PART 3 : AERO


The most interesting change brought by Windows Vista is, without any doubt, the graphical interface. Even tough users with low computer resources or conservative users can’t say they did not (or wont) admire the new look at least for a few hours.
The AERO name is in fact an acronym, meaning (as Microsoft declared) Authentic, Energetic, Reflective and Open. It does not make a lot of sense, and that leaves the impression that this was spontaneously transformed in an acronym.

The new interface is offered in two flavors. The first one, Vista Basic, is the default theme for Windows Vista Home, but it is used also in the case of using a too poor graphical card to run fluently the complete version, Vista Aero, also known as Aero Glass to separate it from its little and unattractive sister. The latter is the interface Windows uses to try and impress and attract clients. And to be honest, they succeeded

The minimize and maximize animations are fluent and quick, the transparency effect of the former title bar and of the window borders is discrete and elegant, combining a high-resolution animation with the actual content of the desktop under the active window, and it varies depending of this to maintain an easy to read title. But above these visual tricks, I was impressed by all the facilities of a completely 3D desktop. Both Flip, (the replacement for the Task switch (ALT+TAB)) and FLIP 3D (the 3d version, accessed by WIN+Tab) are capable to give you real time previews of the open windows, a facility you will also find within the small preview windows obtained by placing the mouse over the task bar button of a minimized application.

But if you want critics, you can talk about the colors Microsoft chooses. Even tough you may choose other colors for the windows (either by choosing a theme or by changing individual colors from the color mixer) there are visual elements that you cannot change the color of, and those buttons have colors you may not like. The buttons used for controlling the windows (minimize, maximize, close) have the same color for all the themes, abusing of bright colors and glowing effects that are not amongst the most inspired ones. Even the famous START button has disappeared, being replaced by a blue glob, with the Vista logo on it, as bright and as colored as the buttons mentioned before.

Aero is just an interface, just like Luna (with it’s modes : blue, gray and khaki ) was for Windows XP. All these graphical tricks would not of been capable possible without the true wizard : DWM. On it’s complete name : Desktop Window Manager, it is a new graphical engine (Desktop Composer), meant to control the display mode, to manage graphical information generated by the applications and to generate 3D surfaces needed for an effective display.

Like the Quartz Compositor graphical engine for MacOS X, DWM uses the same display techniques , the difference appears at the level of hardware acceleration interfaces. If Quartz uses OpenGL, DWM uses DirectX. Technically, the graphical information generated by the applications are not shown directly on screen, but drawn and kept in an off-screen buffer zone, and then they are modified and shown as textures applied on 3D surfaces.

IMHO, i think vista sucks. First of all, it force us to buy new hardware, even though our old hardware is working happily for us all these while. Then it eats out quite a lot of resources just for the user interface alone. A lot of incompatibility with other software of stuffs like that.

Luna sucked big time, I like the look and feel of Aero than Luna anytime.

xboxrulz

Sadly to say, In about 3 or 4 years all the schools will have the windows vista and we will be forced to use them. I don't see why most librarys and schools don't start getting macs. They are a lot safer and you can't mess them up since most files relating to the system can't be opened with a word pad (unlike windows). The OS 10 is probably a better thing to get then the vista because you don't need to upgrade your hardware. The vista uses too much memory also. If it where smaller, I would probably get it.
Thanks,
Sparkx

Have you ever used a text editor called "nano" in Macs? It's the exact same thing as Notepad where you can edit things in the system.

Anyways, I've seen a lot of schools considering changing to Linux and Mac. Furthermore, there IS a smaller Mac. It's called Mac Mini.

http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebO...mp;nclm=Macmini (Canadian Store)

xboxrulz

What? Will we be forced to use a newer version of Windows on other systems that is more stable and user friendly? THIS IS MADNESS!! Save the children!

There are plenty more reasons to purchase a system than security, especially since many schools and libraries already use filters to block certain aspects of internet. You won't easily find mac or exotic Operating Systems installed on public machines because of compatibility and people knowing how to use it. I hope you realize this argument doesn't hold much value.


Excuse me? You haven't heard of user accounts then. It's simple, the account people use to do their stuff is not an administrator account. They won't be able to change system files and you can opt to make sure they can't install programs.


Oh yeah, rather than upgrading the hardware we'll just throw everything away and buy new, more expensive, macs. You're a financial genius.

1.) True, however, Macs have their own up sides to it. It is open-sourced and UNIX based, so it would be great for those libraries who are still running UNIX.
2.) True, however, admins can still change a lot of operating system files. Sadly, most Windows users are running on admin accounts.
3.) lol, good argument. Even though, I love Macs, I have to say that it's a flaw.

xboxrulz

I have never heard of Mac mini or nano text editor. I still think that macs are safer simply because they don't have anoying firewalls that take up lots of CPU. Thats the biggest problem with most windows computers and also the fact you can edit the register without knowing what your doing. If someone ever findes a good way to keep windows xp or vista safe without waisting soo much cpu could you p.m. me. I currently use zone alarm on xp. Maby with the new upgrades costing soo much more schools and librarys will switch to the Macantosh Apple OS 10.
Thanks,
Sparkx

This post has been edited by sparkx: Mar 18 2007, 07:15 PM