18 Features Windows Should Have (but Doesn't)

[aryayush]

18 Features Windows Should Have (but Doesn't)
Some of the coolest OS features are nowhere to be found in Windows XP or Vista. Here are 18 brilliant features that Microsoft should beg for, borrow, or steal--plus tips on how you can add many of them to your PC now.
Robert Strohmeyer, PC World
Monday, April 28, 2008 10:00 PM PDT

Love it or hate it, Microsoft Windows is the world's most dominant operating system. But when you look at some of the hot features found in competitors such as Linux and Mac OS X, both XP and Vista can seem a little incomplete.

From intuitive interface features like Apple's application dock and Cover Flow to basic media capabilities such as ISO burning, Windows often falls short on built-in goodies. And some features that other operating systems offer by default-- such as 64-bit processing and business-networking tools--require a premium-version license in Windows.

We took a good look at a variety of OSs, from the Mac to Linux to PC-BSD and beyond, and we rounded up a list of our favorite features--few of which come standard in any version of Windows. We even considered some operating systems of yore, and recalled a couple of cool features that Microsoft still hasn't caught on to. Some of these features simply aren't available for Windows at all, owing to the way the OS is designed. But you can add most of them to XP or Vista with the help of third-party applications, and we'll show you how to get them.

1. Expose

Available on: Mac



It's an elegantly simple idea, and it has been available on the Mac since 2003. When you want a clear view of all the application windows that are open at any one time, you just press F3, and a ittle feature called Expose arranges them all as thumbnails spread neatly across your screen. Click one, and it pops to the front while the rest snap back into position behind it.

With the release of Windows Vista, Microsoft deployed a feature called Flip3D that attempts to simplify window management in a slightly different way. Flip3D lets users flip through three-dimensional renderings of whatever windows are open on the desktop, but it doesn't offer nearly the same instantaneous visibility that Expose does.

Fortunately, a few downloads can add Expose-like thumbnails to your Windows machine. One little tool called iEx for Windows does the trick for free; but the installation is a little awkward, as you have to drag the downloaded files into the correct folders on your PC. A more refined program, TopDesk, installs automatically in XP and Vista--but it will set you back $20 after the 14-day free trial.

2. Virtual Workspaces

Available on: Linux, PC-BSD, Mac



Linux users have long enjoyed the freedom to keep large numbers of applications running simultaneously--without being overwhelmed by screen clutter--thanks to the power of virtual workspaces. In a typical Linux installation, at boot time four workspaces spring into existence automatically, signified by a little map on the control panel in the corner of the screen. As the user opens more programs, thumbnail icons of them appear in the workspace switcher, indicating which program windows are running in each workspace. To change workspaces, the user simply clicks the appropriate area on the workspace switcher or uses a keystroke combination such as Shift-Right Arrow to move between them.

With multiple workspaces comes the ability to organize the Linux desktop environment by task, by application type, by priority, or any other way you care to slice it. It's particularly handy for keeping a handful of applications out of sight and out of mind, without having to shut them down. For instance, I like to keep my messaging and communications apps in a separate workspace from my document-creation programs as a way of staying focused while I work.

Apple added this concept to OS X with the launch of Leopard in October 2007, although Leopard's Spaces feature lacks dynamic thumbnails (something its Linux forebears offer) in the Dock icon. To get workspaces on Windows, however, you'll have to do some downloading. XP users have an easy solution with the Microsoft Virtual Desktop Manager, a free download from Microsoft's PowerToys collection. For Vista, you must turn to one of several third-party utilities. My favorite among them is a freebie called Dexpot, which offers a wide variety of configuration options.

3. Back to My Mac

Available on: Mac



Nothing quite matches the feeling you get when you sit down at your office desk, boot up your PC, and realize that the most recent version of the document you've been working on is stranded 50 miles away on your home machine. If both of your computers were Macs running Leopard, you could use Back to My Mac (coupled with Apple's $99-per-year .Mac service) to fire up a connection to the remote computer, grab whatever files you need, and even navigate the other machine's desktop as if you were sitting right in front of it.

If either of your PCs are running Windows, however, all the .Mac accounts in the world won't help you. Instead, try GoToMyPC. At a base price of $20 per month ($180 per year) for one PC, this service ain't cheap. But it does give you unfettered access to your Windows computer from any Web browser. Read more…

[Via PC World]

[Faun]

many features are in linux,
expose is there

[Ecko]

Yup as I always say Microsoft makes the interface looks easy
That's same thing as u'll ask from someone that hates Apple
He'll say that what Apple is best about is making interfaces simpler
Microsoft are not really good at innovation (may be few )

[gary4gar]

If MS implements these given features then people will accuse MS of being a copycat.

