how to increase desktop performance for windows aero

The vast majority of UI and feature changes coming with Windows 8 have less to do with the overall experience than making the OS more touch friendly and minimizing system resource consumption in an attempt to increase battery life and perceived performance on under-powered mobile devices.

Image Source: MicrosoftĪll of the smoke and mirrors in the post, which was strategically made-live late on a Friday afternoon and has already been pushed down the page by a new entry about multiple screen support in Windows 8, can’t mask the feeling that Microsoft has all but given up on the desktop. Clearly and cleanly distinguishing the UI from content is far more difficult with minimalist, monochrome design elements and a large ribbon which most certainly does not help the UI to “recede into the background”. The ribbon present at the top of many windows also consumes far more screen real estate than the familiar menu system in Windows 7. With the coming changes to the Windows 8 UI, Aero glass and reflections are gone, all edges have been squared off, gradients, glows and shadow and transparency effects have been removed, and the default window chrome is white on white. This is still relevant today, and while we are moving beyond Aero, we don’t want to lose sight of these goals.” Well, Microsoft, you have lost sight of those goals, whether you say it or not. “Aero was designed to help the app’s content to be the center of attention, and for the Windows system UI to recede into the background. We have moved beyond Aero Glass-flattening surfaces, removing reflections, and scaling back distracting gradients.” Most users that have experience with the Windows 8 Developer and Consumer previews, will likely agree that a more seamless graphical transition from Metro to the Desktop UI was necessary, but what Microsoft plans to do at this late stage in the game is dramatic and flies in the face of design philosophies presented in the lead ups to Windows Vista and 7.

Unfortunately for desktop PC users, the UI changes coming in Windows 8 appear to be a step backward as Microsoft ditches Aero for minimalist Metro-like elements and flat, squared surfaces.įrom the post, “we decided to bring the desktop closer to the Metro aesthetic, while preserving the compatibility afforded by not changing the size of window chrome, controls, or system UI. The post offers a “brief” history of the Windows user interface and explains why Microsoft has made many of the changes ushered in with each major, new release of Windows. In a gargantuan, 11,300+ word post, on the Building Windows 8 blog, Microsoft’s Jensen Harris, Director of Program Management for the User Experience team, discusses new design elements coming in the final release of Windows 8.

How to increase desktop performance for windows aero