Gizmodo
So.. before reading this post I urge you to move along and read Gizmodo’s article.
The subject is Windows 7 taskbar against OSX’s dock and I am going to go through the list of points they have put together. First of all I just want to clarify for potential new readers that I am a Apple head, but I care enough about the other side so Apple can push the technology further ahead. To potential comments: Yes I know Gizmodo’s title is aggravating to get the most possible readers. This post sole purpose is the same thing 
Manage Apps and Open Windows
I have to say the new highlighting of apps in taskbar looks kind of cool even tho I like the way apps wants attention in Dock more than the highlight in taskbar.
With the new option to switch between the open windows of a application in tasbar you get pretty fast access to the window you want. In OSX the navigation is a little bit different. You can highlight the program with either cmd+tab or by clicking on the app in the dock. To get to the specific window fast you have to use exposé. For me that is one click on the dock, one click on my exposé shortcut and then 1 click on the window.
When you have a lot of windows open you get a list view in the taskbar. In OSX you still get the visual view with a lot of windows open. To sum up you have to do one more click in OSX to get to the correct window, but is that workflow for millions of users now suddenly useless?…
The Power of the Pop-Up Menu
I read the first paragraph here as “the applications coded for Win7 almost have the same functionality as applications coded for the dock”. The second paragraph: Yes it would be good with a visual standardization on how to launch new windows in a specific application. I mostly use cmd+n /cmd+t, I guess that is equal to the control key on windows.
In Leopard I have quick access to exacly the content of a given folder with one click I drag the folder to the right side of the dock and there it is, instant access.
The View From Above
So far the only pro Gizmodo has mentioned for the taskbar has been the 1 less step to switch between open windows in one application.
Some points I think is worth mentioning is the right-click/control-click on the dock like shown on the image on the right. In addition to that you can instantly change the size of your dock by holding down your left mouse button and drag along on the dotted line. I am uncertain how long time it takes to do the same in Win7, but I am pretty sure it isn’t that easy.
Microsoft only has the elite geek squad running the Win7 beta at this point. If it is difficult for those users to get in too the new workflow it will be very interesting to see how the how the general userbase will approach it. Most windows users are still running XP so the time will tell if number 7 is a lucky number… I hope it does well so I can play with the recent patented 3D desktop by Apple in 2010