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There is a slight different between using Alt+Tab in Windows and using Cmd + Tab in Mac OS X. In Windows, Alt+Tab allows you to switch to a minimized Window, and will un-minimize it automatically for use. Cmd+Tab in the Mac will only let you switch programs, but will not bring up the minimized window.
However, there is a solution!! Instead of minimizing a window to the dock, you can you Cmd+H to HIDE a window. This allows you to use Cmd +Tab to bring back a hidden window. I believe that before OS X and the dock, a Hidden window was the Mac equivalent of Windows' minimizaton to the dock.