Windows Vista Security: Praxisorientierte Sicherheit für Profis

Understanding Windows Vista Personalization

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User Experience Levels

The user experience level is the foundation on which your personalization settings

are based. Table 3-2 provides an overview of each user experience level.

Each user experience level builds on and includes the features of the preceding

level(s). If your computer has a low subscore for processor, physical memory, gen-

eral graphics, gaming graphics, or any combination thereof, you may want to use the

Windows Classic or Windows Standard experience level to improve your com-

puter’s performance. Figure 3-7 shows the look and feel of Windows Standard. Win-

dows Classic and Windows Standard offer similar user experiences. Generally

speaking, if you reduce the overhead associated with drawing gradients and shading,

you can use the Windows Classic experience and you won’t notice much difference.

If your computer has an average to high score for processor, physical memory, gen-

eral graphics, gaming graphics, or any combination thereof, you may want to use the

Windows Vista Basic or Windows Aero experience level to improve your computer’s

appearance. Windows Vista Basic and Windows Aero offer very similar user experi-

ences. Figure 3-8 shows the look and feel of Windows Vista Basic.

Because of the previously listed feature differences among the various experience lev-

els, you’ll see related differences in the interface. Two rather subtle changes you’ll need

to watch out for have to do with the Quick Launch Toolbar and the Window Color

and Appearance page. For the Quick Launch Toolbar, keep the following in mind:

Table 3-2. Understanding the user experience levels

User experience level Can be used with... Provides...

Windows Classic Any Windows Vista edition; any

Windows Vista Capable computer

The look and feel of Windows 2000 while retaining the

functionality improvements inWindowsVista. You’ll find

a refined Start menu and streamlined Explorer windows,

both with integrated search.

Windows Standard Any Windows Vista edition; any

Windows Vista Capable computer

Adds slightly improved performance, gradients, and

shading to the Windows Classic experience.

Windows Vista Basic Any Windows Vista edition; any

Windows Vista Capable computer

Adds improved performance and enhanced reliability to

the Windows Standard experience. Supports the new

Windows Display Driver Model (WDDM) to enable

smooth window handling, increase stability, and reduce

glitches, such as relics and slow screen refreshes while

moving user interface elements. Supports Windows Flip.

Supports transparent glass for Windows Sidebar only.

Windows Aero Windows Vista Home Premium edi-

tion or higher; any Windows Vista

Premium Ready computer

Builds onthe Windows Vista Basic experience.Adds Aero

glass, transparency for all windows, live taskbar thumb-

nails, and Windows Flip 3D.

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Chapter 3: Fine-Tuning Windows Vista’s Appearance and Performance

• When you are using Windows Classic or Windows Standard, the “Switch

between windows” button is displayed but disabled.

• When you are using Windows Vista Basic, the “Switch between windows” but-

ton displays Windows Flip view.

• When you are using Windows Aero, the “Switch between windows” button dis-

plays Windows Flip 3D view.

For Windows Color and Appearance settings, keep the following in mind:

• When you are using Windows Classic, Windows Standard, or Windows Vista

Basic, you can set the user experience level and color scheme, but you cannot

mix colors or configure transparency settings. This is why clicking Windows

Color and Appearance opens the Appearance Settings dialog box rather than the

Windows Color and Appearance page in the Control Panel.

• When you are using Windows Aero, you can use the Windows Color and

Appearance page in the Control Panel to change the color of windows, set color

intensity, mix colors, and enable or disable transparency. To display the Appear-

ance Settings dialog box so that you can set the user experience level and color

scheme you must click the “Open classic appearance properties for more color

options” link.

Figure 3-7. Viewing the standard experience level