting out distractions, in other words.
What we've learned in psychology is that people aren't particularly good multitaskers. That's why schools give advice before exam days like "
Minimize distractions in your study area." Me, I'm a terrible multitasker -- and not because I was trained by Windows in some immense conspiracy aimed at keeping Apple a fringe company, but because of my basic psychology. I was like this long before I ever even touched a Windows computer.
Now, the debate here is about the Green button, and what it should really do, from a choice of two options:
See, I think you're the one who is confused here -- I'm explaining why maximization is beneficial to me, and you're complaining about how I'm evil and want to take away your happy green button. I don't care about the green button at all, even though many people in this thread (including myself) have already pointed out how it's inconsistent across different applications. I'm not arguing in favor of a fourth button either.
I'm merely explaining why maximizing windows is useful -- a quick way to gain maximal screen real estate for an application that benefits from such a thing.
Now, who do you think would suffer more:
No one has to suffer. Please pay attention.
That is really quite false, especially on Mac OS X, with all the drag and drop action. Judging by your response, I gather you aren't very familiar or even aware of how it works in Mac OS X.
On a Mac, "drag and drop" doesn't only apply to dragging files from one folder to another folder in the Finder.
I can drag and drop between maximized applications, even maximized applications on different workspaces, and even maximized applications on different computers. I can do it with Linux and Windows too.
There is a really simple resolution to this. After reading much of this thread I have come to the conclusion that those that are complaining about the function of the maximize button are former Windows users. And I bet many of you still spell Mac in caps, like so: MAC
Yeah, I'm a former Windows user. You know why? Because System 7, OS 8, and OS 9 were steaming piles of ****. Even Apple knew their OS sucked, which is why they spent several years trying to buy other companies' operating systems!
So how about going back to being a Windows user? What is next though, you want to try out Linux and complain about how the "dock" does not work right?
I've already tried out Linux -- and FreeBSD, OS/2, and several other OSes. Even the lowly BeOS
What's your point? That people cannot use an OS and criticize its missing functions?
Go read Low End Mac some more, where people always bitch about the useless eye candy of OS X and advocate going back to System 7 so that their Performas will keep running.
Maximize is meant to maximize the efficient use of the window. Having a window at full screen is not always efficient.
The OS is not intelligent enough to determine what is most efficient for me -- UI designers, while intelligent, operate by statistics. Remember we're discussing a computer that used a one-button mouse for over two decades because that extra button would confuse people...
I'll determine what is efficient for me and act accordingly. And if you can find it in your heart to allow me to use maximized windows, then I'd much appreciate it.
Personally I like the fact that I have grown up to use a computer and not just a window. I can use Safari and keep iChat at its side to see buddy status. I can drag images from a folder or the desktop into a document editor without having to go through SEVERAL steps to "insert" an image.
There are proxies and proxy methods for maximized apps throughout the OS -- the Services, the Dock, Exposé, Spaces... all put there to make working with maximized applications just as easy as having two small apps side by side. All the benefits of maximized windows (increased screen real estate, focus) and all the benefits of small windows side by side (easy workflows).
. Where as in windows (not vista though) there was a big screaming button saying press me.
