Submission details
Option: Notification area show hidden icons by expanding left vs opening a new window (jump list).
The Windows 7 notification area is annoying me for one major reason: I can not expand and quickly use icons that I have hidden. As with much else in this OS clicking on the arrow results in a new window to open creating more time to process information and more mouse moves.
It annoy's me so much I am refusing to put Windows 7 on my main partition until I find a way to change it or this idea gets implemented.
In Vista the notification area was one thing that did feel polished and responsive to me. It was quick to click the button and very fluidly the bar would expand and I could easily access my hidden icons. I normally hide all icons except the volume one. I use the hidden ones a lot but it was easy to just expand and use them. Now with windows 7 it takes longer to load the new window above (and I do notice a delay on a OC'ed QX6700 running raid 0) and then move the mouse up and find the icon (which are now spaced futher apart furthering the increase in mouse moves).
I use the hidden icons very frequently (changing iso's in virtual drive for example) and now I am either forced to show all my icons (which creates a big mess) or be frustrated with everything taking longer.
Revert back to the old style where when you clicked the button the notification area expanded to the left to show the hidden icons instead of creating a new window. However a couple changes:
1. Make it an option so that users can choose to expand left or keep the new style of opening a window if they prefer it.
2. When expanding left leave the non-hidden icons to the right side with a gap between them and the hidden ones while maintaining their order.
In additon on the last point you could add functionality to the options dialog box to specifiy the order in which the icons are displayed (same place where you specify whether to hide or show).
High
High
Not fixed
Discussion (19 comments)
I think... I agree with you. It was hard to get used to. It's not a problem now, really, but it's hard to explain to friends who ugraded.
There is no delay at all. And it's not all-or-nothing; it's much easier to choose which icons you want to see in Windows 7. -1
Why the -1 for something that has nothing to do with what I stated? I am not talking about how to hide icons. Although I saw nothing wrong with the way it was done it is easier now to hide what you want to hide.
What I have an issue with is showing quickly and easily being able to use what is hidden. It is not as responsive and requires more mouse moves. You can keep the new interface of what to hide the same while allowing it to expand left like it used to. It would be no different just showing to the left instead of above AND I am requesting an option so no one should really have any problems with this.
Also just because you can not perceive a delay between Vista's method and 7's method does not mean that others (including myself) can.
I like the new interface of chooseing what to show and what not to show. However I do not like the way the temporary showing of hidden icons is handled. It is not as responsive and requires more mouse moves to use.
So if I understand you correctly, you don;'t like how you click on the expand button and a "jump list -like" widow pops up, showing the addational icons?
If so, IO agree its annoying. I've been testing windows 7 since the pre beta days, and it was annoying at first, but slowly you get used to it
That is exactly it Chris. I like the functionality of the new notification area including how you can hide the system icons instead of just turning them off like in vista. However I hate that window that pops up when you click on the expand button. That is all I want to change is take away that window and have it expand to the left like it used to, and making it an option at the same time for those who prefer the jumplist like window popping up.
Comment edited on January 25, 2010, 6:12pm
Changed title from [Option: Notification area expand left vs opening a new window.] to [Option: Notification area show hidden icons by expanding left vs opening a new window (jump list).].
ah. Not sure about that, but perhaps there may be a hack of some sort?
I am hopeing. And until I find a way to hack it/modify something or find some app to customize it, I am not installing Windows 7 to my main raid.
Comment edited on January 25, 2010, 6:44pm
Wasn't there a submission about this already? Seems to be deleted now.
Ah well, I'm not going to re-type what I posted in the original submission, justgoing to say that in my opinion, 7's way of doing it is better than that of XP or Vista. So a -1 from me.
yes there was another one but you seemed to misinterpret what I was saying and once agian you have misinterpreted what I have said.
You seemed to think I have an issue with the functionality of the new method or that I would a complete change back to the old method. This is not the case. I have no issues with the new functionality nor do I wish it changed back to the old method. I only have an issue with the way it is displayed in which I am suggesting an OPTION. Why you would demote an option is beyond me. If you dont like it dont use it... simple. Some people would like it therefore leave the option be.
I am getting sick of this already. If all you people are going to do is demote something that you dont care about or doesnt affect you then I am done.
Indrek you obviously didn't even bother to read this as it was worded competely differently then the last one with the entire intent of debunking what you said as I saw it as a major flaw in understanding what I am trying to get across here.
Comment edited on January 25, 2010, 7:03pm
For the record I promoted, as I'm always open for options.
Thank you.
Bun-Bun: ah, you seem to be operating under the delusion that an option can be implemented at the flick of an eyelid, and that it doesn't cost anything or affect anything else. Or, if that's not the case, that Microsoft has infinite resources to throw at implementing options across the board for absolutely everything.
I have no problem understanding what you want, and I have nothing against options per se. Thing is, I'd rather Microsoft spend their time and resources on something that's an improvement over what we have now, and an option to choose between the current, more efficient behaviour and the old, less efficient behaviour is not an improvement.
