If you're not familiar with application switchers, it only need be said that they provide single-click access to both programs and folders without having to poke around for them in your filing system. In short, switcher palettes save time. Lots of time. MacChamp members are familiar with HoverBar, a utility I've long promoted for its straightforward approach to accessing applications from the Desktop. A-Dock works in much the same way as HoverBar but with more features and with the future look/feel of OS X.
You can also open files by dragging their icons over application icons on the palette. Again, A-Dock gives you instant feedback (left) with an optional tool tip. Drag-and-drop is enhanced in other ways. For example, you can drag a text clipping over a folder icon on the palette and the clipping will go into its associated folder (this also works for clippings of pictures, sounds, and URLs). The obvious advantage is that you need not drill down through your folder hierarchy to place a clipping.
Notes: Requires Power PC, OS 8.5 or better. Quick download of about 235kb and easy installation. After a couple of weeks, you'll get startup reminders if you haven't paid the shareware fee. Bottom line: Seven bucks is a small price for such an elegant and useful utility.
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A-Dock appears as a floating palette on your monitor, stuck to the edge of the screen (you can move the palette anywhere on your screen, but it always clings to an edge). Moving your mouse over an icon brings up a pop-up line that identifies the icon (Acrobat Reader in the example). Running apps are identified by three dots together with a highlighted icon (the blue Finder icon in the example).
Icons for open applications always appear on the palette. But to make the palette really useful, you add favorite applications and folders so that one click opens them. Although you should learn a few basic keystrokes, A-Dock does a great job in giving you help on the fly. For example, if you're adding the Photoshop icon to your palette (left), a tool tip tells you where you can drop it (you can turn off tool tips if you wish).
You can, of course, place favorites where you want them on the palette, and you can remove an icon by simply by dragging it to your Desktop.
