Windows Vista Aero

All versions of Windows Vista except the Home Basic edition come with the new Aero interface. If your system's graphics hardware meets the minimum requirements, Aero is enabled during the installation of Windows Vista. So what is Aero?

Aero is basically an enhancement to the look and function of the user interface. However, it has more impact on the look of the user interface. Some of the more noticeable features of Aero include transparent window frames, live previous of icons on the taskbar, live previews of the windows you can switch to with Alt + Tab, smoother window dragging, interactive window controls, animated window closings and openings, and Flip 3D (more on this in a moment).

Interactive window controls simply means that when you hover your mouse pointer over the Close button (the X in the upper right corner of a window), it glows. Flip 3D is similar in function to Alt + Tab but, instead of toggling between the last two open windows you accessed, it has a different behavior. Pressing the Windows logo key and the Tab button causes all open windows to be displayed in a three-dimensional, rotating "stack". If you release the Windows logo and Tab keys at the right moment, you'll find yourself in the window you want to access. If you don't time the release of those buttons just right, however, you'll wind up in a different window.

If you don't like transparent window frames, or the animated opening and closing of windows, you can turn them off. Go to Control Panel, System and Maintenance, Performance Information and Tools, and finally Adjust Visual Effects. Uncheck the items you want to turn off.

Aero can slow your system. If you want to turn Aero itself off, right-click anywhere on the desktop and choose "Personalize," then go to "Window Color and Appearance". Choose Open Classic Appearance Properties For More Color Options. Choose anything other than Windows Aero in the color scheme list to turn Aero off.