Windows 7 desktop graphics

Next question: So, I already know that Microsoft has still not updated their last-century pixel-based desktop graphics. They did plan and announced that they would introduce a modern vector-based engine (you know, kind of like what OS X has...) back when Vista was still Longhorn, but that was one of the many crucial and necessary improvements that got dropped during the restart of development for the new OS. Too bad, because that was one of the changes that are becoming absolutely necessary in the age of high-resolution monitors.

Anyway, my question now is, did they at least update the code for desktop customization? In Vista, if you want to customize your desktop beyond the trivial, you would go to Personalize->Window Color and Appearance, and then click on "Open classic appearance properties for more color options", which will then surprisingly allow you to do things that go far beyond color. You know, really important stuff like the size and type of desktop fonts, icon spacing, window button sizes, etc. Now, besides the random placement of this particular dialog, there are two problems with this:

• The dialog that comes up is still the same decades-old dialog from Win9X/WinNT days, and
• the code for desktop customization has been half-broken for many years, with different users getting different desktop appearances despite choosing the exact same parameters.

So, did Microsoft fix at least this nonsense in Windows 7?

 

Here you go

 

There is also a much improved display settings function:

http://arstechnica.com/articles/paedia/windows-7-beta.ars/5

 

Uhmm..., so where do I go to choose a different font for, say, the Active Window Title? Please, please don't tell me they removed all customization altogether, and all I can do now is choose some silly color or other!

 

Hey, fingerprint reader support built-in, that's nice! But again, it seems they took away just about all of the options to customize the desktop. I really, really hope that's not true. If I cannot chnage at least some of the fundamental style elements of my desktop anymore, then I might as well get a Mac, and let Steve Jobs tell me how I should use my computer...

 

Right click the desktop and choose personalize. In the Personalization window click: Window Color and Appearance. Then click: Open Classic Appearance Options.

When that window opens, click the Advanced button, then you'll have pretty much all of the options that your used to. This works either within Windows Aero, or in classic View. As you can see, I changed my font to a fun one:


By rickhamilton620 at 2009-01-23

 

This is the section I wanted to show you:

It's not the section for icons, etc, but it is a new addition to controlling monitors. It will be nice to finally have complete control over a multi-monitor setup.

 

O.k., so in other words, they still left this decade-old piece of code in place, most likely including all of its bugs. Not a good sign at all. They should be ashamed of themselves. How hard can it be fixing this particular piece of code? Sheesh...

 

Yes, that is a nice addition, thanks for pointing this out. However, I would really have preferred them to clean up this old garbage in the advanced customization dialog that they continue to carry over year after year.

Like I said, I don't even dare mention that Windows really, really needs an entirely new desktop graphics subsystem, badly. OS X' display postscript beats the pants off of that lame half-baked attempt of Microsoft to update their graphical interface. And this is from someone who can't stand OS X...