What's Different About Vista's GUI?

jcatcw writes "Paul McFedries, author of Windows Vista Unveiled, thinks that an operating system should be thought of as more than just its user interface, but then again that interface should work well for the user. He thinks the Vista interface rates 'pretty darned good.' The Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) results in positive changes for both developers and users. Developers can do 2-D, 3-D, animation, imaging, video, audio, special effects and text rendering using a single API. The use of vector graphics and offloading work to the GPU result in better animations, improved scaling, transparency, and smooth motion."

Comments

Improved animations

[nizo]

Better and more useful animations. Microsoft realized a few years ago that some sort of animation effects were necessary, particularly for novice users. For example, new Windows users are often surprised at the abrupt disappearance of a window when they click the Minimize button.

I hope they have a nice animation for when the machine is infected with a virus, like clippy catching fire and then running around in circles screaming. At least then the users will be prepared for what will happen to him/her when they bring their laptop in to have me work on it and I find out they have been surfing porn sites with their virus scanner disabled.

Re:Improved animations

[skrew]

I for one welcome our newly animated, spiffy-gui overlords.

Re:Improved animations

[atani]

like clippy catching fire and then running around in circles screaming

I would expect a different animation if clippy gets infected from a porn site.

Re:Improved animations

[dapsychous]

I tell you what, nothing is scarier than when a paperclip asks, "Hey, man, does this look infected to you?" Oh, the rumors that will fly around the avatar water cooler.

Re:Improved animations

[Gracenotes]

I hope they have a nice animation for when the machine is infected with a virus, like clippy catching fire and then running around in circles screaming.

Dare you attempt sacrilege against Clippy? I'm sure that malicious, libelous fan fiction abounds about him. All those copyright infringements and bad jokes about his simple eagerness to help have hurt the potential millions, in profit, of whoever invented him. Don't you dare insinuate that the software engineer who created Clippy is penniless.

Clippy's long career will end when Vista comes out in favor of a "better" help system. We shall mourn his loss. Undoubtedly not much change in the GUI, eh?

Re:Improved animations

[Ana10g]

I would expect a different animation if clippy gets infected from a porn site.

Yup, that's a whole other kind of burning!

Re:Improved animations

[Kamots]

"I hope they have a nice animation for when the machine is infected with a virus, like clippy catching fire and then running around in circles screaming."

I'd be infecting my computer on purpose if that was the result!

Re:Improved animations

[Artifakt]

No fire, but Clippy will change its name to "Drippy", with appropriate animation. (Ewwww!)

Re:Improved animations

[davidsyes]

"ll the interface changes that come in the Vista package are a direct or indirect result of Vista's new graphical subsystem. Code-named Avalon but now officially called Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF), Vista's graphical underpinnings should prove to be a boon to both developers and end users."

Franky, my dear, I don't GIVE a damn. Oh, wait, is that GUI gone with the wind, or is it on a beach blanket bingo trip?

Possibly left out descriptives?:

"...and it's got plenty of eye-popping and jaw-dropping..."

hair-raising, scalp-scrunching, ear-wriggling, brow-furrowing, lash-fluttering, nose-twitching, nostril-draining, teeth-gnashing, throat-bulging, shoulder-arching, chest-tightening, nipple-wrinkling, sternum-cracking, spine-snapping, navel-stabbing, sphincter-compromising, finger-clenching, nails-bending, pelvis-grating, knees-snapping, ankle-wiggling, toes-straigtnening, mind-bending, epilepsy-inducing, soul-sucking, galaxy-imploding copy-cat-GRAPHICS....

(Many of these adjectives can apply to the act of defecating after a night of wild drinking, while having the flu, or when narrowly getting back on the road when just seconds from flying off a curved road of a cliff-edge....)

Re:Improved animations

[ColdWetDog]

That's right, if it doesn't wiggle, move, jerk, vibrate, pulse, jitter, twirl, pulse, fade, blink, swirl, flip, zoom, disappear or bark, it's fine.

I like my operating systems like my women, quiet and out of the way.

WPF!!1!111

[neuro.slug]

I know it doesn't make sense, but the Object Management Group should extend the API just so we'd have the OMGWPFAPI.

Re:Sounds like Mac OS X 3 years ago.

[Greyfox]

how come no one ever calls MS out on the fact that Vista is basically still playing catch up to OS X

I'm pretty sure someone does that every time a Windows Vista story comes up. Case in point...

Re:Next version to be called Windows Dressing

[Ruie]

a rather darn good OS Microsoft released in 2000?

I believe you are mistaken, MS never sold any OS but Windows..

Re:Sounds like Mac OS X 3 years ago.

[peragrin]

You forgot that OS X does it on a third of the hardware.(except ram then only half)

Totally worth the cost of upgrading!

[DaveM753]

Figures 3.8 through 3.11 prove the best reason to upgrade. Clippy has been upgraded: now he's a dog!

But is it as good as ....

[microcars]

WindowsRG ? (ReallyGood Edition)

Re:Sounds like Mac OS X 3 years ago.

[Anonymous Coward]

You're running "critical business software" on a $25 thrift store computer? Clearly, sir, you are a captain of industry! I'm certain that it greaves Apple immensely to be without your support.

Re:very colorful review.

[tnk1]

Enough said. What the heck? I'd love to understand look and feel better, but it would seem to be a more effective review if the pictures were in color.

They are in color.

Those are the colors.

What? Did you want lime or blueberry or something?

Re:Clippy.. the jar jar binks of the windows world

[Anonymous Brave Guy]

Meesa tinkin youssum invitin da veeeery bad jokes...