So instead of copying, MS should innovate.

[gxsaurav]

Lolz..... the author is clearly blind.

i saw this article before leaving for gurgaon & was wondering why arya isn't posting it here....finally I have a reason to reflex my "Fanboy" muscle

Fortunately, a few downloads can add Expose-like thumbnails to your Windows machine. One little tool called iEx for Windows does the trick for free; but the installation is a little awkward, as you have to drag the downloaded files into the correct folders on your PC. A more refined program, TopDesk, installs automatically in XP and Vista--but it will set you back $20 after the 14-day free trial.

Does he know anything about Switcher?

Time Machine -> Did he forgot to mention Volume Shadow copy & System Restore.

Stickies - > Did he see Windows Gadgets?? He mentioned it, still said it is not included....

Software Repositories -> Windows Market place anyone?

Application Dock -> What do we have start menu for?

Automated Screen Shots -> Snipping tool in Vista?

Multitouch Trackpad Gestures-> Lack of a hardware feature is Microsoft's fault? Does Mac has Windows Sideshow?

Cover Flow -> Lolz...so easy to nevigate

Pre-Installed Web Server -> He said we can install it in Vista, then how does Windows lacks this feature?

POSIX - > Windows is not UNIX/Linux

Standardized Menu Ribbon -> Lolz.....this is like giving the developer the power he needs to make apps he want

Single-File Applications -> I guess he has no idea about Windows Installer method.

[Pat]

I read this a couple of days back on osnews but dint link it here coz I found it one of the dumbest articles I have ever read in a long time!

Originally Posted by gx_saurav

Lolz..... the author is clearly blind.

i saw this article before leaving for gurgaon & was wondering why arya isn't posting it here....finally I have a reason to reflex my "Fanboy" muscle



Does he know anything about Switcher?

Time Machine -> Did he forgot to mention Volume Shadow copy & System Restore.

Stickies - > Did he see Windows Gadgets?? He mentioned it, still said it is not included....

Software Repositories -> Windows Market place anyone?

Application Dock -> What do we have start menu for?

Automated Screen Shots -> Snipping tool in Vista?

Multitouch Trackpad Gestures-> Lack of a hardware feature is Microsoft's fault? Does Mac has Windows Sideshow?

Cover Flow -> Lolz...so easy to nevigate

Pre-Installed Web Server -> He said we can install it in Vista, then how does Windows lacks this feature?

POSIX - > Windows is not UNIX/Linux

Standardized Menu Ribbon -> Lolz.....this is like giving the developer the power he needs to make apps he want

Single-File Applications -> I guess he has no idea about Windows Installer method.

But you have got it wrong too..Although I dont agree with most of the author's points, but the theme of the article was that windows cant do all that OTB!

[aryayush]

How can you not agree? Do you mean to say that those aren't great features to have or that Windows doesn't need them?

[Kl@w-24]

If MS included so many features out of the box, they'd probably get sued for restricting a customer's choices!!

[hellknight]

Hey guys, you know, i think Windows should be immune from these, right out of the box :-
Viruses
Intruders
Spywares
Trojans
Adwares

[Pat]

Originally Posted by aryayush

How can you not agree? Do you mean to say that those aren't great features to have or that Windows doesn't need them?

Combination of both! And also the fact that many of the features are obviously present in Linux distros OTB and some even in Windows (like Snipping tool for screenshots)

[aryayush]

Does it take automated screenshots? (I'm asking. I don't know.)

As for Linux, how do you decide whether some feature is present in Linux or not? Do you include all the features present across all Linux distros? If yes, then they probably include every feature known to man and then some.

But that's not the sensible way of taking them into account. You have to see which features are present in a majority of Linux OSes and I think that's what the PC World guys have done. If they're wrong even on that count, feel free to disagree with me.

[praka123]

Linux Desktop effects pwns both mac and winblows (like it or not!)

Did you tried Ubuntu hardy?or opensuse?
locking into one platform is the highest sin.

dont compare with a single distro.ask whether linux have it or not- and the answer is YES!

OS X cannot come near Linux anyways!(reg security or eyecandy)

[kumarmohit]

Of all the features, why wud most of the ppl want an OOTB Web Server. It would just sit there and eat resources.

