Ultramon also respects the default Windows taskbar settings and will show Text and Icons if you've got that setting set: I think respecting the grouping option is more important then the icon thing, but I though it was interesting nonetheless. Ultramon not only didn't group them together (per my settings within Windows itself), it also used the actual icons for the folders I was on, rather than the default Explorer one. What's this? Three apps? Well, note that the second and third above were actually Windows Explorer windows. Here are the same four apps running in the Windows 7 taskbar on my primary monitor. Here are four apps running in an Ultramon toolbar on my third monitor. Here are the things I look for in a Multimonitor Taskbar on Windows 7 and how Ultramon 3.0.8 beta stacks up. As of Dec 21st, there's a 3.0.8 beta available that runs on Windows 2000, XP, Vista and Windows 7. That said, Ultramon has always been very tight code and I've had minimal trouble with it. ![]() These days folks want to see code rev'ing weekly, minimum. Christian is very kind when he answers forum posts, but it's no uncommon to hear folks complaining about the speed at which the beta version's bugs are fixed. Sometimes you won't hear anything for literally months, then there will be a flurry of activity, then silence. Ultramon has long been the only game in town when it comes to multimonitor support on Windows. That's over 7 years for the math-challenged. He's been making software since 1998 and I purchased his product Ultramon when it was version 2 in Jun of 2002. Realtime Soft appears to be a one-person company run by Christian Studer out of Switzerland. Try them both yourself! Ultramon 3.0.8 Beta from Realtime Soft Note the post was written against Specific Versions whose features are in likely flux. For the most part they are similar, but I'm a utilitarian and I'm interested in the bread and butter stuff first.įirst, Ultramon, then DisplayFusion. I'm reviewing these products taskbar capabilities, not the many other features they each offer like multi-monitor wallpaper support, etc. Here are the two contenders and my conclusion. Most of all, they want their apps to LOOK like Windows 7 - like they belong. Folks want things to integrate with Windows 7 features like jump lists and the superbar. Nasty looking apps won't cut it any more. The most interesting thing about Windows 7 isn't a feature it's that Windows 7 has a strong sense of aesthetic. Regardless, Windows 7 has an awesome ecosystem of 3rd party stuff and there are two contenders fighting for the title of "Multi-Monitor Taskbar for Windows 7." ![]() I'm sure someone owns this feature on Windows 7 and I'm sure that it didn't make it into the product for some reason and I'm sure someone is looking at the feature for the future*. However, the one remaining gaping hole in Windows 7 for the Power User ( like me with my four (sometimes five) monitors) is the lack of a native taskbar that works across more than one monitor. ![]() Even Uncle Ronnie, a 90+ year old die-hard Windows XP guy has been upgraded (but hasn't noticed, other than "it's snappier.") Everyone's running it and everyone's happy. In fact, Windows 7 was my number 1 Christmas Gift this year. I've fully converted myself and the extended family over to Windows 7. ![]() I was even more unplugged this time than last year when we spent Christmas in South Africa (where I was blogging near-daily over a cell phone modem).Īnyway, I'm still on vacation until next Monday, but I have been messing around with a few things I wanted to share, and here is one such project.ĭisclaimer: I'm not on the Windows 7 team and I have no knowledge about anything they are, have, may, may not, will, will not do, or did and didn't tell anyone. It was very interesting being (reasonably) unplugged. Wow, this was the longest time I've ever gone without blogging.
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