Microsoft has tried to place “active” items on the Windows desktop for nearly

a decade. Finally, with Vista’s Sidebar success seems within grasp. Stability problems that dogged previous versions aren’t as readily apparent — which is to say, Sidebar doesn’t crash almost as often as, say, Active Desktop in Windows XP — and the items it offers actually help.

The items in the Sidebar, termed Gadgets, can interact with you, with Windows,

with files and folders, with your network, and with other Gadgets. Vista ships with a handful of moderately interesting Gadgets — a clock (you can place more than one clock on your desktop, apiece set to a different time zone).

Many other features — Put Vista head and shoulders above XP. The standout features include the following:

Improved backup (although no backup exists in the Home Basic Edition).
Photo management (via Pic Gallery, not in Home Basic).
Second monitor support
Easy wireless networking.
Vista also helps you burn DVDs, but watch out for the digital rights

Microsoft Windows Vista provides several accessories for Tablet PCs, including Input Panel, Snipping Tool, Sticky Notes, and Windows Journal. All of these accessories use Tablet personal pens, which improve accessibility by making it easier to work with computers. Additionally, people who might not be healthy to use a personal keyboard and mouse might be healthy to use a Tablet personal pen as an substitute input device.

As in early versions of Microsoft Windows, Windows Vista includes many other features that improve accessibility, including the Filter Keys, Sticky Keys, and High Contrast functions and the Narrator, Magnifier, and On-Screen Keyboard utilities. In Windows Vista, these features have all been enhanced, and most have absolutely redesigned interfaces. Windows Vista also includes speech recognition software. Using speech recognition, you can dictate documents and e-mail messages, and you can use your voice to control programs and browse the Web.

Tags: Windows Sidebar, Windows Vista Sidebar, Vista Gadgets, Windows Vista, Vista, Microsoft Windows vista features

No related posts.