Power icon only for laptops/UPS

[LordLiverpool]

Why on earth has Microsoft taken it upon itself to remove the power
icon in Vista except for laptops and desktops with UPS systems?

I have always used the icon to quickly switch between different power
plans, so that "always-on" desktops can be put in low-power mode when
no user interaction is required.

I understand that switching off, or hibernating, would be the ideal
solution, but if the machine does work over night, that's not an
option. The power icon makes it easy to save power under this
scenario. Isn't Microsoft supposed to be promoting energy efficiency?
Not much sign of it in Vista.

Maybe they'll say "Oh, we thought people just used the power icon for
looking at the battery on laptops". It's exactly this kind of second-
guessing which is driving me insane in Microsoft software of late. The
new slogan appears to be "where do we want you to go today?" Nanny
knows best! The more I use Vista, the more useful features I find that
have been removed or disabled, presumably "for my own good".

 

[Ronnie Vernon MVP]

Lord

You can simply create a shortcut to the Power Options component and place it
on the Start Menu, Desktop, Quick Launch Toolbar, or........

Right click the shortcut, select Properties and give it a Keyboard Shortcut.

You can also Select Start, type pow in the Search Box and press Enter.

Usually, the changes you see in a new operating system are based on
feedback. You can express your opinion here:

Vista Product Feedback:
https://feedback.windowsvista.microsoft.com/default.aspx?productkey=winvista

 

[Dave]

It's a conspiracy, I tell you..... a Conspiracy!

http://www.tfhp.org/images/tinfoil-hat.jpg

 

[Ronnie Vernon MVP]

Lord

Why they changed it, who knows? We can only speculate.

I do know that the power options was completely rebuilt, from the ground up.
The 'power options icon' is now called the 'battery meter' and it wouldn't
make a lot of sense to have an option to show the 'battery meter' if the
system isn't even connected to a battery? If the system is connected to any
kind of battery, the battery meter will automatically be shown in the
notification area.

The thing with windows is that, if something has changed that you don't
like, you can always 'fix' it to suit your needs. I gave you some options in
my last message.

If this is worth more of your time, open the Control Panel/Power Options and
click the Help button on the menu bar. There is a large amount of
information there about the changes.