VistaSwitcher is a free application switcher/Alt+Tab replacement for (despite the name) Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7. It features a slick interface, application preview thumbnails, and the ability to perform operations such as minimizing, maximizing and closing windows or apps from the VistaSwitcher interface.
Do you want a cool application switching / Alt+Tab replacement app? Check out VistaSwitch. More notes on this one below:
- It looks pretty darn slick: don’t take my word for it, check out the screenshot.
- Preview thumbnails: see a thumbnail preview of the apps or windows as you scroll through them. Previews are available not just for maximized windows but for minimized windows in Vista and Windows 7 (but not in XP).
- Sticky: you can turn this mode on if you like. It will allow you to launch VistaSwitcher with Alt+Tab (or another shortcut), release the keys, and have the VistaSwitcher interface remain open. (Which I quite like actually)
- Windows operations: you can right click on an entry in the VistaSwitcher interface and perform some operations such as minimize, maximize, or close.
- Memory use: about 9 megs (which is fairly small).
- Native 64 bit version available.
The verdict: this app is the successor to TaskSwitchXP, which I am very fond of (they are both from the same developer). What I like about it is that it manages to be simultaneously slick, simple, and low on resources (and of course free). What more could you ask for?
Version Tested: 1.0.3
Compatibility: Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7. 32 bit and 64 bit versions available.
Go to the program home page to download the latest version (approx 271K).
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This sort of program has lost all purpose for me, as I have been using Windows 7 for quite a while now. First the RC, then the RTM through my MSDN sub. Now, I just use the task bar for any and all task switching. Anyone else find the new task bar replaces ALT+Tab for them?
If it matters to anyone (like me, on a 512MB of RAM netbook), the older TaskSwitchXP takes up less than a meg of RAM, and has the same functionality. All you give up is the next gen skinning… which I suppose is the main attraction for many.
I concur with DoctorFrog. Also, TaskSwitchXP appears to be at least semi portable (a no-install USB-drive capable version is present on the site).
I only really use alt+tab to exit full screen applications like games, so aesthetics aren’t too important for me. It is quite slick though, and works well in my testing.
This is indeed a good program. Windows default Alt-Tab is pretty basic, but Microsoft has upgraded it quite well in Windows 7 (I have been using windows 7 since Microsoft launched RC).
version 1.0.3 has a nasty bug in which it interprets all TAB keypresses as ALT-TAB. The author knows about it and says this will be fixed in the next version. I went back to TaskSwitchXP.
I’d like this more if it would let me start typing, and then narrow the list of running apps to those containing the string I type in. Enso Launcher lets me do that, but I’d also like to have the window thumbnail that this program provides.