   Is Vista's Aero Really Worth It?
  Well ever since I started using vista I cut off the Aero thing because it would switch between the Windows Basic mode and Aero, when I would play games in full screen. Now thats not so bad for the standard user but I use Skype and when someone calls a lot of my games take a while to minimize and I don't have 3 seconds to spare just to switch modes.Then on top of that it switches mode when when I run some of my older programs because there incompatible. So basically I don't even get to see the pretty transparent windows and stuff at least 30% of the time. So I can't see why the Aero thing is incompatible with older programs, I mean is it really that hard to make transparent windows?This feature seems stupid and none functional to me and I wonder why Microsoft would even offer it. Is it really worth all the incompatibilities just for some pretty looking windows? Is there really not a better way of doing it?   
  No, there isn't a better way of doing it. I have a few older OpenGL programs(including the one I'm working on professionally) which aren't compatible with Windows Vista. Due to the way that Aero works, rendering OpenGL in a specific way does make the image disappear. While this can be fixed, the easiest work around is to disable the Aero look. We did that for the moment, until we can take the time to properly re-write the rendering.If you don't like the snazzy Aero looks or are bothered with the switching, don't use Aero. Noone forces you.Toolmaker   ;Quote:This feature seems stupid and none functional to me and I wonder why Microsoft would even offer it. Is it really worth all the incompatibilities just for some pretty looking windows? Is there really not a better way of doing it?I get smooth repainting on all windows unlike the flickery and clearly visible redrawing that was available on earlier versions of Windows, plus you can do all sorts of nifty tricks with it that would be impractical when done in software.I've only found two apps that disable Aero; using overlay modes in Media Player Classic and the LCD overdrive control panel in the Catalyst control centre. I run plenty of positively ancient apps, and none of them have any problems with Aero. Which apps do you have issues with?   ;  It's not really worth spending $100-$300 for the new OS and $30 for another 1GB stick of RAM.But it is worth it if you just want to upgrade to the latest Windows operation system, which is pretty much recommended.I've been using Vista since it came out, it only took me a month to get used to- I really don't see what everyone is complaining about either.For incompatible apps all you have to do is right click them and either hit "Run as administrator" or "Run in compatibility for Windows XP (SP2)"   ;  I just turned Aero off all the time. I'm running Vista Ultimate with the Windows Standard theme. Like being in Windows 2000 again. :)   ;  I decided against upgrading my previous computer from XP to Vista. But when I built a new computer this year, I made the Vista plunge and got Vista Ultimate x64.I've been quite pleased with the experience. I definitely wish WinFS had made the cut, but the OS is decent nonetheless.   ;Quote:Original post by NickGravelynI just turned Aero off all the time. I'm running Vista Ultimate with the Windows Standard theme. Like being in Windows 2000 again. :)Amen, brother.   ;Quote:Original post by matt_jQuote:Original post by NickGravelynI just turned Aero off all the time. I'm running Vista Ultimate with the Windows Standard theme. Like being in Windows 2000 again. :)Amen, brother.The problem with Vistas' classic mode is that it isn't actually classic mode, but some kind of fake hybrid. It still shows many of the annoying quirks and the crappy new window layouts from Aero. You can change a lot through the settings, but not everything.;Quote:Original post by Yann LQuote:Original post by matt_jQuote:Original post by NickGravelynI just turned Aero off all the time. I'm running Vista Ultimate with the Windows Standard theme. Like being in Windows 2000 again. :)Amen, brother.The problem with Vistas' classic mode is that it isn't actually classic mode, but some kind of fake hybrid. It still shows many of the annoying quirks and the crappy new window layouts from Aero. You can change a lot through the settings, but not everything.exactly why I don't turn off Aero. The "classic" theme is so annoying that I just live with it when Aero overheats my laptop and makes explorer throw a caniption. My desktop is plenty beefy enough to handle it though.   