What Does Switching Between Windows Mean on Vista?
Windows Vista is an operating system developed by Microsoft. Several different variations of the system have been released for use in both personal and professional settings. Windows Flip and Windows Flip 3D are optional features available for Vista, as part of the Windows Aero visual package, that allow the user to switch between any windows open on the desktop without using the taskbar.
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Windows Vista
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Windows Vista is available in four different variants. Windows Vista Home Basic is, as its name suggests, the most basic of Vista's four editions. It was developed to support the most standard user needs, such as browsing the Internet and emailing. Vista Home Premium was developed to provide more options to manage music and other digital media. Vista Business is intended specifically for use by small business owners and managers. Finally, Windows Vista Ultimate was developed for users who wish to combine business and personal software in one system.
Windows Aero
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Windows Aero is a visual experience package available on most editions of Windows Vista. The only edition that does not include Windows Aero is Vista Home Basic. Aero's most noticeable feature is its "glass" window effect. This effect makes the borders of open windows translucent while the contents remain solid. It is possible to alter the appearance of the borders by "tinting" the glass one of a variety of available colors. Windows Flip is also an exclusive feature of the Aero package.
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Windows Flip
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Windows Flip 3D works by pulling up all open windows on the desktop and displaying them in something called a stack. A stack is a three-dimensional row of windows. Windows Flip can be opened by clicking the "Switch between windows" button on the taskbar. Once Flip is open, the user can either click on the window they want or click outside the stack. Clicking outside the stack will close Flip without switching to another window. When Flip is open, the wheel on the mouse can also be used to quickly scroll through the stack.
Other Methods
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There are other methods to switch between open windows that do not require the Windows Flip feature. By pressing the "Alt" and "Tab" keys together, the user can pull up every open window at once. While the windows are displayed on the desktop, the "Tab" key can be used to cycle through them until the desired window is selected. This can also be done with the arrow keys or with the mouse.
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References
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