Windows 7 Focus: Networking UI (6801)

Vista’s new Network Center wasn’t overly well received with the more experienced users due to the unnecessary amounts of mouse clicks to get to the more advanced areas they were used to. Its usability was also questionable as it was split into different views for all of the three most used actions of connect, disconnect and connection status. You could do everything direct from the Network Center, but it wasn’t very efficient having to load that window every time and the functionality was duplicated in different places:

Vista Disconnect:

Vista Connect:

Vista Network Center:

The Network Center is still present in Windows 7, however it has been simplified and supplemented with a new more efficient UI to do all the added as part of the system tray icon. Simply click the icon to display it:

This UI quickly shows the Wireless and Dialup/VPN connections available and lets you connect/disconnect with ease. Simply click on a network to display the connect/disconnect option depending on the current status:

Right click the network connection and you get the expected options:

Clicking Status takes you directly to the network status page ready for configuration:

Its quick and simple.

The main Network Center has been simplified, the functionality of the new UI is no longer duplicated here so it is easy to understand where you need to perform a specific action. I think the only time I use the Network Center now is to create my VPN connection on a clean install. Everything else can be configured quickly and easily using the system tray UI.

The one thing I don’t understand about the new UI is *why on earth* the LAN connections are not included, on the occasion I need to change the properties of a LAN connection I must still go through the following procedure:

1. Open System Tray UI

2. Open Network Center

3. Click Change Adapter Settings

4. Right click adapter

5. Click Properties/Status

Just unnecessary, especially considering the work is already done and all that needs to be done is just to add them into the UI. Wireless connections can get to the same point with three mouse clicks now, why penalise LAN connections? With any luck the LAN connections will be included in the UI shortly.