Have mercy on the Less experienced!

[cbleman]

The responses in these forums mostly seem to promote workarounds, and some people (Not all, or even the majority) blast those that promote a less steep learning curve, or a more user friendly UI. The ability to customize your own UI would be nice.

Reading some of the things in these forums has made me realize, that a lot more has disappeared than I thought. I too liked the thumbnail view, and some of the customization features that seem to have been deleted by Microsoft. I also looked for a way to hide that stupid flag. I'm glad I'm not the only one. Some of the changes feel like Microsoft has put shackles on the OS. The OS has been "Childproofed" to the point adults can't play.

And the nags! You can turn a lot of them off, but you have to be an either dedicated, or very knowledgeable to do it. Microsoft is also quick to point out all the horrible things that can happen if you do turn them off. Are today’s Virus Protections, or Ad/Spyware blockers so inadequate?

Thumbs.DB is designated a system file. Why? Has anyone found out a way to stop windows from asking you if you really want to move or delete it? Why NOT delete it? If there is anything left in the folder the system is just going to make another copy. What if I don't want a thumbs.db in that folder?
Folder.jpg is a system file too? Do I want to copy it? Yes! I just made it! Delete it? I guess so... Isn't that part of the batch of files I just said I wanted to delete? Windows Media player is one of the very few things that makes a folder.jpg file (Or used to be). Not that it matters anymore. Microsoft has taken away the thumbnail view I liked so much. Why?....

I'm not advocating living in the stone age; but when the developers make changes, do the REALY care what the end user thinks, likes, or what the learning curve is going to be like? What ever happened to KISS?

Is the new OS all bad? No, I don't really think so. Not even close. There are a lot of very GOOD changes. I just wish some more thought went into the decision to move (Hide) or delete options.

(There is no longer a reason to have Icons on your desktop you don't want. Even the dreaded trash can may be hidden. System tray icons though..... Does anyone know how to hide that flag?)

 

[Antman]

I am in XP right no and cannot switch to 7 for a while, so I will do this blind.

The ability to customize your own UI would be nice.
Hands down the easiest Windows OS to customize. Too many options to address them here. I will re-visit this and PM you with a forum link when I have a comprehensive set.

And the nags!
Control Panel, User Accounts, Change User Account Controls - drag the slider all the way down. I would recommend that you leave it one step up from the bottom, but this is your choice.

Thumbs.DB...
In Explore, from the menu bar, choose Tools, Options, View select/check Do Not Cache Thumbnails
(You may have to press ALT to see the menu - this is one of the many examples of UI customization - more on this later)

Folder.jpg is a system file too?
This also customizable but I dont remember how - since I have it completely turned off anyway.

thumbnail view
It is still there. View, Small Icons, Medium Icons, Large Icons, Very Large icons. These are thumbnails in various sizes. You can turn this off completely and show icons, or you can show thumbnails.

hide that flag?
Click the FLAG and drag it off to the right - it will stay hidden in the SysTray - I think you can even disable the Action Center - will check when I am back in Win7 as to how.

With few exceptions, you have not mentioned anything new. All of this was available in XP, it just was not as easy to adjust or customize. I think you are looking to closely or perhaps too hard. When it all comes into focus, I think you will have an AHA! moment and will then begin to explore the robustness of this advance in Windows.

You see, I do not really see this as a new version of Windows, or even Vista2. Each advance/digression has been a variation on a theme and a consistent progression in the development of a concept. Windowed desktop computing.

 

[noyb]

thumbnail view
It is still there. View, Small Icons, Medium Icons, Large Icons, Very Large icons. These are thumbnails in various sizes. You can turn this off completely and show icons, or you can show thumbnails.

But .. Thumbnails are not Icons ?? .. By anyone else’s definition other that M$
e.g… Since when is a Thumbnail of the contents of a pdf file .. an Icon ???
How can you tell if it’s a pdf or an Image file on your Desktop ??
Vista (with or without the W7 service pack) will not let me use my customized Irfanview icons..
And I can’t see what I have on my desktop .. unless I disable ALL thumbnail viewing.

W98 could view the thumbnail a Photoshop psd file .. and this was removed in XP.
So far .. It looks like the hack to put this back in W7 doesn’t work.
So what good it is to view the Thumbnails of some .. but not all image files ???

Also .. Mail will not let you use a wab file remotely (outside or OE) like one could in OE ..
And it will not let you backup/restore your contacts .. If you have your contacts organized in folders.
If/When I have to set up Mail .. It will be a huge Manual chore to get my contacts organized as I like them.

W7’s Mail looks like a webmail service .. I can’t figure it out.
It’s leaving all my mail on my server .. and I have no control ??
I sure feel sorry for my Aunt Fred or Uncle Sue .. If they get a new computer and have to set up mail.

Cbleman’s question was regarding the less experienced … How bout the more experienced.
Personally, I think I’ve been spoiled by XP .. (not that I consider myself an expert) ..
And will only move to another system when forced to.
Not too sure my blood pressure can stand the newer M$ Systems

 

[cbleman]

Thank you Antman: I'll look forward to your PM. You have answered most of my questions. As for Small, Medium, and large icons. I am presented with a picture of open folders, with several pages in it when I view my directory.
I have backed up my music CDs onto my hard drive, including the cover art. All I want to see on each folder is the cover art. The folder Icon occludes the cover art and anything else is a destraction to me. The many pages is a neat display for some folders, but not in this case. Is there any way to only see the cover art without an open folder in the way? I would like to see the whole thumb and nothing else (Like in XP).

 

[Antman]

...I am presented with a picture of open folders, with several pages in it when I view my directory. ...Is there any way to only see the cover art without an open folder in the way...

