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Living with Windows Vista

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Living with Windows Vista

Day 1: User Interface

from WinCustomize Forums

 

Windows Vista Beta 2 is coming pretty soon. Microsoft is tweaking UI, working on performance, improving compatibility. Each build gets better.  The question that many of us have, however, is whether there's enough time for Vista to get everything together in time for a November RTM (January for consumers).

Below are 4 screenshots to help show off the UI (so far).  The UI is probably the most noticeable improvement in Windows Vista.  Take a note of the clean and efficient load and save dialogs in there.

There's also two screenshots of the alpha version of "WindowBlinds Vista".   Windows Vista, as cool as it is, is probably going to be a real boon for skinners. There's a lot of new UI and a lot of opportunities to take it to the next level.

The overall user interface feels light and clean. It's a real improvement over Windows XP.  There are nearly a thousand new icons in Windows Vista.  Beta 2 won't have all the icons in yet, there's still a lot more coming in.  The Aero glass (the new glass look) is not final either but it's pretty close (contrary to rumors, it's not going to become some vector based thing).  The performance continues to improve.  However, it's very memory intensive.  We'll be asking Microsoft a lot of tough questions this week about the significant memory foot print and some remaining performance issues.
 

18,245 views 29 replies
Reply #26 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Ive seen a lot of screenshots in vistas most recent build and im not terribly impressed with it. It doesnt look particularily revolutionary in terms of the user interface. And if i have to buy a dx 10 capable card just to get effects like a bit of frosted glass, im not going to do it. Wheres all the 3D manipulation of the UI, swirly bits and generally things worth paying for. If its not been shown off on in dx10 mode or whatever or something capable of 'simulating' dx10 features, which i think is an odd expression (ie screenshots of crysis were 'simulating' dx10 effects in screenshots using 'raw power' on a high end dx9 card) then ill be a tille less pessimistic.
Reply #27 from WinCustomize Forums Top
There isn't any effect on Vista that you can't achieve with a DirectX 9 graphics card that's sold. Pretty much any ATI or NVIDIA card you get today will have directx 9 and pixelshader 2.0 and that's all you need. I bought one for a $100.00 and Vista works very fast and smoothly with it. Chances are, anybody that has bought a ati or nvidia graphics card lately will already be set to run Vista wtih all it's glass and 3d effects. You don't have to be impressed with the look or UI. That's your opinion. I'm just making sure people understand what they need if they want the glass effects, etc.
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Reply #28 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I don't think anyone will buy Vista (or any OS) for the UI effects sake. It's what's under the hood.
Reply #29 from WinCustomize Forums Top
It's what's under the hood.


And what's under the hood, at least from what I've read, is pretty impressive. The per-application volume control is reason enough (for me) to buy it.