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If you have more than one program running, the fastest way to switch from one program to another is via the Windows taskbar.
With a few small exceptions, each running program carves out a chunk of space on the Windows taskbar. If you hover your cursor over one of the taskbar buttons, you see a small thumbnail of the running program. If more than one copy of a program is running (not an unusual state of affairs for Windows Explorer, among others) or if a program has more than one file open (common in Word, for example) and Windows runs low on real estate in the taskbar area, the chunks are grouped together, with the number of open documents in front of the program name.
The Windows taskbar has many tricks up its sleeve, but it has one capability that you're likely to need. Auto-Hide lets the taskbar shrink to a thin line until you bump your mouse pointer way down at the bottom of the screen. As soon as your mouse pointer hits bottom, the taskbar pops up. Here's how you teach the taskbar to auto-hide:
1. Right-click an empty part of the taskbar.
Usually the area immediately to the right of the Start button is a good place.
2. Choose Properties.
The Taskbar tab should be visible.
3. Select the Auto-Hide the Taskbar check box and then click the OK button.
 | If you don't want to hunt around for the mouse — or if your mouse has suddenly gone out to lunch — Vista has a feature called Windows Flip that lets you switch among running programs, while your fingers never leave the keyboard. Just hold down Alt and press Tab. When you get to the program you want, release Alt. |
If you have enough video-card horsepower to run Glass, the fancy see-through Vista interface (and you aren't hobbled with Vista Home Basic, which won't show you Glass), hold down the Windows key and press Tab. Alternatively, click the Switch between Windows icon to the right of the Start button. You can riffle through your running programs, much like riffling a deck of cards (see Figure 1). Microsoft calls that Windows Flip 3D.
Figure 1: Windows Flip 3D makes it easier to sort through all your running programs.
| Although the taskbar can get cramped at times, many people are willing to give up a little bit of taskbar room for a fancy one-click program launcher called the Quick Launch toolbar. This toolbar sits next to the Start button, and you can fill it with a handful of little icons that can start your favorite programs. Judicious use of the Quick Launch toolbar can save you gobs of time. |
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