Vista - Screen Real Estate

Lovely. Ta muchly!
"C Dot C" <nobody@nowhere.com> wrote in message
news:01A3D79C-4029-4C8A-9E09-DBDFB5A45F2D@microsoft.com...
> Open the properties of the Windows Explorer icon
> (right-click on the icon and click on Properties) and
> change the Target to: %SystemRoot%\explorer.exe d:
> This will open Windows Explorer on the D: drive view.
>
> <gary@noconsequence.com> wrote in message
> news:13A6E4E2-2A71-47AB-9DF8-5CFF98973D6F@microsoft.com...
>> Yep. 96 dpi is as low as it goes. You get a choice of big and massive :-)
>>
>> This doesn't just affect explorer though. It also messes up things like
>> Winamp as the spacing between lists of tracks has increased.
>>
>> BTW, anyone found a way of customising the default folder that Windows
>> Explorer opens in? Despite the advent of favourites I still like to start
>> at
>> my D drive as I really don't like the whole "user" folder thing (it's my
>> PC
>> and I'm not sharing!)
>>
>> "Bill" wrote:
>>
>>> <gary@noconsequence.com> wrote in message
>>> news:C77BF679-7F3D-4C54-B7FE-0952D9724C95@microsoft.com...
>>> > I've finally figured out what was bugging me about Vista. Everything
>>> > is too
>>> > big!
>>> > Take Windows Explorer for example. In the right hand pane you can
>>> > see about
>>> > 20% fewer folders in a maximised window than you can in XP.
>>> > Similar thing with Control Panel. All the icons seem to have grown.
>>> >
>>> > Is there any way of changing the font size and spacing in Windows
>>> > Explorer,
>>> > because this is just wasting lots of screen space.
>>>
>>>
>>> Have you tried right-clicking the desktop, select Personalize, and
>>> then in the top left click the option to Adjust font size (DPI)?
>>>
>>> --
>>> Happy Holidays!
>>>
>>>
>

I've finally figured out what was bugging me about Vista. Everything is too
big!
Take Windows Explorer for example. In the right hand pane you can see about
20% fewer folders in a maximised window than you can in XP.
Similar thing with Control Panel. All the icons seem to have grown.

Is there any way of changing the font size and spacing in Windows Explorer,
because this is just wasting lots of screen space.

On 14/12/2006 in message
<C77BF679-7F3D-4C54-B7FE-0952D9724C95@microsoft.com>
gary@noconsequence.com wrote:

>I've finally figured out what was bugging me about Vista. Everything is too
>big!
>Take Windows Explorer for example. In the right hand pane you can see about
>20% fewer folders in a maximised window than you can in XP.
>Similar thing with Control Panel. All the icons seem to have grown.
>
>Is there any way of changing the font size and spacing in Windows Explorer,
>because this is just wasting lots of screen space.

And have you seen the size of the icons when you drag and drop!!!
It's hard to see what MS is trying to achieve, as screens get shorter apps
have more and more rows of buttons etc. We'll end up with just one row of
text eventually.
Be nice to be able to change the font from the default kiddy font used in
Explorer as well.

--
Jeff Gaines
Damerham Hampshire UK

<gary@noconsequence.com> wrote in message
news:C77BF679-7F3D-4C54-B7FE-0952D9724C95@microsoft.com...
> I've finally figured out what was bugging me about Vista. Everything
> is too
> big!
> Take Windows Explorer for example. In the right hand pane you can
> see about
> 20% fewer folders in a maximised window than you can in XP.
> Similar thing with Control Panel. All the icons seem to have grown.
>
> Is there any way of changing the font size and spacing in Windows
> Explorer,
> because this is just wasting lots of screen space.


Have you tried right-clicking the desktop, select Personalize, and
then in the top left click the option to Adjust font size (DPI)?

--
Happy Holidays!

Yep. 96 dpi is as low as it goes. You get a choice of big and massive :-)

This doesn't just affect explorer though. It also messes up things like
Winamp as the spacing between lists of tracks has increased.

BTW, anyone found a way of customising the default folder that Windows
Explorer opens in? Despite the advent of favourites I still like to start at
my D drive as I really don't like the whole "user" folder thing (it's my PC
and I'm not sharing!)

"Bill" wrote:

> <gary@noconsequence.com> wrote in message
> news:C77BF679-7F3D-4C54-B7FE-0952D9724C95@microsoft.com...
> > I've finally figured out what was bugging me about Vista. Everything
> > is too
> > big!
> > Take Windows Explorer for example. In the right hand pane you can
> > see about
> > 20% fewer folders in a maximised window than you can in XP.
> > Similar thing with Control Panel. All the icons seem to have grown.
> >
> > Is there any way of changing the font size and spacing in Windows
> > Explorer,
> > because this is just wasting lots of screen space.
>
>
> Have you tried right-clicking the desktop, select Personalize, and
> then in the top left click the option to Adjust font size (DPI)?
>
> --
> Happy Holidays!
>
>

Open the properties of the Windows Explorer icon
(right-click on the icon and click on Properties) and
change the Target to: %SystemRoot%\explorer.exe d:
This will open Windows Explorer on the D: drive view.

