Windows 7 Desktop

The Windows 7 desktop has some new features that are supposed to make it easier to organize and manage multiple windows.

Note: Unfortunately, not all of the new Windows 7 desktop features are available in all versions of Windows 7. For instance, Aero Peek, Aero Shake, and the background slide shows are not included in Windows 7 Home Basic or Windows 7 Starter. If you are not sure which edition of Windows 7 you have on your computer, click on the Start button, then Control Panel, then the System icon to find out.

Aero Shake

One of the new Windows 7 desktop features is called "Aero Shake" and it works like this: Let's say you have several windows open at once and you decide that you want to concentrate on one in particular. With Aero Shake, you can quickly minimize all of the other open windows on your desktop by clicking and holding down your left mouse button on the title bar of the window you want to keep open. Then shake the window back and forth quickly, and the other open windows will be minimized. If you want to restore the minimized windows, shake the open window again.

Really? I must admit that shaking a window back and forth like a salt shaker feels a little odd to me. I mean, previously, in order to accomplish the same thing, you would click on the "Show Desktop" button on the Quick Launch bar, which would minimize all open windows. Then you could click the tab of the open window that you want to view to maximize it again.

Are two quick clicks really that much more work than shaking a window back and forth? Besides, you can accomplish the same thing with a couple of keystrokes. Click on the tab of the window that you want to focus on to bring it to the forefront, then use the Windows Key + Home keyboard combination to minimize all other open windows. The Windows key on the keyboard is the one with the Windows Logo on it. Easy! But, of course, you decide what works best for you.

Aero Peek

Another new Windows 7 desktop feature is called "Aero Peek" and it allows you to view the desktop without minimizing your open windows. Aero Peek is activated by using the "Show Desktop" button which now resides on the opposite end of the taskbar to the right of the clock and the date. It looks like a small empty window on the taskbar. You can still click on the Show Desktop button to minimize all open windows like you could before, except now you have the option to temporarily view, or peek, at the desktop by just by hovering the cursor over the Show Desktop button. This makes all open windows become transparent, allowing you to view the desktop. When you move the cursor away from the Show Desktop button, all open windows reappear.

Now, you might ask, "Why would I want to do this?" Well, you might have a weather or news "Gadget" (see below) on your desktop that you want to take a quick look at, or, maybe you just loaded some software and you want to make sure that the icon for the software is on your desktop. That type of thing. You really can't use it to click on a desktop item since as soon as you move your cursor away from the "Show Desktop" button all of your open windows will become visible again.

Aero Snap

Another new Windows 7 desktop feature called "Aero Snap" allows you to arrange open windows by dragging their borders to the edges of your screen. It quickly aligns windows at the side of the desktop and expands them vertically to fill the screen. This can be useful when comparing two documents or copying or moving files between two windows. Just drag the title bar of an open window to either side of the desktop to align it there, or drag it to the top of the desktop to maximize the window. To expand a window vertically , drag the top edge of the window to the top of the desktop.

Another way to activate the Snap feature again involves using the Windows Key on your keyboard. Select the window that you want to snap by clicking the tab on the taskbar to bring it to the forefront. Then, press the Windows Key + (a left or right arrow) to snap the window to that half of the screen. Or use the up arrow to snap it to the top of the screen.

The Taskbar

The Taskbar on the Windows 7 desktop has changed a bit. It has a "fuzzy" transparent look and blends nicely into the background wallpaper.

Next to the Start button is a folder icon which represents Windows Explorer. It is there by default but you can remove it by right-clicking on it and selecting "Unpin this program from Taskbar". Alternately, you can right-click any Start Menu item or open program icon on the taskbar and choose "Pin to Taskbar" to place it on the taskbar.

Left-clicking on the Windows Explorer icon will open up the Libraries window which organizes your personal items into 4 basic groups or libraries, Documents, Music, Pictures, and Videos. You can create additional Libraries by clicking on the "New Library" button at the top of the window. To the left is a folder tree to help you navigate around on your system.

Any open programs will appear to the right of the Windows Explorer icon. By moving the cursor over the taskbar button of an open program, you can see a thumbnail preview of the program and any open files associated with that program. You can then move the cursor over the thumbnail preview which will cause the program window to appear full screen. To open the window you're previewing, just click on the thumbnail preview.

Right-clicking an open area of the taskbar brings up the taskbar menu. From here you have several choices as to how to display your open program windows, such as "cascade", which displays the windows in a card file fashion, one behind the other so that you can read the title bar. You can also choose "stacked" which displays the windows at full width but with the length shortened giving each window the same amount of space on the desktop. You can also choose "side by side" which displays the windows at full length but at a shortened width to accommodate each open window. You can also select "Show Desktop" to minimize all open windows.

By clicking on "Properties" in the Taskbar menu you can customize the look and functionality of your taskbar. For instance, you can select "auto-hide" which will remove the taskbar from view when you are not using it. To bring it back simply move your cursor down to the very bottom of the desktop screen and the Taskbar will reappear.

Another option lets you choose whether to use large or small icons for the open programs on the taskbar. The taskbar itself gets a bit smaller when you choose small icons.

You can also choose the location of the taskbar on your desktop. It can appear at the top, right, or left side of the desktop as well as the bottom.

The taskbar buttons themselves can also be changed from simple picture icons to icons along with labels showing the program names.

The Notification area of the new Windows 7 desktop can be changed here as well. The Notification area is on the right side of the taskbar where the digital clock usually resides. Anything in the Notification area can be removed or "turned off" by clicking on the "Customize..." button. I would, however, recommend leaving on the "Action Center" notifications since the Action Center will let you know when your anti-virus software is not working or when your system is due for a backup or updates.

Also from this window you can choose whether or not activate the Aero Peek feature. The default setting is "activated".

New Gadgets

Gadgets for the Windows 7 desktop are like mini programs that reside on your desktop. They can provide quick information such as news, weather, and traffic, as well as the time. You can also run a mini slide show of images or your favorite photos. Unlike Windows Vista, your Windows 7 desktop gadgets are not limited to the sidebar. You can now display your gadgets anywhere on the desktop and use the Aero Peek feature to quickly view them without having to minimize your open windows. To get to the Gadgets window right-click in an open area of the desktop and select "Gadgets" from the resulting menu.

To add a gadget to the Windows 7 desktop simply double-click on it. Once on the desktop you can customize it by hovering your cursor over the gadget to make a small menu appear next to it. Click on "Get more gadgets online" to select from nearly 4000 gadget choices.

Sticky Notes

The Sticky Notes feature is really nothing new and existed in previous versions of Windows in one form or another. The Windows 7 desktop version is much easier to use. You can stick notes on your desktop for quick reminders. You can easily change the note color or font type. If you have a note selected, click on the plus sign or use Ctrl + N keyboard combo to create a new one.

All in all, I like the new look of the Windows 7 Desktop and I think you will too.

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