Maybe it's an idea to define "bigscreens". Fx. a "widescreen" is defined by the format 16:9 where normal is 4:3. And that is used when displaying movies. when you want a 16:9 movie to fill the screen. A "bigscreen" is something else and can be used to other things: You'll notice if you buy one of the new fx. all-in-one PCs that have big ##" screens, that when you open fx. internet explorer most webpages are not designed to fill out such big screens, and if you max the explorer windows it will just be alot of either blank white or some other theme colour. And you don't raise the size of content, becuase you're used to it as it is. So now you will be running explorer windows that fx only takes up 1400-1500 pixel width of 1920 and 700-800 pixel height of 1080 for a normal view. Of course if you distant the screen from yourselves up to 1 metre or more, you would scale up the content and max it, but at normal about 50 cm distance it could be defined as a "bigscreen" because windows would then "know" that it has extra space for special content around the "browsing area". Windows already has a "processbar", but on "bigscreens" there could be something more ... Example of bigScreen with permanent unused extra space around IE: https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=7915bbaf8fa8141b&resid=7915BBAF8FA8141B!197&parid=7915BBAF8FA8141B!196

Fx. all windows os have a desktop trashcan and that might as well be placed in extra area on bigscreens. There could also be one superficial decorative gadget and one special message gadget. A decorative gadget is a stupid idea so it will probably be popular. It could be a green plant - big icon - that have flowers in the summer etc. or it could be a logo. And a message box (for overviews only) should be a local surprise connected to the user's hobby. Fx some people continuesly look at stock prices, some always follow the (local) television programs overview, some actually interest in government politics. It just have to be something of continuesly interest to the user with internet connection. And they have to be silent so they do not really interupt the main view of the desktop. ---------------- You could also make the processbar expand on the extra area, when pressing start [windows] ---------------- Or fx. allow the system folders [controlpanel, videos, pictures, music, documents] to open up in extra area and while opened occupy that area, so when another window (fx. internet explorer) is opened and maximized it will not overlap.

Another issue about BigScreens is the user's distance to the screen. Because if it is normal sitting at desk distance, you might wish that even games played in fullscreen would be lesser - that fullscreen would actually be lesser. Obviously BigScreens are not used with mobile PCs, so when you got one, it's normally a desktop. If used personally to fx. "internet, movies, games, livechat" then the screen will mostly be in either a 1) fullscreen game mode or displaying 2) the desktop with some seperate activities. If windows recoqnize a BigScreen, it could ask the user about "close (.5 meter)" or "normal (used as television seen from a sofa)" distance to screen. Because if sitting close the eyes can't comprehend much more than half of the content anyway. Take this ex. https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=7915bbaf8fa8141b&resid=7915BBAF8FA8141B!198&parid=7915BBAF8FA8141B!196 which is not unusual, if lower right side of screenarea was reserved for WMP, and so it will only expand upwards regarding video format 4:3 or 16:9. That could be a permanent size. The top area of the player could be used to icons, news, gadget etc. On a BigScreen the user could also have the possibility to choose a half processbar when put on a horizontal edge. Since there is no need for more.

