ActiveDock VS Openbox

Compare ActiveDock VS Openbox and see what are their differences

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ActiveDock

Application Launcher, improved Dock for macOS, alternative to Apple Dock, uBar, HyperDock

Openbox

Openbox is a highly configurable, next generation window manager with extensive standards support.

Landing page //
2023-10-10

Landing page //
2023-09-06

ActiveDock features and specs

Customizable Appearance
ActiveDock allows users to customize the appearance of their dock, including themes, icon sizes, and separators, providing a personalized user experience.
Window Grouping
Users can group windows by application, making it easier to manage and switch between multiple applications efficiently.
Improved Productivity
Features like app previews, window previews, and quick switching help enhance productivity by providing quicker access to applications and open windows.
Quick Access to Apps
ActiveDock allows users to create groups of applications and conveniently access them from the dock, which simplifies app management.

Possible disadvantages of ActiveDock

Learning Curve
Some users may find the range of features and customization options overwhelming at first, requiring time to learn and utilize effectively.
Compatibility Issues
Certain versions of macOS might experience minor compatibility issues, affecting the performance and stability of the app.
Cost
ActiveDock is a paid application, which might not be ideal for users looking for a free solution or those unwilling to invest in dock customization.
Resource Usage
ActiveDock may consume additional system resources, which could slightly impact system performance, especially on older or less powerful Macs.

Openbox features and specs

Lightweight
Openbox is a highly efficient window manager that requires minimal system resources, making it an excellent choice for older hardware or systems with limited resources.
Customizable
Openbox offers extensive customization options, allowing users to tailor the look and feel of their desktop environment to their specific preferences.
Fast Performance
Due to its lightweight nature, Openbox provides fast and responsive performance, resulting in quicker application launches and smoother overall desktop experience.
Comprehensive Keybindings
Openbox supports complex keybindings, enabling power users to create efficient workflow setups through keyboard shortcuts.
Extensible
Openbox can work seamlessly with other tools and additional software, allowing users to extend its capabilities with tools like panels, widgets, and additional plugins.

Possible disadvantages of Openbox

Steep Learning Curve
Openbox requires a more hands-on approach and can be challenging for beginners to set up and configure due to its extensive customization options.
Limited Out-of-the-box Features
Unlike full desktop environments, Openbox does not come with many built-in features, requiring users to install and configure additional software to achieve a fully functional desktop.
No Desktop Icons by Default
Openbox does not support desktop icons natively, so users need to rely on additional tools like 'xfdesktop' or 'pcmanfm' to add this functionality.
Minimalistic Appearance
While some users appreciate the minimalistic look, others might find it too bare-bones compared to more feature-rich environments like GNOME or KDE.
Manual Configuration
Most customizations in Openbox require editing configuration files manually, which can be time-consuming and error-prone for users unfamiliar with text-based configurations.

Analysis of ActiveDock

Overall verdict

ActiveDock is generally considered a good option for Mac users who want greater flexibility and functionality in managing their applications. Users appreciate its customization options and the improvements it brings to multitasking and organization. However, it's important for users to consider their specific needs and ensure compatibility with their system preferences before adopting it.

Why this product is good

ActiveDock is preferred by users who are seeking enhanced organizational capabilities on their MacOS systems. It offers features such as customizable dock, window previews, and groupings of applications which can streamline workflow and improve productivity. Its intuitive interface and additional functionalities provide users with more control over their desktop environment compared to the default MacOS options.

Recommended for

ActiveDock is recommended for power users, designers, developers, and anyone who frequently multitasks and requires a more organized workspace. It's also suitable for users who enjoy personalizing their desktop experience or need more advanced features than those provided by the standard Mac dock.

Analysis of Openbox

Overall verdict

Openbox is a great choice for users seeking a lightweight and highly customizable window management solution. Its performance benefits on lower-end hardware and flexibility make it a valuable tool for power users and enthusiasts alike.

Why this product is good

Openbox is a highly configurable and lightweight window manager for the X Window System. It's known for its speed and simplicity, allowing users to control their desktop environment efficiently. It provides a blank canvas for users wanting to customize their workspace, making it ideal for those who prefer a minimalist setup or have limited system resources. The configuration is done through plain text files, offering flexibility for advanced users who wish to personalize their user experience meticulously.

Recommended for

Advanced users looking for customization options
Users with older or less powerful hardware
Minimalists who prefer a robust yet simplistic interface
Linux enthusiasts who enjoy configuring their desktop environment
Developers and programmers who want a distraction-free workspace

ActiveDock videos

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ActiveDock

Openbox videos

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Get Rid Of That Bloated Desktop Environment And Install Openbox

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to ActiveDock and Openbox)

ActiveDock

Openbox

Window Manager

48 48%

Window Manager

52% 52

Linux

0 0%

Linux

100% 100

Note Taking

100 100%

Note Taking

0% 0

Mac

100 100%

Mac

0% 0

User comments

Share your experience with using ActiveDock and Openbox. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare ActiveDock and Openbox

ActiveDock Reviews

We have no reviews of ActiveDock yet.
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Openbox Reviews

Top 10 Best Desktop Environments in 2020

People who’re deep into Linux, love Openbox’s simplicity. It’s extremely lightweight, and comes with only a text-based right-click menu that lists all your applications. The menu is customizable too, and you can add scripts or functions within the menu as a link.

Source: www.journaldev.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, ActiveDock seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 13 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

ActiveDock mentions (13)

MacPlus Autumn Sale 2023
Until the end of September, all my applications (including popular ones like ActiveDock 2, DockView, Command-Tab Plus 2, Stage View) are available at a 30% discount. Source: about 2 years ago
The new Mac OS Ventura looks so cool!
Hello u/YodasFlashlight , you can get ActiveDock and Multidock of the same developer. Both they are supported on M1. Source: over 3 years ago
App for different docks depending on desktop
Maybe ActiveDock? It’s a dock replacement app. Source: over 3 years ago
Multiple MacOS Docks or MacOS Dock Alternatives
ActiveDock - Cost 10.95$ or 36.95$ - Has all the needed features and a little more, pricing schema is a tad bit weird, as in you can buy just a standard license for 10 and not get future updates so your dock probably will brake in the near future or 36 for all the updates and support, still 30 bucks for a dock Is haywire. Source: about 4 years ago
ActiveDock 2 / DockView for Apple Silicon (M1)
Hi, I recently announced a universal ActiveDock build that runs natively on both Apple Silicon and Intel. Unfortunately, several users reported problems ... I quickly studied the problem and found the reason in the third-party library ... No matter how it was, this is my mistake ... I bring forgiveness for the inconvenience. Now I am in a small vacation and will deal with this problem in a few days. If you have... Source: about 4 years ago

Openbox mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Openbox yet. Tracking of Openbox recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing ActiveDock and Openbox, you can also consider the following products

Compiz - Project information. Maintainer: PS Project Management Team. Driver: Compiz Maintainers. Licence: GNU GPL v2, GNU LGPL v2. 1, MIT / X / Expat Licence.

i3 - A dynamic tiling window manager designed for X11, inspired by wmii, and written in C.

Witch - Welcome to the world of W. i. t. c. h.

dwm - dwm is a dynamic window manager for X. It manages windows in tiled, monocle and floating layouts. All of the layouts can be applied dynamically, optimising the environment for the application in use and the task performed.

xfdashboard - xfdashboard provides a GMONE shell dashboard like interface for use with the Xfce desktop.

Fluxbox - Fluxbox is a window manager for X that was based on the Blackbox 0.61.1 code.

xfdashboard vs ActiveDock

xfdashboard vs Openbox