Pseudo-maximization - individual windows

Is there perhaps a setting for default window size of which I am unaware? I speak of the insolent ability of XP (I cannot remember this occuring on a 9x, but poss on 2k) to "restore" a windows size to the max desktop dimensions, giving it a "maximized" appearance. This causes me much undue stress, and I "restore" and "minimize" windows over and over again without noticing that the window selector changes between the settings, without changing that actual SIZE OF THE WINDOW. I suppose the limitation of my monitor to 1024x768 may be partially to blame, but there must be something I can do to avoid the great pains that I incur when adjusting my windows.