What about a special windows edition for bigscreens and gamers? Fx. "BigScreen Windows" A windows edition that does special support for graphics is of course something 3D gamers and designers would look after. Special gamer support would be: that 3D gamers are able to see FPS in games; a) that they can capture their gameplay with same capture performance as Fraps (because it doesn't compress capture, which mean that FPS is only little effected and you need a big harddisk) and upload it with WLMM; b) or that this windows edition support external connection to a videocamera, so that a videocamera will record everything on screen (*) and afterwards send data to windows live movie maker. An external videocamera would be able to capture the whole system boot, and system freeze during games, etc. and without decreasing FPS. that this windows edition in order to run will make PC system requirements high enough to run all modern 3D games with > 15 FPS in 1920x1080res with ansi-alising x4, vert sync enabled and medium shadows + view distance. Recommended system requirements would be 30 FPS + some more video effects. And because system requirements to graphics would be high and this windows edition does special video support, it should also automatically setup advance video graphics in programs (just like you don't set screen position and rotation anymore on newer flatscreens like you did with the old box screens) Special BigScreen Support would be different setup of desktop. *) Because the screen is at least 23" to define a lesser part of it as Fullscreen; fx 1600x900 of 1920x1080 would be fullscreen and primary screen. The secondary area should run as a tablet PC screen view, since many newer all-in-one PCs are bigscreen and touchscreen, they could run the secondary area as a tablet PC (touchscreen), so while primary screen area was running a 3D game, the secondary screen area show fx internet browing in a tablet screen or windows explorer or control panel or task manager. The secondary screen area could also show FPS on game played + game options ... Or fx. while one is watching a movie in primary screen area, the secondary area could show movie player controls. If the PC screen is lesser than 23" it could still be possible to run BigScreen windows by connecting a second screen as long the PC can fulfil system requirements defined at least a primary and a secondary screen area (tablet form). - - - - - - - - - - - Windows 7 has 100% info on CPU usage. Just open up task manager and you can see what program is eating up your system resources. But it is definitely not 100% up to date on video issues: Fx. if you are setting up graphics for a game (just like you could be setting up PC boot by checking startup programs or setting up internet explorer for a smooth run by checking add-ons that have been installed by advertisers, if you're setting up a 3D game you need to adjust video settings) then you first try a resolution but playing the game it may seem laggy, so you lower the resolution. Then you set fx. ansi-alising and if you don't know what it is, you may have trouble finding what to look for in game etc. If windows were 100% on system info with graphics there should of course be a system tool telling FPS usage in game. Setting up graphics with such a tool is very simple, because a displayed number is showing YES or NO to the settings you do... I don't know how FPS is measured, if it can be done like in task manager for every program or only for the whole screen. There's actually also some difference to graphics control panel by nvidia and ati, on this PC it's possible to install drivers for 3D graphics where you need to wear glasses, but it can make objects appear infront of your screen or more 3D. I've heard that it can cause headache after some hours, and since I often do many hours, I have only tried it in the stores. If you're developing graphics controls I'd recommend trying this with 3D glasses in a television shop. And if windows is going to be 100% info on graphics you got to figure out info about 3D glasses and headache... But it's a little annoying that you can't buy a PC and then count on windows about graphics controls, that you also have to check whether you get nvidia or radeon. So I suggest that for a windows edition with special graphics support that you consider anything that get FPS below 15 FPS as virus or bug, and that you make system requirements high enough to ensure it!

What about a special windows edition for bigscreens and gamers? Fx. "BigScreen Windows" A windows edition that does special support for graphics is of course something 3D gamers and designers would look after. Special gamer support would be: that 3D gamers are able to see FPS in games; a) that they can capture their gameplay with same capture performance as Fraps (because it doesn't compress capture, which mean that FPS is only little effected and you need a big harddisk) and upload it with WLMM; b) or that this windows edition support external connection to a videocamera, so that a videocamera will record everything on screen (*) and afterwards send data to windows live movie maker. An external videocamera would be able to capture the whole system boot, and system freeze during games, etc. and without decreasing FPS. that this windows edition in order to run will make PC system requirements high enough to run all modern 3D games with > 15 FPS in 1920x1080res with ansi-alising x4, vert sync enabled and medium shadows + view distance. Recommended system requirements would be 30 FPS + some more video effects. And because system requirements to graphics would be high and this windows edition does special video support, it should also automatically setup advance video graphics in programs (just like you don't set screen position and rotation anymore on newer flatscreens like you did with the old box screens) Special BigScreen Support would be different setup of desktop. *) Because the screen is at least 23" to define a lesser part of it as Fullscreen; fx 1600x900 of 1920x1080 would be fullscreen and primary screen. The secondary area should run as a tablet PC screen view, since many newer all-in-one PCs are bigscreen and touchscreen, they could run the secondary area as a tablet PC (touchscreen), so while primary screen area was running a 3D game, the secondary screen area show fx internet browing in a tablet screen or windows explorer or control panel or task manager. The secondary screen area could also show FPS on game played + game options ... Or fx. while one is watching a movie in primary screen area, the secondary area could show movie player controls. If the PC screen is lesser than 23" it could still be possible to run BigScreen windows by connecting a second screen as long the PC can fulfil system requirements defined at least a primary and a secondary screen area (tablet form).

