The notion of Start->Run has been ingrained in most enthusiasts minds as the premise existed since the days of Windows 95. The method was an efficient way to launch commands without the need of traversing the Start Menu – assuming you knew what you were looking for. For reasons unknown, Microsoft chose to remove the Run command from Vista and Windows 7’s Start Menu – replacing it with the Start->Search command instead. Generally, Start->Search expands upon the Run command of old as it can pull from an indexed database, meaning you don’t need to know, or path explicitly to what you are launching.

For the most part, the functionality works fantastically but there are circumstances where the process bogs down, especially when the command in question isn’t part of the indexed database – like a remote network path you are trying to access. It’s times like these that one may miss the Run command. Keyboard junkies may already be thinking to themselves, what about WinKey+R? This is an effective alternative as the Run command dialog still exists in 7 but more and more computer users are shying away from memorization of obscure shortcuts. For those users, they should know it’s quite simple to return the Run command back to it’s rightful spot in the Start Menu.

1. Right-click on the Taskbar and choose Properties.



2. Click the Start Menu tab and choose Customize.



3. In the Customize Start Menu dialog scroll through the list and look for the check-box next to Run command. Check it!



4. OK out of the two dialog windows, returning yourself to your desktop view.
5. Click on the Start Orb and notice that the Run command has returned.

It’s clear that Microsoft is attempting to instill safe practices to it’s userbase; you should not run Windows under the Administrator account. Fabulous idea, no one can argue that. However its current implementation is just a nightmare to work with and those of us that are already the “family tech guy” are in for a real treat in a year as Vista becomes more prevelant. The user/permission paradigm is just not a part of the average Windows user’s technology-trained mind. That’s probably the first hurdle in the security marathon. Secondly, many many applications in their current iterations fail miserably under UAP. One of Windows strengths is in its ability to run software from 10 years back – this just isn’t going to fly any longer.

I still have what may be misguided faith that Microsoft will polish this up, because, whether we all want to admit it, this is desperately needed.

Consider, most Windows users won’t even know what Microsoft was promising two and a half years ago. They’ll be happy with their ooo-shiny glass windows and aah-amazing Alt-Tab feature. Vista is ultimately going to be successful – despite the glaring development problems it has had.

What Microsoft should really be concerned about is the poor implementation of the User Account Protection feature. Be very scared if this is any indication of how Microsoft is dealing with their new focus on security. Worst of all, this is something that regular end users will actually notice and complain about.

A deeper problem lies with the interface inconsistency. Thurnott points out how Microsoft has basically turned into what it once despised: a reactive bureaucracy in the mold of IBM from the 70’s. This is really reflected in the current builds of Vista– the interface is incredibly inconsistent compared to OS X, Gnome, or even Windows 2000. It feels like two dozen different teams worked on forty different things without any real coordination or a common set of UI requirements or guidelines.

I won’t bore you with the laundry list of problems that I’ve encountered while working on various Vista PCs, but suffice it to say there have been many, not the least of which is I’ve never seen a Vista machine that has run faster than its XP counterpart, despite the translucent interface. From a productivity standpoint, I don’t get how people can claim that Vista is a superior operating system.

Vista addicts, flame me if you’d like, but I’d rather hear some intelligent reasons why anyone would choose to use Windows Vista over other faster, cheaper, more stable systems. Please spare me the beta line as well – there is a lot of work left to be done in only a few months’ time.

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It went from:

#import
XPApplyTheme(PRETTY_THEME);
XP RunLoop();

to:

#import
XPApplyTheme(PRETTIER_THEME); // bringing clarity
XPApplyPolicy(DISALLOW_GATOR); // improving security
XPRunLoop(); // making money

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