Microsoft Widgets

Microsoft widgets, often called Microsoft gadgets, are little programs that perform quick functions at a moment's notice. If you have Windows Vista Premium, Business, or Ultimate, then you have probably encountered some of these Microsoft gadgets. On their own the gadgets need very little power to run, but collectively, running three of four at one time could decrease performance. Besides the main desktop, there are other places you can find Microsoft widgets.

On the main Vista desktop, there is a portion on the right-hand side reserved for the Sidebar. This Sidebar houses gadgets that are always displayed. Some of the gadgets included with Windows are:

• Weather. You specify your zip code and it shows you the temperature in your location and a picture of the weather: like sunny, rainy, or snowy.
• Sticky Notes. Post-It notes for your desktop. You can type out quick little thoughts on a whim that are saved until you delete them.
• Clocks. Choose from digital, analog and a variety of themed clocks.

Besides the few that come with Vista, you can visit Microsoft and download additional Microsoft Widgets. There are hundreds of programs to choose from and while there may be five or six of the same type, you can see user ratings to pick the ones that are popular.

Within a few clicks, the gadget downloads itself to your computer and installs to the correct folder and is ready to go. Some third party companies create Microsoft gadgets; usually to promote a new product or to launch a website. For example, when Wolfram Alpha, a new search engine, was launched, you could download and install a gadget that lets you search right from the desktop.

One interesting note; the gadgets don't necessarily have to be stuck in the Sidebar - they can be moved to any part of the screen. The gadgets often expand and display more information because there is more room.

If you spend a lot of time online, like at Live Spaces or another Microsoft application, you may notice similar programs running on the webpage. These, too, are Microsoft Widgets. The most common one you'll see is an RSS feed for updated news and blogs. Some other applications:

• Email updates
• Weather alerts
• Picture slideshows
• Games

Many of the applications that use Java are widgets that Microsoft uses to upload items, stream data and keep you abreast of news that travel from one page to the next. That way, you won't miss a thing.

One lesser-known, and lesser-used function in Windows Vista is the SideShow option. If you have additional displays or devices that have a screen that hooks to your computer, then you can use Microsoft widgets on them.

Many higher-end gaming laptops have an extra LCD display that can be run with Vista. What would they be used for? In the midst of heavy gaming, you might want to know when you get a new email, or if one of your friends logged onto an instant messaging program. For those who want to use additional displays, you can run full programs and Windows on it. Something like that is good for continuous monitoring of your email program, downloading queues, or even playing music in a media player widget.

Because Vista is processor and RAM heavy, running too many Microsoft Widgets can decrease performance. Optimally, two or three gadgets can run well with 2 GB of RAM. Having more RAM is great if you want to have a complete side of gadgets. Because Vista Basic is just that — basic — Microsoft doesn't include the SideBar function or many of the other graphical features that are in the other versions of Vista.

Microsoft gadgets can make your computer life easier, but overdoing the gadgets will just bog down your mind as well as your computer. Finding the right application can take trial-and-error, but at least you don't have to waste a lot of time figuring out which is good for you.

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