Microsoft Monday
Recently Stardock launched TweakVista version 1.01. We’ve written about it before (here and here), but just as a refresher, it’s described as “an enhancement application that helps users configure Windows Vista to meet their personal needs. The program has been designed to allow both casual, non-technical users to safely use it as well as contain a host of advanced features for power users to dig into the internals of Windows Vista.”
Here’s the thing about TweakVista — it doesn’t allow you to do anything that you can’t already do with Vista out of the box. What’s nice though is that everything is in one central location so that it’s easier to access the settings you’d ever want to change. It also makes it easier to manage certain things versus doing it on your own, and does a great job of explaining them for those who aren’t familiar.
Today we’re going to give you a visual guide of what it’s all about. Take a look at the screenshots (click to enlarge them) to see what all TweakVista has to offer… it’s a lot! Please note that we used the full-featured version which costs $19.95. There is an awesome free version available that just lacks a few of the features for those of you who’d like to try before you buy, or who don’t need a full-featured version. At the end of this article, look for the instructions on entering our giveaway to receive one of two TweakVista licenses.
Start Up
From the Start Up menu you’ll be able to control just about everything to do with the start up process. You’ll be able to see which programs are set to run upon startup, and you’ll also be able to disable some of those programs. TweakVista will monitor your computer’s startup, shutdown, and sleep performance which could help you identify if there are any problems.
Resources
Under this section you can identify the programs that are using the most amount of memory. No one likes a program that’s a memory-hog, so this will be helpful. It’ll also show you your process list. Certainly you can easily get this information without TweakVista, but it’s nice to have it all in one centralized location.
Services
This part of TweakVista will help you manage all of the services that come with Vista that you may or may not use. From here you can turn off the services that you don’t use like web folders, diagnostics, error reporting, and more.
Security
Security is an important part of any operating system. From here you can customize your security settings like enable UAC, or switch to the secure desktop to display elevation requests.
Display
Stardock describes this portion of TweakVista as: “Unleash the power of the Desktop Windows Manager, underlying Vista’s user interface.” From here you can do things like enable or disable the Flip 3D window switching.
Power
One of the best options here is the power cost analysis which estimates how much your annual cost is per year to run the computer as well as your carbon footprint.
Assessment
If you’re currently running Vista, you’re probably aware of the assessment feature which rates your computer. You get an overview of how your computer performs, but TweakVista breaks it down further and provides you with detailed information on what the assessments are based on.
Internet
Allows you to easily enable certain network features that aren’t enabled by default.
SMARTGuard
Information presented in the SMARTGuard section was provided by your hard drive.
Misc. Tweaks
Includes context menu handlers, environment variables, and the system restore feature to create a restore point.
–Giveaway–
We have two licenses of TweakVista to giveaway thanks to Stardock! If you are using Windows Vista or have plans of getting it in the future, go ahead and enter. All you have to do is leave a comment below, and we’ll choose two winners. One winner will be randomly chosen from the first ten comments, and a second winner will be chosen from all entries(it can be someone from the first 10 as well). The sooner you enter, the better!
As always, only one entry per person and this giveaway is void where prohibited. Each winner will receive a license for TweakVista which is valued at $19.95. Please note that if you are selected as a winner, you’ll need to create an account (if you don’t already have one) over at Stardock, and then they’ll go ahead and add the copy of Tweak Vista to your account.
The contest will end tomorrow on Tuesday, November 20th at 12 PM central time and the winners will be announced shortly after. Please be sure to include your email address in the email field of the comment box because this is how we’ll contact you, should you be chosen as a winner.
Thanks to Stardock for sponsoring this giveaway!
At first glance, I wasn’t all that interested in this, thinking it was another “WindowBlinds” sort of thing, but after reading your article, I *am* interested… I like the fact that it’s really nothing more than a convenience option; I like not having to search all over, and open & close window after window, and as a new Vista owner, this would be quite useful!
Hey, this is a fantastic deal from two fantastic websites. Thanks Cybernetnews and Stardock. We love you.
sounds like a good substitute for the former “powertoys”. ‘been looking for something like that…
hope i win
Hi , sometimes nice things happen in life, when they do it’s just like heaven smiling on you. This applies to giveaways.
I’d like one license please
I might win.
I have used the free version and it rocks.
So may I
But yea, after trying out the free version, I realised that it did nothing we couldn’t already do ourselves, just that we’d have to run through millions of forums and maybe ‘howtogeek’ guides!
It’d be nice to have a full version and see what that baby can do
Hi, please sign of up for a free license!
if you decide to go beyond 10, I would like to be included
Thanks, enjoy your day
Kind regards
Steve flattem
Burnsville MN
ding ding ding….we have a winner?
Winning? Really? That would be awesome!
I’d love to give the paid version a go. I’ve worked with the free version extensively. This is a great program.
Randomly choose me please!
I am glad to hear it’s not messing with “undocumented” registry entries but just uses the built in options to set preferences and choices!
And the winner is…….
Firstly I just want to say how fantastic CyberNet is.
Its the reason I get up in the morning.
If it were a person, I’d marry them.
Secondly my birthday is on the 26th and my new Dell PC will have Vista Home Premium on which I am not too happy about.
Please let me win so my birthday PC can be tweaked like a young maidens nipples.
Thank you. xxx
Please choose me.
I really hope I win. I have been using this program for a while now and the only things I really do not like about it are that it needs UAC to startup (if you leave UAC on) and the lack of all the features for the free version. Otherwise, great program.
This soft is just not worthy!
As you seem to tell at the beginning.
Looks like a great app. Love Stardock and you guys too
Y HELO THAR
Hey, sign me in!
I’d welcome the opportunity to check out this software. I’ve been using Vista for several months now and am always looking for easier ways to tweak it. Here’s to hoping you pick me!
Love the site! Keep up the great work.
-Sko
I have Vista and this program would hopefully help to speed it up a bit!
Great review, great product, please pick me
Wow! Wish me luck. I’ve been using the free version and I can say I’m very impressed.
Count me in!
hope i win
looks easy to use
Been using it for 3 months, and quite impressed
Wow, I was doing a reinstall of Vista today I hope I’m not to late for the giveaway? Thanks!
Wait Ask Vet
t W e A k v I s T a – TweakVista WAITS for your input, nothing is done secretly behind your back
t w E A k v i S T – tweaks from the EAST to
t W E a k v i S T – the WEST are covered in TweakVista
How I wish I can get the full version to
T w E a k v i S T – TEST it out…
Sry… some corrections
I wonder how this one compares to other commercial tools, especially like System Control of TuneUp Utilities (which is not restricted to Vista). Well, I’ll probably try TweakVista myself in near future and give you a feedback.
would love to get the license
pick me!!!!!
This sounds like a really great program. It is hard to find all of the commands in Vista and I am looking forward to anything that makes my life easier. I am disabled and have a difficult time as it is and anything that would make my life easier is great.
I think I am quite weary of hearing about Vista’s defects. It is a relatively good endeavor with significant new protection for file security. Of course it has flaws; find me something that doesn’t. By and large, it takes a bit more effort to manage than XP, but appears much more stable. A program like Tweak is a welcome tool for doing so, and from the description, would be a well-received plus for any user.
I’ve tried a couple of other tweak utilities with vista and had problems with both – hopefully Tweak Vista will be more stable, (and SP1 makes it unnecessary!)
I use the free version and love it