<gary@noconsequence.com> wrote in message
news:13A6E4E2-2A71-47AB-9DF8-5CFF98973D6F@microsoft.com...
> Yep. 96 dpi is as low as it goes. You get a choice of big and massive :-)
>
> This doesn't just affect explorer though. It also messes up things like
> Winamp as the spacing between lists of tracks has increased.
>
> BTW, anyone found a way of customising the default folder that Windows
> Explorer opens in? Despite the advent of favourites I still like to start
> at
> my D drive as I really don't like the whole "user" folder thing (it's my
> PC
> and I'm not sharing!)
>
> "Bill" wrote:
>
>> <gary@noconsequence.com> wrote in message
>> news:C77BF679-7F3D-4C54-B7FE-0952D9724C95@microsoft.com...
>> > I've finally figured out what was bugging me about Vista. Everything
>> > is too
>> > big!
>> > Take Windows Explorer for example. In the right hand pane you can
>> > see about
>> > 20% fewer folders in a maximised window than you can in XP.
>> > Similar thing with Control Panel. All the icons seem to have grown.
>> >
>> > Is there any way of changing the font size and spacing in Windows
>> > Explorer,
>> > because this is just wasting lots of screen space.
>>
>>
>> Have you tried right-clicking the desktop, select Personalize, and
>> then in the top left click the option to Adjust font size (DPI)?
>>
>> --
>> Happy Holidays!
>>
>>

Dahhh... what have I been saying for months now???
that vista has a bad gui design?

I saw that problem the first second, not even minute of use... its horrible



<gary@noconsequence.com> wrote in message
news:C77BF679-7F3D-4C54-B7FE-0952D9724C95@microsoft.com...
> I've finally figured out what was bugging me about Vista. Everything is
> too
> big!
> Take Windows Explorer for example. In the right hand pane you can see
> about
> 20% fewer folders in a maximised window than you can in XP.
> Similar thing with Control Panel. All the icons seem to have grown.
>
> Is there any way of changing the font size and spacing in Windows
> Explorer,
> because this is just wasting lots of screen space.

Don't know if this will help or not, but try it.

Right click on your desktop, then click on properties, then settings. You
will see two boxes, one for screen resolution and one for color quality. I
have a Samsung SyncMaster 930b 19" monitor, so I have my resolution set at
1152 x 864 pixels. I have my color quality set for the highest, which is 32
bit.

The higher the resolution, the smaller the icons on your screen. If your
screen resolution is set for 800 by 600 pixels, your print and icons will be
huge, and you can't run much of anything with that resolution. Jack it up to
1200 x whatever, and things will be much smaller.
--
Nancy Ward
Windows Live Butterfly
Windows Live MVP 2003-2006
>
<gary@noconsequence.com> wrote in message
news:C77BF679-7F3D-4C54-B7FE-0952D9724C95@microsoft.com...
> I've finally figured out what was bugging me about Vista. Everything is
> too
> big!
> Take Windows Explorer for example. In the right hand pane you can see
> about
> 20% fewer folders in a maximised window than you can in XP.
> Similar thing with Control Panel. All the icons seem to have grown.
>
> Is there any way of changing the font size and spacing in Windows
> Explorer,
> because this is just wasting lots of screen space.

There is truth in what Nancy says, in that upping the screen resolution will
result in smaller icons and text. However, I wouldn't just randomly select
a higher screen resolution (unless you have a CRT monitor). The best choice
is whatever the NATIVE resolution of the monitor is (at least for LCD
monitors). I have a Samsung 19" (synchmaster 191T), whose native resolution
is 1280 x 1024. Native resolution is the number of actual pixels on the
screen. This is the best choice for picture quality. If you think text is
too small at this resolution, it is better to adjust the dpi settings under
the advanced button on the display properties tab. 96dpi is normal size,
and you can increase that little by little until you get what you want.

"Nancy Ward" <nlward@pshawus.com> wrote in message
news:%23qGpuJ7HHHA.960@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> Don't know if this will help or not, but try it.
>
> Right click on your desktop, then click on properties, then settings. You
> will see two boxes, one for screen resolution and one for color quality. I
> have a Samsung SyncMaster 930b 19" monitor, so I have my resolution set at
> 1152 x 864 pixels. I have my color quality set for the highest, which is
> 32 bit.
>
> The higher the resolution, the smaller the icons on your screen. If your
> screen resolution is set for 800 by 600 pixels, your print and icons will
> be huge, and you can't run much of anything with that resolution. Jack it
> up to 1200 x whatever, and things will be much smaller.
> --
> Nancy Ward
> Windows Live Butterfly
> Windows Live MVP 2003-2006
>>
> <gary@noconsequence.com> wrote in message
> news:C77BF679-7F3D-4C54-B7FE-0952D9724C95@microsoft.com...
>> I've finally figured out what was bugging me about Vista. Everything is
>> too
>> big!
>> Take Windows Explorer for example. In the right hand pane you can see
>> about
>> 20% fewer folders in a maximised window than you can in XP.
>> Similar thing with Control Panel. All the icons seem to have grown.
>>
>> Is there any way of changing the font size and spacing in Windows
>> Explorer,
>> because this is just wasting lots of screen space.
>
>

That's not really a logical comparison. Screen resolutions have gone from
640x480 to 1600x1200 over the past decade. Not even a 3x increase.

