Microsoft Claims Vista's Aero Interface Doesn't Slow PCs

[Jeffrey Sparks]

Every single version of windows had at least a slightly newer interface than
the previous version and required at least a little more ram and processing
power than the previous one. Is this anything really new?

Did the people who are now complaining about the new Aero interface complain
about switching from dos to windows 3.1???

Jeff

 

[Steve Drake]

Kevin,

I like Aero and I have my own views I wont go into these.

We developers have been able to make windows and part of windows transparent
for ages (Win 2000), i can send lots of code example on this. or you could
just read :

http://www.codeproject.com/dialog/pellucid.asp


But todo glass in .NET is tricky as if you make a window trans and have the
mouse work.

This is due to .NETs TransparencyKey is implemented using the
SetLayeredWindowAttributes Win32 function and if you read msdn it says the
hit test would be disabled.

So... to us new age funcky .net devoplers its kinda tricky.... but... then
we do have WPF and from what i have read its possable todo 'good' glass in
WPF.

Steve

 

[Kevin Spencer]

Hi Steve,

I am aware that it has been possible to do variable transparency with the XP
and previous versions, but it has always involved a workaround, since it
isn't natively supported by the OS. Of course it is possible, as
transparency simply involves blending, and your solution is about as elegant
as they get. But the fact that Vista leverages the capabilities of the
graphics card to do the bulk of the work, and uses vector graphics is what I
like best about it. Less drain on the processor, and much better
scalability.

--
HTH,

Kevin Spencer
Microsoft MVP
Bit Player
http://unclechutney.blogspot.com

Where there's a Will, there's a William.

 

[Dale]

Leveraging processing capabilities of the graphics processor: Good.
Using transparent borders as the best way to demonstrate the value of that
leverage: Bad.
Leaving transparent borders on after you've said, "Wow!": Worse
Buying a new graphics card just to see transparent borders: Worst
Upgrading to Vista and buying a new graphics card just to see transparent
borders: Worstest.

Dale

 

[Justin]

That's certainly your opinion. Neither right or wrong. However, that is a
minority opinion.

 

[Steve Drake]

transparency has been nativity supported by the OS since windows 2000.

Glass is hardware accelerated and to use glass you use some NEW API, new to
Vista.

But simple transparency windows has been around a long long time. I and many
other developers have been doing this with the API that was new to Windows
2000 years ago.

It does go with the family of new function related to layerd windows.

From MSDN

The SetLayeredWindowAttributes function sets the opacity and transparency
color key of a layered window.

Syntax

BOOL SetLayeredWindowAttributes(HWND hwnd,
COLORREF crKey,
BYTE bAlpha,
DWORD dwFlags
);

<SNIP Param info>



Function Information

Minimum DLL Version user32.dll
Header Declared in Winuser.h, include Windows.h
Import library User32.lib
Minimum operating systems Windows 2000


Or look at this

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/dnwui/html/layerwin.asp

From this web site

Layered Windows
A New Way to Use Translucency and Transparency Effects in Windows
Applications

Summary: Describes the new functionality included in Microsoft® Windows®
2000 that provides an efficient way to add transparency and translucency to
top-level windows. (8 printed pages)

 

[Kevin Spencer]

Thanks Steve. I was not aware of this API functionality, and I've made a
note of the article. I didn't see anything in the article referencing
whether the OS uses the HAL for the graphics card if available for this, but
at least, even if it doesn't, the support is in the API layer, which makes
it quite efficient nonetheless. I might have run across it if I'd ever done
anything that really required variable transparency, but by the time I did,
I also required 3D, so I went to DirectX.

--
HTH,

Kevin Spencer
Microsoft MVP
Bit Player
http://unclechutney.blogspot.com

Where there's a Will, there's a William.

 

[Kevin Spencer]

Buying a new graphics card is hardly necessary. Just about all current
graphics cards have the necessary capability, and those running machines
with older graphics cards are likely to have to upgrade their complete
hardware within the next few years. I figure Microsoft was banking on this.
As for the transparent borders, I never said they were the "best" way to
demonstrate the value of the new GUI; I simply said they did demonstrate the
value of it. Any product manufacturer want to make the general public aware
of improvements to their product, and in as striking a way as possible. It
is important to note that what people see on their desktop is also a form of
advertising, and advertising is essential to sales. As for leaving them on,
I have many good reasons for doing so. As a developer, I want to see what
people generally see on their platforms when I'm working on my own, and I
want to design for what they expect. That is also important to sales of the
products I create. It is linked to usability.

Simply stating an opinion without some logical justification for such is so
much hot air. I have enumerated my reasons for my opinions, and they are
sound.

--
HTH,

Kevin Spencer
Microsoft MVP
Bit Player
http://unclechutney.blogspot.com

Where there's a Will, there's a William.

 

[Dale]

Well, let's talk about my "opinion" from a usability standpoint. When I
look at my desktop with multiple windows open, I generally work with one
window at a time. I want a clear line between that window and any
surrounding windows or screen real estate. The window I am working with is
in the category of what I want to see. All other windows are in the
category of what I specifically want not to see. The down side of
transparent borders is that they blur the distinction between what I want to
see and what I want not to see. Can you give me an up side of transparent
borders?

Dale

 

[Jeffrey Sparks]

If you don't like it turn it off... You don't HAVE to use the new Aero
interface.

 

[Dale]

I could have sworn that's what I said.

Dale

If you don't like it turn it off... You don't HAVE to use the new Aero
interface.

 

[MICHAEL]

You don't have to turn off Aero, just turn off the transparency.
Turning off Aero will turn off transparency, too. But, turning off
transparency will not disable Aero.

Also, turning off Aero will likely cause some performance
degradation.


-Michael

 

[Kevin Spencer]

The upside is, you have freedom to choose. You can choose completely
transparent borders, completely opaque borders, or anything in-between.

--
HTH,

Kevin Spencer
Microsoft MVP
Bit Player
http://unclechutney.blogspot.com

Where there's a Will, there's a William.

 

[Dale]

I wish the Windows Media Player team could read this: freedom to choose.
What a concept.

Dale

 

[DevilsPGD]

Or the IE7 team...

In message <e#[email protected]> "Dale"