Part 19: Windows XP vs. Vista: Phone and Modem Options and Power Options

028: Phone and Modem Options
No real differences between XP and Vista although it seems Vista by default has only 4 Providers a user can use when connecting to PBX devices or related vs. XP’s 6 Providers.

Windows XP - Phone And Modem Options

Windows Vista - Phone And Modem Options

029: Power Options
Before I start I want to mention that Vista really really is annoying about this user account permission window. For example, say I want to change the Advanced Power Management (APM) settings for a computer with Vista – Vista ends up complaining 3-4 times about changes (see screenshot).

Windows Vista - User Account Control Permissions

By default the Power Options in Vista the settings are completely locked (annoying) – to change anything you have to click another option on the page to allow changes and then click Continue from the User Account Permissions pop-up window, and then make your “one” change. Again if you want to make further changes to the Power Options you have to repeat the process and click click more to Continue. In XP, however these pop-up, more clicky thingy’s are non-existent (I prefer it this way- who cares!). Then again I understand, Microsoft is trying to make their point about “security” - but still too much of a good thing is a bad thing.

Other than the annoying annoying pop-up prompts and clicking several times Vista renamed the Power Schemes (from XP) to “power plan”. Power plans like Balanced, Power Saver, and High Performance. . .

Windows XP - Power Options - Power Schemes