Disks have one from less than 1 gb to 500gb in the same period.

Ultimately, practical, useable screen space on a Vista machine has been
decreased in favour of obese fonts and graphics.


"Dale" <nospam@nospam.ever> wrote in message
news:eKHAhiGIHHA.2632@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> And if you go to DOS, you'll have much more available hard drive space
> after the OS installation.
>
> Comparisons to other OSs are not always logical. Vista is a new operating
> system with new hardware requirements. It is a new paradigm and you can't
> compare it to the old. The key to using Vista satisfactorily is to get
> hardware that works with Vista to give you the experience that you need
> with Vista, not the experience you had with Windows 3.1.
>
> Dale
>
>
> <gary@noconsequence.com> wrote in message
> news266BA28-3717-4FF7-9734-F30CCEDCCE46@microsoft.com...
>> Even when I get a new monitor, I'll still have 20% less space than I
>> would
>> have with XP. So by moving up to say 1280x1024 I'll have about the same
>> space
>> as my 1024x768 gives me with XP!
>>
>> That said, I didn't find anything particularly exciting about the UI
>> features.
>> Mini views of screens when hovering on the taskbar or Alt-Tabbing?
>> Glass? Just made it harder to tell which window was active.
>>
>> I tried to stick with the Vista start menu by selecting not to use large
>> Icons, but the right hand side of it still stayed the same size with the
>> enormous gaps between each item, so it defeated the purpose really.
>>
>> The other advantage of going back to class is that I can easily get to
>> things like Network Connections without having to wade through a whole
>> host
>> of hyperlinks.
>>
>> What's really needed is a Pro mode for Aero. Stop hiding everything away
>> and
>> provide easy access and wizard free methods of doing things for those
>> that
>> want it.
>>
>> "Dale" wrote:
>>
>>> One of the good things about Vista is that Microsoft has taken a much
>>> bigger
>>> leap than they have in the past toward dropping support for older
>>> technologies. In fact, I think there is too much backward compatibility
>>> in
>>> Vista.
>>>
>>> Even now, we're stuck with supporting hardware originally built in the
>>> mid
>>> 1980s (32-bit x86 processors) with an operating system that still
>>> contains
>>> code segments for supporting hardware originally built in the early
>>> 1980s
>>> (16-bit x86 processors). I would love to see an operating system that
>>> wasn't hindered at all by trying to support old hardware and software
>>> but
>>> took full advantage of all the greatest hardware.
>>>
>>> So, while I empathize with your problem - it's too bad you had to turn
>>> off
>>> many of the new UI features in Vista to use it - my suggestion is to do
>>> like
>>> you said yourself: get a new monitor.
>>>
>>> Dale
>>>
>>> <gary@noconsequence.com> wrote in message
>>> news1B515E8-7E76-411F-9673-42A498FC0BFC@microsoft.com...
>>> > Hi Nancy,
>>> >
>>> > Screen resolution is not the issue. I'm talking about a like for like
>>> > comparison between XP and Vista both running at 1024 x 768 (yes, I
>>> > know I
>>> > need a new monitor... :-))
>>> >
>>> > "Nancy Ward" wrote:
>>> >
>>> >> Don't know if this will help or not, but try it.
>>> >>
>>> >> Right click on your desktop, then click on properties, then settings.
>>> >> You
>>> >> will see two boxes, one for screen resolution and one for color
>>> >> quality.
>>> >> I
>>> >> have a Samsung SyncMaster 930b 19" monitor, so I have my resolution
>>> >> set
>>> >> at
>>> >> 1152 x 864 pixels. I have my color quality set for the highest, which
>>> >> is
>>> >> 32
>>> >> bit.
>>> >>
>>> >> The higher the resolution, the smaller the icons on your screen. If
>>> >> your
>>> >> screen resolution is set for 800 by 600 pixels, your print and icons
>>> >> will
>>> >> be
>>> >> huge, and you can't run much of anything with that resolution. Jack
>>> >> it up
>>> >> to
>>> >> 1200 x whatever, and things will be much smaller.
>>> >> --
>>> >> Nancy Ward
>>> >> Windows Live Butterfly
>>> >> Windows Live MVP 2003-2006
>>> >> >
>>> >> <gary@noconsequence.com> wrote in message
>>> >> news:C77BF679-7F3D-4C54-B7FE-0952D9724C95@microsoft.com...
>>> >> > I've finally figured out what was bugging me about Vista.
>>> >> > Everything is
>>> >> > too
>>> >> > big!
>>> >> > Take Windows Explorer for example. In the right hand pane you can
>>> >> > see
>>> >> > about
>>> >> > 20% fewer folders in a maximised window than you can in XP.
>>> >> > Similar thing with Control Panel. All the icons seem to have grown.
>>> >> >
>>> >> > Is there any way of changing the font size and spacing in Windows
>>> >> > Explorer,
>>> >> > because this is just wasting lots of screen space.
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>>
>>>
>