Skip to content

TechRepublic

  • Top Products
  • AI
  • Developer
  • Payroll
  • Security
  • Project Management
  • Accounting
  • CRM
  • Academy
Resources
  • TechRepublic Premium
  • TechRepublic Academy
  • Newsletters
  • Resource Library
  • Forums
  • Sponsored
Go Premium
Popular Topics
  • Top Products
  • AI
  • Developer
  • Payroll
  • Security
  • Project Management
  • Accounting
  • CRM
  • Academy
  • Project Management
  • Innovation
  • Cheat Sheets
  • Big Data
  • Tech Jobs
View All Topics
Go Premium
Microsoft

Five free docks to enhance your Windows 7 desktop

By Jack Wallen April 2, 2012, 1:59 AM PDT

Image
1
of 9

00_xwindow.png
00_xwindow.png
Five free docks to enhance your Windows 7 desktop

Introduction

Introduction

ntI’m a big fan of the dock. Whether it’s on the Linux or the Mac desktop,  a dock creates a cleaner look and makes it easier to access your programs. Here are five good docks for the Windows 7 environment. They all offer a clean style and easy configuration. Each one offers a free version, and some offer added features in a paid-for release.

n

ntNote: If you’d prefer to view this information as a blog post, check out this entry in our Five Apps blog.

n

ntPhoto: (XWindows Dock) Aqua-soft.org

Five free docks to enhance your Windows 7 desktop

ObjectDock

ObjectDock

nt The paid version of ObjectDock ($19.95) adds better organization, easier app switching, and dock tabs, among other features.

Five free docks to enhance your Windows 7 desktop

XWindows Dock

XWindows Dock

ntXWindows Dock is a fairly straightforward dock that focuses on simplicity. You can just drag any icon from the desktop onto the dock and voila! — instant launcher.

Five free docks to enhance your Windows 7 desktop

XWindows Dock

XWindows Dock

ntXWindows Dock is still in beta, so features like plug-ins aren’t exactly there yet (although they have the groundwork for them). XWindows Dock does contain two nice plug-ins — the stack container (quick navigation through folders) and a Gmail mail checker.

Five free docks to enhance your Windows 7 desktop

SliderDock

SliderDock

ntSliderDock is more a psuedo 3D ring dock than a static dock that sits at the bottom or top of your desktop. You can add as many icons to SliderDock as you like and then scroll the ring around with your mouse wheel to find the one you want to launch.

Five free docks to enhance your Windows 7 desktop

SliderDock

SliderDock

ntSliderDock is highly customizable and easy to use. Just be sure you have a clean desktop before you try to use it. If you have tons of icons, you won’t be able to see the application launchers on Slider.

Five free docks to enhance your Windows 7 desktop

RocketDock

RocketDock

ntRocketDock is one of my favorite docks. It’s highly customizable (and skinnable), and it offers smooth animations, alpha blending, an easy drag-and-drop interface, real-time windows previews, positioning and layering options, the best documentation of all the docks listed, and solid customizations for each item added to the dock.

Five free docks to enhance your Windows 7 desktop

RocketDock

RocketDock

ntRocketDock also offers taskbar support, so all minimized applications will appear as icons (a la Mac Dock). RocketDock is free and has a nice listing of add-ons.

Five free docks to enhance your Windows 7 desktop

Nexus

Nexus

ntNexus (both the Free and the Ultimate versions) is the only dock that offers system tray support and multiple mouse-over effects. Of the five docks here, Nexus is by far the most powerful one.

  • Microsoft
  • Account Information

    Share with Your Friends

    Five free docks to enhance your Windows 7 desktop

    Your email has been sent

Share: Five free docks to enhance your Windows 7 desktop
Image of Jack Wallen
By Jack Wallen
Jack Wallen is an award-winning writer for TechRepublic, The New Stack, and Linux New Media. He's covered a variety of topics for over twenty years and is an avid promoter of open source. For more news about Jack Wallen, visit his website jackwallen.
  • Account Information

    Contact Jack Wallen

    Your message has been sent

  • |
  • See all of Jack's content

Daily Tech Insider

If you can only read one tech story a day, this is it.

TechRepublic TechRepublic
  • TechRepublic on Facebook
  • TechRepublic on X
  • TechRepublic on LinkedIn
  • TechRepublic on YouTube
  • TechRepublic on Pinterest
  • TechRepublic RSS
Services
  • About Us
  • Newsletters
  • RSS Feeds
  • Site Map
  • Site Help & Feedback
  • FAQ
  • Advertise
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • Careers
Explore
  • Downloads
  • TechRepublic Forums
  • Meet the Team
  • TechRepublic Academy
  • TechRepublic Premium
  • Resource Library
  • Photos
  • Videos
  • Editorial Policy
  • Legal Terms
  • Privacy Policy
© 2025 TechnologyAdvice. All rights reserved.
CLOSE

Create a TechRepublic Account

Get the web's best business technology news, tutorials, reviews, trends, and analysis—in your inbox. Let's start with the basics.

Already registered? Sign In
Use Facebook
Use Linkedin

* - indicates required fields

CLOSE

Sign in to TechRepublic

Not a member? Create an account
Use Facebook
Use Linkedin

Lost your password? Request a new password

CLOSE

Reset Password

Please enter your email adress. You will receive an email message with instructions on how to reset your password.

Check your email for a password reset link. If you didn't receive an email don't forgot to check your spam folder, otherwise contact support.

Back to login
1 Finish Profile
2 Newsletter Preferences
CLOSE

Welcome. Tell us a little bit about you.

This will help us provide you with customized content.

No thanks, continue without
1 Finish Profile
2 Newsletter Preferences
CLOSE

Want to receive more TechRepublic news?

Newsletter Name
Subscribe
Daily Tech Insider
Daily Tech Insider AU
TechRepublic UK
TechRepublic News and Special Offers
TechRepublic News and Special Offers International
Executive Briefing
Innovation Insider
Project Management Insider
Microsoft Weekly
Cloud Insider
Data Insider
Developer Insider
TechRepublic Premium
Apple Weekly
Cybersecurity Insider
Google Weekly
Toggle All
No thanks, continue without

You're All Set

Thanks for signing up! Keep an eye out for a confirmation email from our team. To ensure any newsletters you subscribed to hit your inbox, make sure to add [email protected] to your contacts list.

Back to Home Page
×