The Windows 3D Flip Thing

Alt+Tab has been around since the dawn of Windows - or at least Windows 3.0, and probably predates that somehow on a different system.  In that time, it's hardly changed at all - probably because it hasn't needed to.  You're all probably familiar with it.  Hit Alt+Tab to switch to a different window, hit it again to switch back.  If you hit it repeatedly you'll cycle through all the open windows.

In Vista, Alt+Tab hasn't changed much, except that instead of program icons you have little thumbnails of the different programs. No big deal, something very similar has been available as a Powertoy from Microsoft for XP for a long time now.  

Vista brought about the first major addition to switching applications by a keyboard shortcut - Win+Tab.  That's the Windows key + Tab.  This sends all your open windows into a vertically stacked, 3/4 view, rainbow shaped, eye candy buffet.

It looks neat, I'm not sold on the practical aspect of it but I suppose that someone else may find it really beneficial.  I'm prefectly content with the classic Alt+Tab.  The main reason I'm content with it is because it lets me work and switch applications faster.  Alt+tab, Excel instantly pops up.  Alt+Tab, my chat window is instantly up. Alt+Tab, Excel is instantly back again.

The problem with Win+Tab is that in order for it to be cool eye candy, it has to whizz and whir and animate all the windows into position.  It's a short delay, but it's a delay, and it gets old after a while.

Here's the other problem, and this one will keep me from ever using Win+Tab again.  It does not work like Alt+Tab.  That's right, it's a different set of keyboard shortcuts.  This is like changing Alt+B so that it's not Bold anymore.

Hit Win+Tab, all the windows animate, Excel pops up.  Win+Tab, all the windows animate, chat pops up.  Win+Tab, all the windows animate, Word pops up.

Word?  What's with the different application?  Why didn't my original app come back?  This is the way it's worked for what, about 20 years now? 

See, Win+Tab just cycles through all the apps in order until you find the one you want.  You have to know one of two secrets to get it to go backwards.  You can hit Win+Tab to go into Flip 3D and then use the scroll wheel on the mouse to go scroll forwards and backwards (I thought this was a keyboard shortcut), or you can hit Win+Shift+Tab to go backwards.  Or was that Win+Ctrl+Tab?

This is like having to hit Ctrl+Shift+B on something to make it not bold anymore - pointless. 

Not only do you have to remember two key combinations now, you have the added issue of "did I go forward or backwards to get to this app?  Hmmm.  Win+Shift+Tab.  Rats, that's Word, not Excel.  Win+Tab, Win+Tab.  Even with the scroll wheel you still have the same issue, but to a lesser degree.  But why do I need a mouse for a keyboard shortcut?  If I wanted the mouse I'd just click on the app on the taskbar.

Flip 3D is dead to me.  Long live Alt+Tab.