What I like about Vista, Part 1

There have been more than a few casual visitors at the internationally acclaimed Granese Institute of Technology lately. Everybody seems to find an excuse to stop in just to have a look at Rover. Rover is the name of the latest computer to join our network, and the first device running under Windows Vista to grace these hallowed halls.
Vista has had a great deal of coverage in the news and on the ’net since the very early rumors of Longhorn started to leak. When the number-one operating system on the planet moves to a new version, is it a momentous occasion, an event that is likely to draw a great deal of comment, both positive and negative.
While I do have a few gripes with Vista, they are too petty to mention here. My initial impression of the latest innovation from Microsoft has been overwhelmingly positive, a sentiment that has been echoed by most visitors, with the exception of a couple Mac geeks and one of those virtual sad sacks who just hates anything Microsoft does for no reason other than it is Microsoft.
Windows Vista has been happily received here for several good reasons. While we are still getting familiar with the changes and improvements included in Vista, most of us have had plenty of time to figure out a few favorite features.

Consistency is a plus
The overhaul seems to have cannily kept the very best parts of XP while moving forward into the next generation. For me, being able to maintain continuity is an important part of the Windows family of operating systems. The reason for that is simple. Over the years, we have collectively configured hundreds of computers here at the Institute and beyond.
During the course of an average week, we can be called upon to work on any number of different computers and operating systems, ranging from legacy Windows 98 boxes to the latest in Vista goodies. Being persons of low character, we are frequently contacted to help more frugal users who still manage to maintain systems running under Windows 95.
One thing that helps make that kind of diversity tolerable is the fact that the desktops on almost all of those computers look exactly the same. Over the years we have developed a standard look and feel to our setup that finds the same features in the same places on all the systems.
We employ the standard Windows Classic appearance, which, wonderfully, is still available in Windows Vista. That is good news for you, too. New boxes in home or office situations can be configured to look just like the systems they are designed to replace, making the turnover much easier on the user.
When individual users become more familiar with their new boxes, the information technology department can consider permitting them to change the look of the desktop to reflect their individual needs. We have found that most users keep our setup intact, making it easy for us to offer assistance either over the telephone or in person.

Mouse-free start menu
That may change with the introduction of Windows Vista, of course. One of the most compelling features of this spectacular new operating system is the start menu. While the mouse is a tremendous convenience, sometimes it is simply an annoyance to take one’s hands away from the keyboard to click on another feature.
All that is in the past for users who deploy the new start menu in Vista. With one press of the Windows key, users can type in the programs or features they want to find and Vista will, as if by magic, make them appear onscreen.
Fast typists need never remove their hands from the keyboard. If you know what you want to do, you can do it with a few rapid keystrokes rather than have to stop what you are doing and start a protracted wild goose chase.
Writers can access dictionary and thesaurus programs instantly. Gamers suffering from withdrawal symptoms can snap into a quick round of their favorite title to ease their frayed nerves. You can even access e-mail, Web favorites, and your browsing history. When you find what you want, just hit enter and Vista will invoke it.
That kind of convenience could easily lead me to abandon the Windows Classic start menu. That is not a decision to be easily made, but something that bears careful consideration over an extended trial. I will let you know my final decision. At the moment, the new Vista start menu is in use on Rover.

New Aero feature
As things stand now, Windows Aero is my favorite feature in Vista. Luna is a tough act to follow, but Aero is the worthiest of successors, employing the Windows Vista graphics engine to best advantage to improve the user experience immensely.
If you are looking for an excuse to upgrade beyond the Windows Vista Home Basic edition, look no further than Aero. The new desktop display is a marvel of modern graphics. It is large and clear, easy to read and esthetically pleasing.
And the beauty is more than skin deep. Extensive use reveals other advantages, including the Live Thumbnails feature. Now, open windows are represented by an array of thumbnail icons to allow quick movement among different tasks.
Users can consult the Live Thumbnail display and click on or tab to the appropriate icon to access that task. It only takes a few minutes to get used to the new system, and it stands to make the personal computing experience more intuitive and efficient.

Flip to move between open programs
Expanding on the functionality of Windows XP, Vista offers Flip and Flip3D to allow users to move between open programs. By hitting the Alt and Tab key simultaneously, Flip lets users move from icon to icon in a simple display mode.
Moving to another set of keys, Flip3D is invoked. This lets users move between the programs in a 3-D array of windows. Once in Flip3D mode, motion can be effected either through repeated access of the key combo or by scrolling the mouse wheel. It is an intoxicatingly addictive feature.

Inkball is the icing
Finally, Windows wouldn’t be Windows without a couple of cool games, and Windows Vista is no exception. The gamesters who ruined office productivity with the introduction of Solitaire so long ago have done it again. Access your Vista games menu and check out Inkball.
Sure, it is a simple screen game. All you have to do is get the ball into the target of the same color. As the ball floats around the playfield, you simply draw a line from which the ball can bounce.
Lines disappear after the ball hits them once, but you can place multiple layers onscreen to protect different color goals. Once you get a few balls in play at once the game can become a bit hectic. This is not the kind of pastime that you can play while fooling your boss into thinking you are examining a spreadsheet. Expect Inkball to take your full concentration and yield enormous amusement in return.
I expect to be playing Inkball again in mere minutes. Meanwhile, I am cooking up a few more Windows Vista columns. If you have already made the smart switch, I want to hear from you. Tell me your favorite Vista features by e-mail. Thanks to the power of the Internet, we have already received Vista-related missives from three continents. All we are missing now is your input.