- I prefer the workspace idiom to the taskbar idiom. The two are
essentially redundant, so I don't keep a task list on my panel. I
don't have minimize buttons on my titlebars. Instead, I keep a
workspace switcher with twelve workspaces stretching across my screen.
- I keep a maximize button, becuase I like to surf the web maximized.
Naturally, this goes in its own workspace (more often two or three
workspaces). Everything else stays at its normal size.
- I use Gaim's tabbed conversation windows. I normally get at least
one message as soon as I start Gaim, so I can keep that window in its
own workspace and not worry about losing track of it.

However, when surfing the web, new alerts (most frequently "ThisPerson
has added you to his buddy list...") are received and now appear
beneath my web browser window. Bold window titles, flashing taskbar
buttons, none of those do anything for me because I don't have a
tasklist. I typically won't see them until after closing my browser
window. Because my browser sessions usually outlive my Gaim sessions,
I often never receive these messages.