Articles
Windows 8: Better Alternative to a Native Multi-Monitor Taskbar
Tweet |
1. Introduction
Microsoft plans to release Windows 8 at the end of next year. Appreciable difference of new operating system will be additional taskbars when working with multiple monitors. However, secondary taskbar of Windows 8 will have a terribly low number of features unlike the primary taskbar, while Actual Multiple Monitors secondary taskbar contains all features of primary Windows taskbar.
2. Windows 8 Multi-Monitor Features
2.1. Multi-Monitor Taskbar
Secondary taskbar is very important feature for most users working with two or more monitors. Using the Windows 8 secondary taskbar, users will get only additional space for running tasks in fact.
Windows 8 native multi-monitor taskbar works in three modes:
- Mirror mode - windows appear duplicated on all taskbars.
- Individual Secondary mode - windows appear unique to each taskbar and on main taskbar as well.
- Individual mode - windows appear unique on each taskbar.
In addition, Windows 8 secondary taskbars have no Start button (user can only move the primary Start button between taskbars), no notification area, no toolbars, no clock and no Show Desktop button. Also, Pin to taskbar generally does not work.
On the contrary, Actual Multiple Monitors offers a fully functional taskbar for each monitor - with all the features and controls that are absent in Windows 8 native multi-monitor taskbar:
- Start button – there is no need to return to the primary taskbar each time to access the Start menu because the Start button is available on each taskbar.
- Notification area and clock – users have access to system tray and clock (including calendar) on each taskbar.
- Show Desktop button - available on the right of each Actual Multiple Monitors taskbar.
- Toolbars - it is possible to set up toolbars familiar for many users on each taskbar individually.
- Pin to taskbar - implemented in Windows 8 only for the primary taskbar. However, the users of Actual Multiple Monitors can use Pin individually on each secondary taskbar (with the native Jump Lists support).
Feature | Windows 7 | Windows 8 | Actual Multiple Monitors |
Multi-Monitor Taskbar | |||
---|---|---|---|
Mirror mode (duplicated on all taskbars) | no | yes | yes |
Individual mode (unique to each taskbar) | no | yes | yes |
Individual secondary mode (unique to each taskbar and on main taskbar) | no | yes | yes |
Start button | no | no | yes |
Notification area | no | no | yes |
Clock | no | no | yes |
Thumbnail previews | no | yes | yes |
Grouping of similar buttons | no | yes | yes |
Multi-preview for group buttons | no | yes | yes |
Show Desktop button | no | no | yes |
Toolbars | no | no | yes |
Pin buttons to taskbar | no | no | yes |
Control buttons in thumbnail previews | no | yes | yes |
Jump Lists | no | yes | yes |
Back to top
2.2. Additional Multi-Monitor Extensions
In contrast to Windows 8, Actual Multiple Monitors offers a number of additional features, which help users solve their problems when working with dual, triple or more monitors.
2.2.1. Advanced Windows Control
Actual Multiple Monitors adds new buttons to each window's title bar for easier control. ‘Move to monitor’ button allows quick moving of any window (even maximized) to any monitor. ‘Maximize to desktop’ button allows maximizing any window to entire visible desktop area or just to selected displays (e.g. two of three).
Moreover, users can assign a hotkey for any action in Actual Multiple Monitors and create specific rules for any window to run this window on a specific monitor.
Feature Windows 7 Windows 8 Actual Multiple Monitors Multi-Monitor Window Management Change specific window's position at startup no no yes Move windows to any monitor via title button no no yes Move windows to any monitor via hotkey yes yes yes Maximize windows to desktop via title button no no yes Maximize windows to desktop via hotkey no no yes 2.2.2. Desktop Mirroring
Desktop Mirroring is not a standard Windows feature but it can be useful for many users. This feature allows creating mirrors of various objects (the area around the mouse pointer, a part of desktop, specified window / application / monitor) in a separate window. Mirroring is described more detailed in the article Desktop Mirroring.
2.2.3. Wallpaper Management
Although Windows 8 has the ability to manage wallpapers on all displays, Actual Multiple Monitors offers more simple and convenient interface for managing the desktop background on multiple monitors.
Feature Windows 7 Windows 8 Actual Multiple Monitors Multi-Monitor Background Wallpaper Management Single picture over entire desktop yes yes yes Individual picture on each monitor yes yes yes Slideshow mode yes yes yes 2.2.4. Screen Saver Management
Users can set different screen savers on each monitor with the help of this tool.
Feature Windows 7 Windows 8 Actual Multiple Monitors Multi-Monitor Screen Saver Management Single screen saver over entire desktop yes yes yes Individual screen saver on each monitor no no yes 2.2.5. Desktop Profiles
Users can create desktop profiles for quick switching between different display configurations.
Feature Windows 7 Windows 8 Actual Multiple Monitors Multi-Monitor Desktop Profiles Saved desktop profiles yes yes yes Background settings yes yes yes Screen saver settings yes yes yes Display settings (resolution, orientation, etc.) no no yes Switch between profiles via hotkeys no no yes
Back to top
3. Conclusion
Despite the fact that Microsoft has implemented native multi-monitor taskbar in Windows 8, it still does not solve all problems of users who use multiple monitors. Many important features, which users appreciate in the main taskbar, has not been implemented for secondary taskbars. However, all these features are available in Actual Multiple Monitors.
Back to top
Improve Yahoo Messenger with Actual Title Buttons
Enhance your work with Yahoo Messenger with the help of Actual Title Buttons. Now you can add a whole bag full of new nifty buttons that will make Yahoo Messenger more convenient, stylish and pleasurable to work with.
Get fully functional Recycle Bin on your Taskbar
Lear about how to put a fully functional Recycle Bin on your taskbar
Additional Title Buttons on Dual Monitors in Windows 8
To help you manage dual monitors in Windows 8, Actual Window Manager provides additional title buttons.
How to Set Up an Image Slideshow from Google or Flickr as Desktop Background on Multiple Monitors
Learn how to set up an image slideshow from web sources as desktop background on one or several displays.
Minimize Eudora e-mail client into system tray
Eudora is one of the well known and oldest e-mail clients. You can minimize Eudora into system tray or force it to stay on top of other windows with a single mouse click with Actual Title Buttons.
Essential improvement of Microsoft Outlook!
Microsoft Outlook is the most famous e-mail client all over the world and millions of people use it every day at home and in their offices. But despite of these facts we can improve our Microsoft Outlook!
Use Actual Window Manager to hide SSH tunnels to system tray
If you use SSH tunnels to allow access through a firewall, or just to encrypt your communication, you might get sick of the proliferation of tasks littering your bar. It is very easy, however, to use Actual Window Manager to automatically clear these up.
Windows tweaks by Actual Tools
There are unlimited ways to use Actual Tools programs for tweaking your Windows Operating System.
Window Group Sizing and Dragging — Organize Your Workspace Easily
In the desire to own large screens with a high resolution, we buy 4K monitors, connect televisions and projectors to computers, and assemble multi-monitor systems, but we face the problem of effective use of the new display space.
Using Actual Multiple Monitors you can solve this problem in a jiffy.
Windows 8: Better Alternative to a Native Multi-Monitor Taskbar
Comparison of Windows 8 native multi-monitor taskbar with the alternative provided by Actual Multiple Monitors.