FWIW, I disagree that windows should freely proliferate. I prefer apps that stay in a single window.
I think there's a misunderstanding. I'm not against single windows, I'm against making me navigate through screens when it's unnecessary.
Also, you should let some of that angst go, because it's clear that Apple is anticipating an iOS experience on the desktop for a long time coming.
Apple is anticipating better GUI experience. It doesn't mean that they'll make all apps occupy a single window with a single task shown at a time. Notice the difference between iPhone Mail and iPad Mail clients.
1. Floating inspectors drive me bananas unless they can be pinned in the app "wrapper".
I'm with you here, mostly. iCal's switch from sidebar in 10.4 to popups and floating inspectors in 10.5 is painful. On the other hand, Acorn's floating tools window is good.
2. A new window for every document makes me crazy, because I like to use tools like Witch for doc-level tab switching.
I'm not so into tabs for documents, but can't live without them in browsers.
3. The push away toward full screen apps and in-app file management is, IMO, a good thing.
And yes, and no. It depends, as with other points. I'm glad that now Mac apps are not locked into multiple windows/floating inspectors for everything, but "you have a single window and you can look only at one thing at a time, deal with it" is also not the panacea.
1. Floating inspectors: Inspectors in general are getting better and I definitely prefer when it is well integrated into the view without interrupting my flow. They have a good start; further work is needed (not sure what though)
2. I think even tabs are a mistake now. We learned a lot from iOS about how to well integrate multiple views into a seamless interface. Tabs are kind of unnecessary imho now; we need something better.
3. Full screen isn't what I think the best aspect is - we do want to be able to view different apps at the same time. Case in point:
- I have this chrome tab open on the right hand side of my iMac monitor
- 3 terminal windows on the left hand side
- My vc pitch in PPT on my second monitor's right hand
- My PPC ad management software open on the second monitor's left side.
Restricting to one screen for an app isn't the right way I think, but an in-between method is. Funnily enough, I think Windows 8 almost nailed it.
As for in-app file management: YES. iCloud, Dropbox and a myriad of other systems all working together have such potential. I can't wait.
I think there's a misunderstanding. I'm not against single windows, I'm against making me navigate through screens when it's unnecessary.
Also, you should let some of that angst go, because it's clear that Apple is anticipating an iOS experience on the desktop for a long time coming.
Apple is anticipating better GUI experience. It doesn't mean that they'll make all apps occupy a single window with a single task shown at a time. Notice the difference between iPhone Mail and iPad Mail clients.