How Windows Vista Affects Power Users

Power users may at first be disappointed with Windows Vista because, as part of Microsoft's constant quest to make Windows easier for novices and casual users, the OS becomes increasingly encrusted with "user-friendly" features that might get in the way of the power user's goal of efficiency and speed. However, the Windows programmers and designers are mostly power users themselves, so in many cases they've slipped in alternative methods to work around the hand-holding.

For example, most power users will probably be driven to the point of insanity by User Account Control and its endless requests for your permission to do many things. I can attest that you do get used to it after a week or two. However, what's truly annoying about UAC is that it simply won't let you do some tasksit won't even ask for permission. A good example is editing a file in a protected folder. For instance, I often modify the lmhosts file to ensure proper networking, but UAP doesn't let me save my changes. However, I can get around this by right-clicking the Notepad icon and then clicking Run As Administrator.

Power users will get the most out of Vista to the extent that they discover and use such workarounds