What I don't understand, however, is why you're taking this so personally. All I'm doing is explaining why I disagree with you, in what I think are fairly simple and polite terms. If you're not comfortable with having your ideas criticised, then perhaps you shouldn't be posting them on the Internet?
Comment edited on January 25, 2010, 7:09pm
No your still misunderstanding. I am not asking that the behavior be changed. Just how it is visually presented.
I understand that changes don't happen just like that and that codeing anything isn't free. However a option does not affect anyone else as people who don't like it then have the choice. Also changing a visual style is not a complex peice of codeing nor do I expect their to be some hotfix addressing this issue. Since it is something that has already been done in the past it will be easy to transition the code over and modify it to match the new/current behavior. As well this is not a step backwards as it still uses the new interface to dictate what you want to hide/show and will have the same behavior of seperating the hidden from the shown and not messing up the order of the icons (unlike what you were saying indrek). I also suggested adding the ability to dictate what order the icons appear in which is and issue you had with XP's method.
What I don't understand is why people who this does not apply to feel the need to demote it. If you are happy with a window that has poorly spaced icons that takes longer to load and takes up more room over a expanding bar that looks nice and takes up less space then fine, this does not apply to you and you can move on.
I do not demote others ideas that would not affect me ie. they are options that I can change. I know I am not the only person useing this OS and those issues may really bug or impede on someone. Much like this issues impede's on my ability to do my daily tasks and annoys the crap out of me to the point that I refuse to install the OS.
Comment edited on January 25, 2010, 7:23pm
Bun-Bun wrote:
" If you are happy with a window that has poorly spaced icons that takes longer to load and takes up more room over a expanding bar that looks nice and takes up less space then fine, this does not apply to you and you can move on. "
Well, if by all that you mean a window that has generous space around the icons (making them easier to target), pops pretty much instantly and keeps the less important icons separated from the more important ones, then yes, I'm pretty happy with it.
See? Different strokes for different folks. And you're wrong about this submission not applying to me. It does, in that I don't want Microsoft to waste time, money and man-hours on something that I don't benefit from. Hence the demote. That's all it is - one opinion and one -1 vote. Yet here you are, acting like I'm going to march down to Redmond first thing tomorrow morning and personally put a permanent veto on this idea. Can't you just say "fair enough, this guy just doesn't like my idea" and move on?
Nope because it is preventing the idea from even getting noticed or considered.
Pretty much instantly is not the same as instantly. And in what I am suggesting the hidden(non-important) icons would still be seperated from the non-hidden(important) ones. See? you obviously didn't even read it. To some that space is wasted valuable screen space and having the window above and further away makes hidden icons less accessible. Hidden to myself and many is not to say that icon is less important, I just dont want it cluttering my screen. I use my hidden icons all the time.
Also this is not some major undertaking and would not take time away from more important "bigger" fixes/improvements/changes etc. It is not like I am asking to rework the entire shell the behave differently. Just one small visual change.
Bun-Bun wrote:
"Nope because it is preventing the idea from even getting noticed or considered."
And how is that, pray tell? Assuming Microsoft actually keeps an eye on the suggestions here (of which there's no proof; a couple of MS employees used to post here occasionally, but that was ages ago), you really think one vote is going to make a difference? Stop worrying about it - if it's a good idea, it'll be implemented (again, assuming it ever actually reaches Microsoft), and if not, it won't. My vote or opinion has no more chance of deciding the fate of this idea than the next guy's.
Bun-Bun wrote:
"See? you obviously didn't even read it."
I did. I wasn't pointing out flaws in the old system, I was merely highlighting what I like about the current system. Like you are highlighting what you don't like about the current system. Which, incidentally, has no chance of affecting how much I like the current system.
To be honest, although I'm a bit flattered at the amount of time and effort you seem to be putting into trying to convince me that I'm wrong and you're right, I can't help but feel said time and effort would be much better used doing something more constructive. We've obviously reached the point at which any further argument will just involve repeating ourselves, which is something I for one see little sense in.
Bun-Bun wrote:
"Just one small visual change."
Heh, if I had a penny for every time I've heard that (either from a user or from management)... :P
I'm not talking about just your vote, everyones vote against an option. It makes no sense.
It is a small change considering this isn't a new concept or idea. It would just be taken already applied concept and adapting it.
And you pointed out flaws of the old system that have nothing to do with what I am requesting.
And yes I care about this enough to keep persueing the topic because it really does bug me that much.
Its all based on personal preface. Some like Bun-Bun rather have the system tray act like it did from 95-vista, and some like the new 7 way.
All I can really say for now, and please dont take this personally, but add the ones you use most to the "on" list, and ones you don't to the "off" list. Plus of can customize what each one does..
Bun-Bun wrote:
"I'm not talking about just your vote, everyones vote against an option. It makes no sense."
In that case I should probably give the others who demoted this a chance to explain why they did so, instead of crowding the discussion, so to speak. By now you're no doubt more interested in their opinion than mine anyway.
Bun-Bun wrote on January 25, 2010, 4:34pm
Changed problem description.