This is more like which Mac features shud Windows copy!

[napster007]

Actually windows does have its own remote desktop connection too. It has all the features that the author has mentioned if there are more options then i might be unaware of it.

secondly the expose in the mac can be somewhat be compensated by the windows aero interface. Yes the expose is bit better but lets face it....both are used for the same functions.

[amitava82]

And does this article has anything to do with "Technology News"? :\

[aryayush]

Originally Posted by kumarmohit

Of all the features, why wud most of the ppl want an OOTB Web Server. It would just sit there and eat resources.

I agree. There are a couple more features that I don't think are all that necessary—the desktop cube, for example.

Originally Posted by kumarmohit

This is more like which Mac features shud Windows copy!

Considering that there are only two major operating systems out there and Mac OS X is clearly the superior one with better features, they don't really have much of a choice, do they? Come on, what else would they compare it too. Windows is the (distant) second best after Mac OS X.

----------------------

These are the features that I don't think Windows needs:
Podcast Capture;
Desktop Cube;
Multitouch Trackpad Gestures (it's an awesome feature but it's hardware dependent);
Cover Flow;
Pre-Installed Web Server; and
POSIX Compliance.

But the rest are spot on—Exposé, Screen Sharing, Time Machine, ISO Burning, Software Repositories, Application Dock, Standardised Menu Ribbon and Single-File Applications in particular.

One of the many things they missed is Spotlight. I know Vista has it's own instant live search thing but it's nowhere even close to Spotlight's pure awesomeness. The native support for Adobe's formats is also much appreciated.

[iMav]

Originally Posted by abh1shek

If MS included so many features out of the box, they'd probably get sued for restricting a customer's choices!!

+1, something that certain anti-MS people don't realize but keep on crying

@arya: screen sharing? There is MS Shared View now and there has been remote desktop since ages

[aryayush]

Originally Posted by iMav

+1, something that certain anti-MS people don't realize but keep on crying

That's the standard, stupid excuse. Why do you, as a consumer, care why Microsoft cannot provide those features? Mac OS X has the features and Windows doesn't. Case closed. I don't care why they can't provide it. That's their problem.

[Faun]

yawn...MS vs Leopard

[iMav]

Originally Posted by aryayush

That's the standard, stupid excuse. Why do you, as a consumer, care why Microsoft cannot provide those features? Mac OS X has the features and Windows doesn't. Case closed. I don't care why they can't provide it. That's their problem.

waah re! they give IE by default people start crying, they give a media player by default people start crying, then how can some 1 rational blame them

@T159: been a long time since

[hellknight]

Not again, Windows vs Mac!! Use Linux guys....

[iMav]

Originally Posted by hellknight

Use Linux guys....

looks like some 1 was feeling left out of the discussion

[goobimama]

Here we go again... (kracks knuckles)

[praka123]

Originally Posted by hellknight

Not again, Windows vs Mac!! Use Linux guys....

Exactly!get a life!getgnulinux! these boys will be wasting fighting for two monopolistic corporations that sucks when it comes to humanity!(they are blood leechers with DRM etc)

[hellknight]

Well said, I used to respect Apple, but after my hackintosh experience, I found out that Apple was the one who started this DRM crap. Freewares are very less on Mac platform, even Windows has more freeware applications than Apple. Every tech mag devoted to Apple platform sings the tune of Office 2008 for Mac. And what does Apple does in return, make fun of Microsoft through Justin Long's ads.

Both these OS's Leopard & Vista were hacked in 2 min & a day respectively. Whereas Linux was unhackable. Check out the benefits of Linux on www.whylinuxisbetter.net!

[iMav]

^^ dude i pity ur ignorance wen you talk about the hacking incident

[phreak0ut]

Time to move this thread to the Fight Club

[blueshift]

Thread must be titled '18 Features that Lin/Mac has !'

btw I do think that Compiz Fuzion is better than Vista's Aero effect. But again for Fusion to be customised, a separate app. needs to be downloaded I guess.
And downloading alternative 3rd party utilities for Windows was never a problem for me.

[Faun]

Originally Posted by blueshift

Thread must be titled '18 Features that Lin/Mac has !'

btw I do think that Compiz Fuzion is better than Vista's Aero effect. But again for Fusion to be customised, a separate app. needs to be downloaded I guess.
And downloading alternative 3rd party utilities for Windows was never a problem for me.

compiz-fusion comes with leading linux distros by default

[gaurav_indian]

bachon ki tarah larte rehte hai