Windows Vista User Interface Design
If you haven't seen the Windows Vista site I think you should have a look. I'm quite impressed with it. For a moment I was quite excited at seeing a strong design used with tableless layout. What was a shame was that the site failed to validate. It wouldn't take much effort to get the site through the validator either.
Microsoft are announcing a new UID called 'Aero'. This is perhaps not the best choice of name in the UK as Aero is a well loved chocolate bar famous for its bubbles.
The design looks good from the screenshots and it is pleasing that Microsoft are addressing an area where they were / are underperforming. It is pretty clear that Microsoft are attacking Apple head on for the user experience and graphical interface.
I've mentioned before that I think some of the design from Vista is very close to Apple motifs. The screenshots for Vista are no different and I wonder whether there are any Apple lawyers rubbing their hands? Look at the Aero thumbnail for example. Where have we seen that before? An Apple wallpaper perhaps? Then there is the menu system. To me it seems like it has been neatly lifted from Apple's Aqua design style. It will be interesting to see whether there is any response from Apple.
Windows is the most widely used operating system so it is great that the browser and the UID are getting an upgrade. I just wonder whether Microsoft have mimicked their closest rival a little too closely for comfort?
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This is a journal entry written by George Ornbo, a web designer who lives and works in London, England.
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May 24 2008
I have used all the versions of Windows vista execpt the Starter edition and from what i have seen, it seems like as if Windows Vista was a PUBLIC PROTOTYPE of Windows 7 by Microsoft…
Its so easy to edit n change Vista n its still not wrking much with it…
i have a tutorial which enabls all the AERO feature in Windows Vista Home Basic and its shocking that the performance of external AERO in Home Basic is better than in other versions of vista…
tutorial link: http://www.techfreakiez.com/index.php/Articles/windows-vista-aero-gui-for-home-basic.html
Jun 12 2008
i’m confused. how does this aero works with windows vista?
Jun 12 2008
Intersting that you bring up aero chocolate bars but I don;t think anyone will confuse one aero with other
Jun 18 2008
i do not like aero chocolate anyways, neither do i like vista.
Aug 6 2008
I didn’t like Vista either, initially anyway. After some time though it does become a lot more user friendly and now I can’t imagine going back to XP. Plus, with a bit of extra knowledge you can make Vista your own anyway.
All it takes is some time.