It's better than Windows XP is, of course, but it damn well should be: It benefits from five more years of experience and work. As a friend once noted, 'it's good enough to criticize.' Well, maybe. That doesn't mean that Windows Vista is a waste of time, or a product to be reviled. But first, I'd like to discuss a number of problems I have with Windows Vista. That's a cute list, and certainly, I could easily come up with another 5, or 10, or 20.

Skype Vista Gadget is a simple, yet useful sidebar gadget that allows you to view your Skype contacts and chat with your friends in a small window.In a recent showcase, I highlighted five things I really like about Windows Vista. You can make it transparent, as well as modify its theme according to your preferences. The applications' appearance can be customized by changing the gadgets' opacity.

In addition to this, the gadget allows you to optionally display the system messages. Every time you receive a message, you can view it using the gadget, without opening the Skype window and interrupting your work. Moreover, if you click on a friends' name, you can start chatting right on your desktop screen. You can optionally choose to hide the offline users, in order to make the list shorter. Then, this lightweight utility connects to your Skype account and allows you to view a list of all your contacts and their status. In order to make the gadget work, you have to enable Skype API access control. After installing it, the gadget appears on your desktop screen and asks you to install Skype4COM, an ActiveX component that allows the gadget to access Skype.Īfter doing so, the program automatically detects whether Skype is running or not. Skype Vista Gadget is one of these small programs that allow you to easily view the current conversations and your Skype contacts. You don't have to stop working to view information that interests you, as the gadgets display it right on your desktop screen.

Desktop gadgets are designed to help users with easy access to frequently used programs and system information.

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