I better understand this morning, now that I am back in 7 (at exactly 0700). I see now. To answer the cover art question, I am certain - Yes. Just don't know how, yet.

There will be a tradeoff I imagine. If the folder contains more than item, which I twm will it show?

It will be some time before I get back to this study. I am working on three other issues and I expect to be on task for a couple of weeks.

 

[noyb]

Hmmm .. I can't get the obvious approach to work ???

 

[Antman]

Hmmm .. I can't get the obvious approach to work ???

This creates Folder.jpg

Aside from that, your language escapes me.

 

[noyb]

That was a picture of the procedure I would have used in XP to customize the view of a folder with a cover photo.

At this time, I am unable to get it to work the same way in my version Windows 7.

 

[garbanzo]

i'll just leave this here...

What's New in Directory Opus 9 (Page 1)

look at the bottom of page 5 to see how it handles thumbnails for music folders

 

[cbleman]

Nice! I apreciate the Link. It looks great, but I was hoping to avoid 3rd party apps to do something that XP already does. I hope I can do the same thing in 7.

Some features and options might be another "casualty of progress". I hope not.
I don't think the object of these OS "upgrades" is to open the door for third party software, to reestablish well used features or options that disappear with revisions.

Sigh... I hope Microsoft listens. I talk with people all the time about these things. Unfortunatly a majority the people who will be affected the most, (Regular people who use these features) will not voice their opinion. They will not evaluate Win 7, or join these forums. Most I talk with think this is above their heads. They care; but not enough to get online and say something. Nothing I can say or do will change their minds.To bad. One voice is probably NOT going to make much difference.... but I have to give it a shot. Things I learn here, I can pass on. Thanks to everyone (like you) that help. Who knows? Perhaps Microsoft WILL listen. Always a bright spot somewhere.

(Apathy is not a virtue.)

 

[Antman]

...I was hoping to avoid 3rd party apps to do something that XP already does...

I understand, I really do. BUTT, this what is wrong with MS OS products, not what is right. It is the core of the hate. It is the basis of all the lawsuits. It is why you don't have the choice to do it the way you want to.

Apathy is not a virtue.

 

[cbleman]

I have said all along that the whole OS is not NDG. While it is true, people tend to focus on the negative, perhaps some of the comments/suggestions have merit. It IS quite overboard to file suit because Microsoft renamed a folder, or you cannot view icons the way you want.

Renaming/Hiding/removing even small things do have a tremendous impact on a huge user base. What I’m asking is that MS keep this in mind when they revise/revamp the OS. If it's not an improvement or an upgrade, why mess with it. Yes, the chaff has to go, and a redesigned UI may not support the same options in the same place. how else would we move forward. User input (Like this forum) however, is important. one mans chaff is another’s treasure. Who decides. I would hope that user input matters, and if a large enough group clamors for an option/tool back, that it might eventually find its way back into the fold. If not, we are all whistling in the dark, and a small group will simply make unilateral decisions for the majority.

Let me revise my last post a little. Judging from the people who have participated in this thread, I realize I am not just one voice. If a more massive group joined the discussion however, who all would like or use... Well you get the picture

 

[garbanzo]

microsoft can't please all people all the time. if windows explorer looked like total commander, it would scare away 95% of all users

there will be things here and there that certain groups of users are not content with. i don't know any "power users" that don't run a 3rd party file manager. but this isn't a bad thing. it doesn't mean that the windows model is flawed. it just means some users desire a bit more control over how they use their machine.

 

[cbleman]

you are 100% right. Even I use third party apps to help me out. I was sending a plea not to change some particular aspects of the UI that were already there.

Total commander looks good. It might even be something I would consider.

 

[garbanzo]

TC is a good choice, especially since it's free. it's got a lot of features, it's extremely flexible, and its keyboard support is fantastic.

another nice free one is Xplorer2, which i used for about a year. there's a pro version to with a little more power.

but now, obviously, i use Directory Opus, which is quite far from being free. but i'm a customization freak, so DOpus is the only one for me. you can change everything - toolbars, menus, status bar... it's absolutely amazing.

here's my current setup. most of the top toolbar buttons have three functions - right click, middle click, and left click. the bar on the right launches current directories or selected files in various apps, and it can be toggled on/off.

http://i31.tinypic.com/2h72yw2.png

 

[cbleman]

Followed your link. Looks good!

 

[system001]

microsoft can't please all people all the time. if windows explorer looked like total commander, it would scare away 95% of all users

there will be things here and there that certain groups of users are not content with. i don't know any "power users" that don't run a 3rd party file manager. but this isn't a bad thing. it doesn't mean that the windows model is flawed. it just means some users desire a bit more control over how they use their machine.

not buying the $%#@ about all power users third party file apps.

 

[Antman]

not buying the $%#@ about all power users third party file apps.

True dat. I have tried quite a few and always come back to Explorer. Mind you, I have highly customized context menus with a few self-developed commands. I have not tried DOpus simply because I have lost interest in file managers.

 

[Charles Kane]

TC is a good choice, especially since it's free.

Its not free! Its Shareware, one month trial, thereafter $US38 or EUR26.

 

[cbleman]

Mostly I rely on my directory structure, and the ability to format the view in a window when it comes up. I like the thumbs view for my pictures and music. A single picture without an open folder. If someone knows how I can get it back I would apreciate the info. I've been playing with it. ...so far to no avail. Under properties-customize-choose file, I just get the standard view. Changing optimize this folder for: dosn't seem to have any effect on the view. Creating a folder.jpg file didn't work either.