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PortableApps.com Platform - suggestion for compact version ??

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March 28, 2012 - 2:46pm
#1
kermit.frog
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PortableApps.com Platform - suggestion for compact version ??

What can I say...

I like the idea of portable apps where I can carrying around a selection of programs without having to install them wherever I go...(like in work - I can't install ANYTHING)

BUT.....the one thing I DON'T like

Why such a large launcher menu ??
Can we not have a more compact version on offer ???

I made a mockup of what I'd like to have: http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6231/6878439798_30efb68f95.jpg - so any chance of having something like this as a option ??

what do other people think ??
Do YOU want a large or small launchpad ??

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March 28, 2012 - 3:03pm
John T. Haller
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Windows Start Menu

It's about the size of the Windows start menu. And it's only visible when you need to interact with it and then it goes away. I'm not sure I understand what the advantage of a compact version would be.

Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!

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March 29, 2012 - 2:04am
(Reply to #2)
kermit.frog
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It depends on WHICH windows

It depends on WHICH windows you're talking about....
Vista & Win 7 does have a 'large' start menu, but XP ( what I use) has a smaller 'start' menu (to be honest I have NEVER liked the larger [start] menus)

In work - I am unable to install software AND the PC's are somewhat 'old'-
the PC I work on has only a 15" screen & limited memory (celeron & only 1Gb memory - so a lot of disk swapping occurs), & despite asking our IT department to 'upgrading it' - due to cutbacks it's taking its time (now been ~1year waiting)

Having portable apps is useful to have, however the menu pop-up take up half the screen height, blocking most of the screen.

Yes it DOES disappear (or I can move it out of the way), however (old PC remember) it takes its time to do so - which in the meantime I can't see between ~1/3 - 1/2 of the screen & I have to 'scroll around' to continue working until it does disappear

Having a smaller menu mean I can see more of the screen without having to keep scrolling, & that's why I was asking

I'm sure there are other people who also don't like having such a large menu - & that's why I was asking if it was a good idea or not
If many people want the option, then perhaps future launcher will give the option

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March 29, 2012 - 11:17am
(Reply to #3)
John T. Haller
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Disappears

But again, it disappears, so there's no reason to scroll around to the other 1/3 to 1/2 of the screen. You bring it up, interact with it to launch something, and then it closes. And it disappears as soon as you click on something in the menu, or it should. Is that not the case for you?

Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!

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March 29, 2012 - 4:13pm
(Reply to #4)
kermit.frog
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As I've said - "it takes it's

As I've said - "it takes it's time to do so"....

On the work PC it can take up to 30 seconds (Yep - that IS 30, I timed it ) before the menu disappears after clicking on one of the apps to start it

However I am still able to carry on with 'other stuff'...except for the part about some of the screen is blocked by PortableApps menu & I have to scroll around

e.g Say I was editing a picture (using GIMP), & I want to insert it into a doc (Say LibreOffice)

I edit with GIMP - then start 'Libre' (from USB).
I can carry on editing the picture while I wait for Libre to start... but I'll have to keep moving windows around because I can't see part of the picture while PA's menu is still up

IF it disappeared quicker I wouldn't mind - but it doesn't so having a smaller menu 'may' be less distracting

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March 29, 2012 - 4:15pm
(Reply to #5)
J Neutron
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Huh?

I'd say that if it takes 30 seconds for the menu to disappear, it must take about an hour for LibreOffice to start. Do you go get lunch and come back?

neutron1132 (at) usa (dot) com

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March 29, 2012 - 8:11pm
(Reply to #6)
John T. Haller
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Ah, Fix Coming

Ah, ok. That's actually an existing bug where the menu doesn't disappear until something else steals focus. The menu will disappear as soon as you click in an upcoming release.

Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!

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March 29, 2012 - 8:28pm
(Reply to #7)
gluxon
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This bug arose with

This bug arose with auto-checking for updates, right?

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March 29, 2012 - 8:26pm
(Reply to #8)
vf2nsr
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FWIW

When this does happen with me I just left click the systray icon and it usually drops out of view (menu)

“Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.” Dr. Seuss

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May 21, 2012 - 9:05pm
(Reply to #9)
billmcct
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Does'nt always dissappear

"You bring it up, interact with it to launch something, and then it closes. And it disappears as soon as you click on something in the menu, or it should. Is that not the case for you?"

Just thought I'd throw this in. On Win 7 machines The menu sometimes becomes locked in place with no way, i've found, to hide it except to close it and reopen. This has'nt happened yet on XP or Vista machines.
"Food for thought."

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