KDE 4.9 Is Faster & More Responsive

[ShadowBane]

- an icon only taskbar, such as Seven

Unlock widgets and then replace the 'Task Manager' plasmoid with 'Icon Only Task Manager' It has some extra features that the default doesn't too (like progress bars on the icons.)

[TheBlackCat]

- an icon only taskbar, such as Seven

Is there something wrong with icon tasks, which has been shipped with KDE for several releases now?

[crazycheese]

- an icon only taskbar, such as Seven

There is an extension (plasmoid) which provides and provided that functionality prior the time w7 was in development. Lookup at kde-look.org

Is there something wrong with icon tasks, which has been shipped with KDE for several releases now?

I think OP uses vertical panel alignment.

[alpha_one_x86]

In my case I wait wayland support support.