PocketMatrix

I didn't like the toolbar stuff as well...

I DO, however, really like the "PHM Keys" included with the PHM Pocket PC Plus.

It lets you assign a 'close' action to a hardware key (so you have to give up a button). I use that one and the 'task switch' a lot. Some of the other things are worth having as well.

http://www.phm.lu/Products/PocketPC/

Not actually closing a program is "normal" behavior for a Pocket PC, and it has driven many people nuts.

Jello put you on the right track with wisbar. I'll just add that there is a basic version as well (not wisbar advance). It doesn't seem to slow mine down, but I honestly didn't use my A716 long enough without a program closer to be an accurate judge.

Before that, I used gigabar and I really liked it alot. It was also free, but I don't think it has been updated for some time. I wasn't sure how it would run on WM2003.

If you want a task switcher that does just that, and nothing else, try to rip of Dell's switcher application off a friend w/ a Dell Axim. I own a Axim X3, and it works great.

Yeah, Gigabar really hasn't been updated... I used it back in the day with my Jornada 525 (PPC2000) and when I got a PPC2002 device, i remembered how great it was so i installed it again, but it caused a hard reset!