XP style tray icons?

[LoWang]

Hello I always want to have a good overview of what's happening and running on my system so I usually have all the tray icons visible. In XP it was nice and compact, but now in 7 it is so ugly and space wasting! Can somebody tell me why Microsoft decided to put there such a silly big spaces between those tiny icons?? Do they think we will have actually less tray icons in win7 then we had in XP? Hardly. I know it is good to know what runs on my system and always try to reduce the number of usually useless software running in tray via MSconfig or registry, but I don't think this is a good way to force people to do it...

There seem to be no built in settings to adjust this, but maybe there are some skins or addons which can change this...? Thank you

 

[DeaconFrost]

Could you upload a screenshot of your current system tray? I don't notice a difference in size between XP or Windows 7 in the displayed icons.

 

[LoWang]

I don't have a picture from Vista, but it was the same as in XP if I remember right.

 

[rap33042]

LoWang:

Welcome to SF!

I see your display is 22" wide-screen?

It might take some getting used to, but I have my task bar positioned on the left side of the screen.
Takes up much less screen real estate; after getting used to this set-up, I wouldn't have it any other way.

On a wide-screen I think it's the only way to go- give it a try for a while...

 

[LoWang]

Hello, did you measure my screen from that picture? :-D Check the date in the XP half of it - it is from 2006 Now I have 26" display 16:10.
You are right and it is very interesting! The tray icons are much more compact (but not that much as in XP) when the taskbar is on the side then when it is on the bottom. I don't understand this difference. I will try to use it for some time, but this setup has a big disadvantage if you have windows titles enabled - you just don't see them because it is narrow :-] But this is not my work computer so I don't usually open that much windows here as when I am at work, so I will give it a shot.

 

[Lordbob75]

Are you talking about the tray icons or the quicklaunch bar? BIG difference. The tray icons are the SAME (those are the ones by the clock).
You can change the size of the quicklaunch buttons by right clicking on the taskbar and selecting properties. Then tick the Use Small Icons box.

~Lordbob

 

[rap33042]

You can still re-size the Task bar to make it wider if you want.

And "no", I didn't measure your screen
I Googled it...

 

[LoWang]

Are you talking about the tray icons or the quicklaunch bar? BIG difference. The tray icons are the SAME (those are the ones by the clock).
You can change the size of the quicklaunch buttons by right clicking on the taskbar and selecting properties. Then tick the Use Small Icons box.

~Lordbob

I am sorry, but why do I have that constant feeling that some people just write something without even reading the topic?
Please see the that XP vs 7 tray icons comparison picture I sent if you did not understand it from my post. I would be gratefull if you sent me picture of your Win7 tray icons and if you shared with me how you changed it if you really have it different then I do.

 

[Lordbob75]

Are you talking about the tray icons or the quicklaunch bar? BIG difference. The tray icons are the SAME (those are the ones by the clock).
You can change the size of the quicklaunch buttons by right clicking on the taskbar and selecting properties. Then tick the Use Small Icons box.

~Lordbob

I am sorry, but why do I have that constant feeling that some people just write something without even reading the topic?
Please see the that XP vs 7 tray icons comparison picture I sent if you did not understand it from my post. I would be gratefull if you sent me picture of your Win7 tray icons and if you shared with me how you changed it if you really have it different then I do.

You know what, I missed the bottom half of that picture...

I see what you mean now. As far as I know, that is unchangeable. Personally, I like it, but yes it does take more space.

~Lordbob

 

[Alan1313]

I think you can use 7+ Taskbar Tweaker to get XP tray icons. Install and right-click the tray icon looks like 7TT -> Advanced Options -> tray_icons_padding to 3.