You know everyone does nott have eyes like superman and can see so tiny? Isn't there a way to make this similar to xp when shutting, logging off or restarting the computer? I have had so many complaints from clients (and I agree myself) that it is just plain too small and colorless. Why can't you (yes i know we can make a script to place it on the desktop) just put an icon on the taskbar with different colors to do this?I have had so many clients who accidently shutdown when they meant to logoff or, restart when they meant to shut down or worse accidently lock the computer and were lost on what to do.I give free seminars on the "good and bad of vista" and "how to keep your computer safe" and you know one of the main complaints are these.Not everyone especially a layman can make a script or knows even how to make a script to put this on their desktop to do this.Please Microsoft not everyone who buys a computer is an IT person, and believe me I have come across so many that are and hate it themelves, including myself.Robin

Unfortunately it's an impossible to have a single solution that pleases everyone - so it's largely a question of what will appeal to most.I'd generalize and say a large button on the taskbar (for a relatively, compared to other activities, infrequent task) would displease more than help due to lost screen space. If someone feels they need a taskbar button to do that, they can do that. However, do remember you can just easily use the physical buttons on devices to accomplish things like shut down (and this is configurable to do other things).

No thanks, I'd rather it stayed as it is. If you're clients can't manage to shut a computer down without pressing the wrong button, should they really be using PCs?

Skimble19 said:No thanks, I'd rather it stayed as it is. If you're clients can't manage to shut a computer down without pressing the wrong button, should they really be using PCs?oh come on- the young generation is not the only ones using computers you know. and i am not asking for it to be huge, just about the size of a small icon. If the user wants to make it bigger they have the option to do this. With it being in the start menu it is just too small and too close to each other.robin

If you or your clients cannot read the button why don't you just lower the resolution of your monitor?But it would be nice tohave the optionto set the size of the buttons.

starcomusa30273 said: If you or your clients cannot read the button why don't you just lower the resolution of your monitor?But it would be nice tohave the optionto set the size of the buttons.if you lower the resolution then some things do not site right on the taskbar and when you bring up ie parts of it do not show and some monitors do not like when you lower the resolution when it should be a certain one.I just want another option for this- make it even a microsoft gadget (not a third party one because some of them do not work right). This at least gives those the option to put it on their desktop if wanted.robin

I absolutely agree. Windows XP had it right and that style should at least be optional. Once I remove all the stuff I don't use from the start menu, there is plenty of leftover space for it anyway-- wouldn't lose any screen real estate at all.

I agree that the "arrow"button is a bit too small. Seems that the old red power button icon would be a good change for the "arrow" too. There also seems to be plenty of space in that area to make it much bigger too. I think this is a great idea.

quick and dirty example:http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3472/3195341496_ac81cea77f.jpgAgain, just quick and dirty, maybe a bit too big. I was aiming for the same size as the taskbar buttons. It does seem odd to me that the entire start menu and task bar has large easy to click buttons, but the shut down button is so tiny in comparison to the rest.

Here is a link to Vista Forums for instructions on how to make a shutdown shortcut for the desktop. Check out Related Links for other shortcuts.This method also works in Windows 7.http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/76841-shutdown-shortcut.htmlMarkEdit: I don't know why it didn't come out as a link but it will work if you copy and paste it in your browser.

markcynt said:Here is a link to Vista Forums for instructions on how to make a shutdown shortcut for the desktop. Check out Related Links for other shortcuts.This method also works in Windows 7.http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/76841-shutdown-shortcut.htmlMarkEdit: I don't know why it didn't come out as a link but it will work if you copy and paste it in your browser. i know you can do it via a script (because I have on my clients vista computers) but most inexperienced people have no idea how to do this and it should be there on the desktop or on the start menu as an option for shut down, log off and restart. In fact in Nargg's picture if you clicked the icon he created it should popup with two more icon choices- restart and logoff, this still keeps it "neat" so you do not see all the choices lined up when you first look at it.roibin

For what it's worth, I've used XP installs in the past that had nice, big buttons in the quick launch area, and it got *really* annoying to find your computer shutting down (without even a confirmation prompt) when all you wanted to do was "Show desktop".People rarely shut their computers down anymore -- they tend to stay on all the time and go to sleep or into hibernation of their own accord. This is an infrequently performed task, which is why the UI elements for it is (and should be) unobtrusive.My suggestion would be that if you have clients who do need a big shiny button for shutting down their computer, simply add the shutdown script that was previously suggested, and put a link to that script somewhere easily accessible. You could even write a script or cmdlet to automate the setup of this.

Here's another attempt at making the power button easier to see and access. Clicking on the orange button part would display the menu of options like the arrow button does.Anyway, that's my 2 cents (2 posts?) worth :)

There is adesktop gadget that may be what you are looking for:Shutdown GadgetI haven't tried it myself so I cannot say if it is any good.

