+1.

It would be nice if OD could be set to open earlier in the boot sequence.  

Sounds suspiciously like you're using Windows 8.   The 'unfortunate' thing is that programs such as OD actually reveal how long the OS takes to load.  If your times are 8 and 12 seconds then the true boot time of the OS is 20, not 8.  MS's attempt at fooling its customers.

Visible desktop at 12 seconds before the OS has finished loading is pointless other than giving the 'appearance' of a fast boot....

Hi all.  Apologies for bumping my old thread, but I wanted to see if anything has changed since I last tried ObjectDock.  Does it still take longer for the dock to appear than it would take the regular desktop icons?

Thanks for the previous replies, but I think a couple of posters didn't read my original post properly.  As I note there, the time it takes for icons to appear on my desktop is about eight seconds, and I can immediately click them to open programs.  I can have Firefox open and my e-mail in front of me ten seconds after hitting the start button.  It is entirely possible that Windows is continuing its boot process in the background, but that doesn't change the fact that I can be up and running with a program right after my desktop appears.  With ObjectDock instead of traditional desktop icons, the delay in the appearance of the dock meant I couldn't click anything to open a program for another ten seconds, effectively doubling how long it took me to get started after I turned my computer on.

Has this been addressed in an update?  Tell me that here's a way to get the dock to appear when the desktop does, and I'll go buy it right now.  Thanks!

Quoting Jafo,

reply 3

Sounds suspiciously like you're using Windows 8.   The 'unfortunate' thing is that programs such as OD actually reveal how long the OS takes to load.  If your times are 8 and 12 seconds then the true boot time of the OS is 20, not 8.  MS's attempt at fooling its customers.

Visible desktop at 12 seconds before the OS has finished loading is pointless other than giving the 'appearance' of a fast boot....

No!

Windows8 and versions beyond that have a DELAYED start time for applications, that delay time is about 10-12 seconds+.
You can ask any MS technician about this or google about it on IT sites.

You could google for "Start delay time Windows8"
here is a topic with a tutorial for you to set this delayed time close to 0.
(Note that this is only a personal recommendation and I’m not a mod nor Stardock employee if you mess up - YOU mess up nobody else)

Just a quick google for you: EightForums.com  here you go.
Now as your desktop is visible your auto start applications will load immediately and simultaneously with the modern apps .just like it would on Windows7.

The Delay was mainly implemented to simulate a smooth and fast system start for older Machines with older hardware,also to avoid that the modern apps would not be loaded in time (that was and still normally is the first thing you look at in windows8-8.1)

However a modern PC can handle to load both. 

If MS is fooling anyone, then it is fooling you into a longer system start and not a faster one, since MS is actually delaying the start of your applications by 12seconds+
Btw: windows7 works the same way it has a windowsboot and a desktopboot the only difference here is that windows7 does a cold boot each time since it does not have the tech of windows8. That is not fooling that is using the tech that is available.

"A Visible desktop at 12 seconds before the OS has finished loading is pointless other than giving the 'appearance' of a fast boot" Windows7 does the same thing!
You see the windows7 desktop while your autostart applicatioons are still loading. I wonder who told you guys that it would be any different from what win8 does - only that windows7 does not have a delayed start up time set to it like windows8

If you look at the whole boot process from the time you push the power button you will have a Preboot process followed by windowsboot, a  password timout and desktop boot.

Hope i could be of help.

Yes, that will be the case.

As benmanns mentioned there are plenty of references to faked and/or slow boot times [whichever way you wish to look at them] and perhaps you can look at/experiment with ways to alter the startup sequence DESIGNED by Microsoft as the 'required' way.

As explorer loads it will present allegedly 'clickable' icons however were you to investigate down to the millisecond I expect background services actually used by that icon-being-clicked are still initializing as you do it....[their apparent readiness is only that - but we are talking milliseconds that MS wants to shave off]...and anything 'added' to the Explorer process [shell] really cannot be ready until AFTER the shell has itself initialized.

Now, when MS decides to tell everything to wait in line...while they fake their fast load it simply gives the appearance that everything else is bloody slow.

They're not, no differently/less speedy than they ever were on any OS.

This is STILL strictly something that happens with Win 8, not 7.  My Dock loads while some of the desktop icons are still 'writing' [changing from a place holder to a 'painted image]...and that's in 7 [on a system that is probably in the top 20 speed-wise so lag is non-existent either way].

There are programs that are loaded via the shell [like Photoshop] and there are programs that essentially form part of the shell as an addon [like ObjectDock] that are closely tied into the shell as an expansion of the GUI that cannot really change loading order relative to the shell. [think....it's easier to put your trousers on before your shoes...not after].

Now.....IF you really MUST click on that icon the INSTANT it's available then the better solution is have the proggy load at boot and bypass even the clicking of any icon at all...

Sorry, I'm not buying this answer. I use Start8 (love it) and I can tell you that it is immediately available as soon as my desktop appears.

Yes are very likely correct about that.