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DragThing has been around for some time, but it wasn't until
the launch of OSX that I found myself quite restricted in how I could get at
my applications and folders. The dock, despite all its glory, is quite limiting.
So, I started a long search to find the best dock enhancement or replacement
tool. Even then, when I settled on DragThing, I was convinced that Apple would
realise the error of their ways and improve the dock when 10.2 was released.
That didn't happen, so the night I installed Jaguar, I also
downloaded and purchased DragThing. It was a very, very sensible move. DragThing
is an indispensable utility and (corny as it sounds) I don't know how I got
by without it.
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DragThing allows easy separation of programs
into handy tabs in the dock. Note also how DragThing can be minimised
(left) and then extended when you move your mouse over it.
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 DragThing
allows you to have multiple docks, all visible in a a tabbed interface. Recent
changes mean that the DragThing dock functions very much like the original
dock, in that it can be minimised on the screen, only extending out to provide
you access when you move your mouse over it. Docks can contain files, folders,
disks and servers, as well as being able to display the currently running processes.
Best yet, placing a folder one of the docks still allows the content of it
to be displayed hierarchically when you click and hold on it.
The preferences and various options might seem incredible daunting,
but set-up is moderately easy and the help pages superb. It is evident that
the author has listened tremendously to many of the suggestions from users
and it is rare to find limitations to the program. The author is also very
responsive to suggestions and requests for help.
One feature that gets a lot people excited when they walk into the room and
look at your screen is the ability to have the trash can placed back on the
desktop like the good old days. I'm sorry Apple, but it just feels right to
have it there and it's great to be able to move it to wherever you want it.
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| DragThing lets folders retain their ability to display content hierarchically |
Of course the fun thing about DragThing is its ability to be
customised. You can have all manner of background patterns for each tab, you
can have the tabs translucent and play virtually any sound you'd like when
you interact with the dock or launch programs. As DragThing is an application
that runs all the time, it would be easy to accidentally close it when it is
at the front, so you can quickly disable the ability to "Apple-Q" it,
meaning you have to purposely go to the application menu if you really want
to shut it down. This is a really nice touch.
With the use of hotspots, you can easily set DragThing to come
to the front of all applications when you have you mouse in the right spot.
At first I thought that this still might not work that well, as on a small
screen, the original dock would often appear whenever I was down at the bottom
of my screen with the mouse. In fact, DragThing seems to have the issue sorted
and even with the new dock over on the right of my screen, I find no conflict
between it and programs like Photoshop or Dreamweaver, where many of their
palates lie to the right of the screen.
I've been using DragThing for a number of months now and I'm
never giving it up. I've even started noticing whether people at presentations
have it installed or not and in a few cases, presentations have even been interrupted
by people who ask the presenter what program it is they are using. My only
complaint/feature request, would be that I wish I could disable the original
dock entirely. What I've done instead is make it hidden and as small and tiny
as possible away from DragThing.
Once installed, DragThing is more logical, easy to use and more
adaptive than many of the other dock enhancers that I've looked out. The degree
to which you can customise it is just superb. It just feels right to work with.
You can use it to launch your applications or drag files to it, wait for it
to expand and drag and drop the file on to the application you want to launch,
changing between tabs as you do this. Whatever way you want to work, it fits
in with you.
The ease with which DragThing fits in seamlessly with your daily
work and operation makes me believe that this is what the original dock should
have been from the very start.
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