Change your text to a higher size if you can't see it. The new button is fine and simple with one click instead of two.

I believe the TweakVista utility from Stardock will accomplish what you're looking for (I use or have used a fair few of the Stardock products so I'm not 100% certain this is the one, I'd have to check when I get home but it is one of them! heh. You get the choice of all three buttons to place as you please. I used it briefly and it was fun but I didn't keep it when I moved to Win7.Cheers.

I may be misunderstanding something here, but what about CTR+ALT+DEL? Quick access to locking the computer and logging off in large font text options. The button on the lower right hand provides quick access to shutting down. That leaves restarting, only accessible when hitting the arrow next to the shutdown button and readability may again be an issue,but if you shut down, you can easily restart with the hardware button.

I completely disagree. The vista button was most definitely confusing to some as it would default to sleep instead of shutdown as we have become accustomed to. The Windows 7 system is perfect. The one you want is plainly displayed in text with a context menu for the rest. No need for a large three button popup like XP. If you and the elderly are having problems reading a normal sized font, increase your text size. I would much rather have a text button like this then a big red unlabled button because it is "easy to see".

thequinox said:The Windows 7 system is perfect. The one you want is plainly displayed in text with a context menu for the rest. No need for a large three button popup like XP.I do hope that you don't spell it wrong using speech in W7 and accidentally shutdown the machine. It happened to me today. I like the way it is, but a single click to shutdown and that button over there... I think it is too dangerous. I would agree the way server versions does... "Now write WHY you want to shutdown the computer... "...If I was Microsoft, to shutdown the pc, you would have to write "pLeAsE SHUTdown This m@c1ne now!"! Or think of something else more dificult to power off. Grrrrrr!Adelino Araujo

Honestly I can see both sides of this argument. But looking at it there are a couple of things that could be done to improve things without using up any more screen real estate.1) Remove the "shut down" button and replace the whole space used by it and the arrow for colored buttons that correspond to various tasks for power. When the user hovers over it a slick context tooltip opens up stating (in an adjustable font size) what the button does.2) Allow the "shut down" button to be customized for the users most frequent task. I personally NEVER shut down my PC so the option to change it to a "Restart PC" Button would be nice.Most of the other ideas would be too much of a change and honestly limit customizability.

Cold_Realms said:Honestly I can see both sides of this argument. But looking at it there are a couple of things that could be done to improve things without using up any more screen real estate.1) Remove the "shut down" button and replace the whole space used by it and the arrow for colored buttons that correspond to various tasks for power. When the user hovers over it a slick context tooltip opens up stating (in an adjustable font size) what the button does.2) Allow the "shut down" button to be customized for the users most frequent task. I personally NEVER shut down my PC so the option to change it to a "Restart PC" Button would be nice.Most of the other ideas would be too much of a change and honestly limit customizability. That is what is so great about the current implementation. You can change what the button says to whatever you currently use. Right click > Properties on the start menu, then change it under the start menu tab, it couldn't be simpler.And I also don't think anyone would miss the button when trying to select the drop out arrow. Perhaps FPS games have honed my mousing skills...

Goodness! Just create a shutdown and a restart icon on the desktop. Then pin it to the taskbar. It really isn't so hard, is it.

can you help me on my thread?

thequinox said:Cold_Realms said:Honestly I can see both sides of this argument. But looking at it there are a couple of things that could be done to improve things without using up any more screen real estate.1) Remove the "shut down" button and replace the whole space used by it and the arrow for colored buttons that correspond to various tasks for power. When the user hovers over it a slick context tooltip opens up stating (in an adjustable font size) what the button does.2) Allow the "shut down" button to be customized for the users most frequent task. I personally NEVER shut down my PC so the option to change it to a "Restart PC" Button would be nice.Most of the other ideas would be too much of a change and honestly limit customizability. That is what is so great about the current implementation. You can change what the button says to whatever you currently use. Right click > Properties on the start menu, then change it under the start menu tab, it couldn't be simpler.And I also don't think anyone would miss the button when trying to select the drop out arrow. Perhaps FPS games have honed my mousing skills...Chock it up to me being blind (or lazy) Never noticed you can change that button behavior :) Thanks Mate!

what I don't like abt the new shutdown button is I don't know what the key combination is for doing it without seeing the screen? why do I want to do that? occasionally, the screen gets corrupted -- bad video driver, misbehaving app -- and I need to shut down or restart without seeing the screen.the odd thing abt the shutdown button is it seems contrary to the Vista/W7 way of having large, attention getting dialogs. when I click shutdown, I expect the screen to dim and see a large dialog with icons for all the options, similar to the dialog that lists apps still running when you shut down and asks whether you want to wait or force a shutdown.** instead, we get a little popup menu with all text and no icons? It's positively windows 3.1! ** I'm not necessarily saying that's the right way to do it. in fact, I have some problems with that. I'm just saying it's oddly inconsistent how it's handled.