WMWIKI & MSUN

[valz]

I decided to start this topic to post some comments or suggestions related to Microsoft software. While using Windows for the last couple of weeks, I have found a couple of things that I think could use some work and improve.

Internet Explorer

It really needs a download manager. IE on mac has it so I don't know why they have not implemented it on the PC. Having a separate window for each download which in turn takes up space in the taskbar is not good. Both Safari and Firefox have very simple and uncluttered download managers. Also the graphic in each download window, the little world and folder is practically useless so I think it should be eliminated for the sake of simplifying the download window and making it use less space.

I am not sure if it is planned for IE 7 but it also needs RSS support and integrated. Safari does this wodnerfully in the same browser window.

The tabs you get with MSN Toolbar and it will be implemented in IE7 so that is kind out of the way. I really like the additional options like opening every link you click on a new tab, open the last set of tabs you viewed and the little arrows that appear when you have a lot of tabs openned which lets you navigate thru the tabes with ease. The pull down menu is very nice too which display all open tabs. All of this features are not available either on Safari or Fireforx.

MSN Messenger

Tabs! Just like both Trillian and Adium *on Mac* have. Tabs is a must for IM it saves you a lot of screen space and it all the more fun and easy to use.

I also think there should be an option to hide or turn off the smileys people insert intheir user names whcih appear in the message window everytime that user types a message. It would be nice to either hide the smileys or be able to rename people in your contact list to anything you want. iChat, Adium and Trillian allow you to to this.

Allow more customization specially allow the user to simplify the interface as much as possible, there are people *like me* who prefer a simple and uncluttered interface when it comes to instant messaging and other things.

------
There some other stuff I have in mind which I will post at a later date.

[Zarax]

Well, you will be glad to know that IE7 will address all the issues you mentioned plus a few extra ones...

About MSN i suggest you to try the Plus! plugin, it allows to customize a lot of things and has most of the features you mentioned... You can find it at www.msgplus.net

I'll try to pass the feedback about tabs to someone but don't expect quick results on it (unfortunately MSFT got a really big bureaucracy)
_________________
Your personal MVP at hand.
The best is yet to come.

[valz]

Nice

When is IE 7 coming by the way? IE 6 is every nice specially with the MSN Toolbar. Will they be integrating the functionality of the toolbar to the browser?

On Mac I began using IE since version 2, I think that Netscape Gold 3.0 was the norm around that time, then versionm 3 of IE came and it had Outlook Express which was names Mail and News back then which was also my default mail client. I stayed with IE and Outlook Express untill OS X came and the Mac division of Microsoft stopped updating IE, so the program became quite outdated and unstable in the new OS. So there really was no other choice but to start using another browser and mail client.

I can't wait for IE 7 to be released, I would really love to see how Microsoft implements the tabs and the RSS features, im sure it will be top quality stuff.

[Zarax]

Well, i can't give you an estimate yet but the beta is coming so it's gonna be a few months at worst...
_________________
Your personal MVP at hand.
The best is yet to come.

[valz]

Something I notice that Windows lacks is that when you are copying a file into the hardrive or some other place the window that shows the progress bar gives you almost no information about what is being copied. like how big the file is,how many MBs have ben copied and how many remain, etc.

The Mac OS on the other hand has a very nice window with useful information about what is being copied, to where, from where how many files remain, etc, etc. I think Windows needs something like this, Explorer has a good download window that povies good info. I just think the globe raphic and the folder animation in the windows need to go.

valz