I have to ask: If you have a large monitor, with a lot of pixels, why would you want to maximize a window on it? You do know that you can just run an application in a window, right? Large monitors (and even multiple monitors) are great for running multiple apps in windows, which is a powerful feature for people who need to use multiple apps in the process of getting work done. For example, one can imagine running a development tool in one window, the Help facility in another, an internet web page (e.g., a reference) in another, a test application in a virtual machine in yet another window... Another example, for example with Photoshop, one could make room to work on an image and also have all the panels with useful tools displayed. All these things are possible now... What is it that you're suggesting here that adds value to an extended desktop (or spanning courtesy modern display drivers)? -Noel Detailed how-to in my new eBook: Configure The Windows 7 "To Work" Options

I have to ask: If you have a large monitor, with a lot of pixels, why would you want to maximize a window on it? You do know that you can just run an application in a window, right? Hi, and thanks for asking. Most games, especially 3D games fx. Call of Duty, Splinter Cell and so on, only run in fullscreen. But plenty of gamers often have to shift out of the game during gameplay fx. to read a game-walkthrough/instructions. With Windows Live Movie Maker you can practically now just plug your camrecorder to PC and then do everything with the recordings, even upload it to youtube, facebook and more from WLMM. So why didn't they also add a simple video capture to WLMM? It's just another customer group. Large monitors (and even multiple monitors) are great for running multiple apps in windows, which is a powerful feature for people who need to use multiple apps in the process of getting work done. For example, one can imagine running a development tool in one window, the Help facility in another, an internet web page (e.g., a reference) in another, a test application in a virtual machine in yet another window... Yep, and it works great. Just use buttons on your processbar to shift between them. But if you tried doing it on a 23" screen or bigger, you might see, that since more internet pages are already neatly sorted into panes, and the only other programs you deal mostly with (as 3D gamer) are controlpanel, windows explorer, it would be nice, if they were available (like the processbar) around in the space that aren't used. I think all-in-one PCs will be more popular and they don't come in small screens. I just had a laptop HP pavillion dv-7, 1600x900res with windows experience index 5.8. Laptops are not ideal for 3D games, because you can't play a first-person shooter with a touchpad. And if you need to attach an external mouse, you'll also need a table, so you're not going to use it in your car or on a trainstation etc. But I still bought a laptop to get a single packet with all inside. Btw. the flat laptop keyboard isn't ideal for gaming either. But then I bought an all-in-one PC with windows experience index 5.1 for only 5.000 danish kr. (not because I got a big vallet or income), it's just my hobby. And now that I've tried it, I really think, that they (and BigScreens) will be more popular than box desktops and laptops for 3D games. Another example, for example with Photoshop, one could make room to work on an image and also have all the panels with useful tools displayed. I think about 15 years ago, I used photoshop alot, when I was out taking pictures and wanted to apply text to them on print. Nowadays I mostly watch videos and play 3D games. >Here<'s a picture of this desktop right now. Notice the lot of unused space. If there was a clock gadget with date on it also, I would have added that also. All these things are possible now... What is it that you're suggesting here that adds value to an extended desktop (or spanning courtesy modern display drivers)? -Noel Detailed how-to in my new eBook: Configure The Windows 7 "To Work" Options If you could get your hands on a 23" at least, perhaps even more to really get the feeling. Use it for some time. I think, you'll see.