Simple menu program

[bjm]

Is there some sort of Very Simple Menu Program I can install that will start
up on bootup & give a simple (limited) assortment of programs/options --
something even simpler than the Start Menu -- and will also come up when any
task is completed?

I know there used to be such things for DOS (I even wrote a couple). I need
something to make it super-super-easy for a new (& not overly interested)
user.
bj

 

[Twayne]

Is there some sort of Very Simple Menu Program I can install that
will start up on bootup & give a simple (limited) assortment of
programs/options -- something even simpler than the Start Menu -- and
will also come up when any task is completed?

I know there used to be such things for DOS (I even wrote a couple).
I need something to make it super-super-easy for a new (& not overly
interested) user.
bj

You can do that pretty much with the QuickLaunch Bar on the Taskbar.
Drag only the shortcut icons of the programs you want to see into it,
and it's there anytime you have the Taskbar showing.

Twayne

 

[bjm]

You can do that pretty much with the QuickLaunch Bar on the Taskbar. Drag
only the shortcut icons of the programs you want to see into it, and it's
there anytime you have the Taskbar showing.

I was thinking of something actually big enough to see.
QL icons are even tinier than Taskbar open-program-blocks & I'd like
something with labels, not just (easy-to-confuse) icons.

More like something that would be like a shell on top of Windows (if that
makes sense -- isn't Windows already a shell, or maybe I mean overcoat, on
top of DOS?) & be full screen -- also easy to change the contents ("menu
choices") from time to time.

This is for an older person & I want it as easy (to use and to see) as
possible. I'm trying to eliminate all possible hitches (& add various
enticements & attractions as I think of any) in getting her to use this
thing.
bj

 

[Twayne]

I was thinking of something actually big enough to see.
QL icons are even tinier than Taskbar open-program-blocks & I'd like
something with labels, not just (easy-to-confuse) icons.

More like something that would be like a shell on top of Windows (if
that makes sense -- isn't Windows already a shell, or maybe I mean
overcoat, on top of DOS?) & be full screen -- also easy to change the
contents ("menu choices") from time to time.

This is for an older person & I want it as easy (to use and to see) as
possible. I'm trying to eliminate all possible hitches (& add various
enticements & attractions as I think of any) in getting her to use
this thing.
bj

I see. It may not be sufficient, but the QL has its own icon size
setting plus you get the text name when you hover over an icon. Just
right-click an open are in the QL and set it for large icons.

Quick Launch is a folder: How about putting the folder on the TaskBar
so you can click it and it'll roll up the names of all the entries in
it? You can put any folder on the Taskbar that way, plus it's primarily
text with the icons tiny & useless.

I assume you've investigated the various Accessibility Options in XP?
Personally I'm not real impressed by them.

You could try taking a look at some of the offerings here:
http://www.stardock.com/products/
but I have no experience with them. I looked at them a few years ago
when I was trying to get full text icons instead of the silly icon
images but nothing really served their purpose. Then I discovered I
could put the desktop folder on the Taskbar and it's text oriented
anyway, so I didn't need t hem after all<g>.

Lower resolutions or higher video DPI settings of course will make
things look bigger on screen.

Bst of luck,

Twayne`

 

[bjm]

It may not be sufficient, but the QL has its own icon size setting
plus you get the text name when you hover over an icon. Just right-click
an open are in the QL and set it for large icons.

Thanks for the tips -- I'd never seen those options.
(they do hide them, don't they!)

Quick Launch is a folder: How about putting the folder on the TaskBar so
you can click it and it'll roll up the names of all the entries in it?
You can put any folder on the Taskbar that way, plus it's primarily text
with the icons tiny & useless.

I assume you've investigated the various Accessibility Options in XP?
Personally I'm not real impressed by them.

I'll take a look at these things, & the others you mention.
Lower resolution won't really work -- just makes things fuzzy (this is on a
laptop).
Thanks.
bj