I didn't read all the posts in this thread carefully, but as someone who is doing a lot of programming on docklets for both docks, I think I can say I know pretty much about both docks.
First let me make something clear:
Aqua-dock 1.0 = Y'zDock 0.83, so everything I say is also true for Aqua-dock.
Y'zDock does not use any of the functions available by the DirectX API. It only uses GDI and GDI+ functions (which is slower than GDI, but has some funky extra things).
Object Dock on the other hand does use one DirectX function (DirectDrawCreate) and also uses GDI+.
Y'zDock does have a magnification-effect that is closer to the OSX-dock effect than Object Dock, but when running animations [using a special docklet that does that], Y'zDock is a LOT slower than Object Dock. This is because Y'zDock uses one window to display the docklets/shortcuts/bg, where Object Dock uses several windows for docklets/shortcuts/bg.
Y'zDock uses less memory (yeah, that's true), because Y'zDocklets draw themselves on request, where as Object Dock docklets can set images, but don't have to redraw themselves.
Bweurk, I am sleepy now
(btw, as a programmer - which you claim to be, you say some strange things about GDI, GDI+ and DirectX)
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