Comments on: Fast fixes for three Windows irritations

Turn off Caps Lock with your Shift key, add an Address bar to your Quick Launch tray, and change your default image editor.

[g-wing]

With regards to the address bar tip, I know your tip is for Vista, but I thought I'd mention that XP SP3 doesn't have the address bar any more.

[plbyrd]

I don't understand how these things really count as irritations, they simply seem like user preferences to me. I've heard very few people complain about any of the things you've listed. I am a power user and I do indeed add the address bar to the toolbar as the first thing I do whenever I get a new computer or install a version of Windows. However, I've been doing this since first using Windows 2000. I don't see what the big deal is with the run command considering the text box in the start menu of Vista IS the run command on steroids. If you want the run command, simply hit Windows-R and it pops up. Finally, have you tried your caps lock disabling on a different system with Vista? I've got an HP Pavillion that shipped with Vista 64-bit and the keyboard and touchbar at the top are simply annoying as hell, but it's not Vista's fault.

[sniperdoc]

I am not a fan of Vista, by far, because there are still many issues with it. But, you're kidding me with your article right? How long have you used Vista? From your comment of Vista not having a run bar, which is a pretty assanine statement, I'd say you've got about ZERO Vista experience. I can type any command into the Search box when pressing the Windows button, and it works just like the run bar... matter of fact, I can say that this particular feature is actually pretty dang cool. It didn't take me long to see that you have no real world experience with Vista and have absolutely no reason to be writing for CNET.

[wolivere]

You misread his comment its not about the lack of run its about run being on the bar. And yes to some an annoyance to others not.

Some users may not have know your trick, and prefer to see the run command in the bar. Does this mean that he does not know what he is talking about? No it means for the people who prefer this method this is how to change it.

SO what issues do you still have with Vista? My personal issues still have to do with Nvidia, and not vista. The latest Driver 180.xx which yes is in beta, was the first in a while that blue screened me. The fact that getting S.M.A.R.T to work properly with the 680i chipset drivers is also a pain for me. Not saying the work around is not use able but its a pain that the drivers from Nvdia after all this time are still so poor. Yes I know they are trying to work around hardware design flaws with the drivers. But again that is a major pain, not from MS but from Nvidia.

I don't personally fault the content of this article, I more fault the title which is a little misleading. But then again, now that every Tom Dick and Harry can post responses to articles like this. We have all become our own great experts in our own little worlds.

[sythara]

Last time I used Vista, run bar can be brought up by pressing "windows key"+R

Feel free to flame me if I'm wrong on that one, been some time since I used vista.

[Bryan Price]

Why is the Run box such a necessary item? You're going to be typing something in, not using the keyboard, so it's best just to use the Window-R combination from the keyboard and get going? And now I read sythara's comment...

[disenchantres]

Disabling the CAP lock key is the best tip ever! Thank you.

[MikeG8r]

Two annoyances I'd love to see resovled: telling me a file is locked by another process without telling me which process, and cancelling out copying multiple files because one file failed to copy.

[alexferri001]

I am the developer of a software called SuperLauncher. The reason why I published SuperLauncher so that other people could use it is that I can not live without it. It allows me to access applications, websites, folders, and files, with a keyboard combination or two clicks of the mouse. I never open the Start Menu, and I never hunt down through Explorer folders. It may sound like marketing but I assure you it is very much true.

For most launchers you have to add new shortcuts in ackward ways that just go against the idea of speeding up things. With SuperLauncher I just have to drag and drop whatever I want and from then on, I can open it really fast.

Like I said, I can not live without it. I sure hope you give it a try. It sure makes me a lot more productive in a really easy way.

Regards,
Alex Ferri
PCWinSoft Systems Ltd
http://www.pcwinsoft.com/superlauncher/