Is the show desktop button in Windows 8.1 smaller or is it me?


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I noticed that the show desktop button that's not visible is smaller when you click on it. Is the show desktop button smaller in Windows 8.1 or is it just me. I remember it being much larger in Windows 8. I am surpised no one noticed this in Windows 8.1. Did Microsoft make a goof when adding the start button or was it intentional?

 

I took a screenshot below, I definitely think the button is smaller

post-455563-0-30400400-1383932107.png

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It seemed unnecessarily large before.

Ditto that, you already know you just move the mouse to the bottom right to peek or toggle the desktop if you're a mouser, the visual clue was kind of a waste of tray space. Eh, not like 7's was ginormous to begin with either though.

 

een5.png

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It is really bugging me because its so darn smaller now and I do use it to show the desktop in many instances.

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I don't believe it is a mistaken since it looks fine. Also, why does it matter if it looks smaller than the one in Windows 7? :huh:

Its noticeably smaller than in Windows 8. I remember the button slightly bigger in Windows 8.  Its irking me a lot.

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The button is not visible when its not clicked, but when you go the extreme right of the taskbar and click it, highlights it.  Microsoft must have shrunken the button or something. I surprised no one has noticed this in Windows 8.1

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Its noticeably smaller than in Windows 8. I remember the button slightly bigger in Windows 8.  Its irking me a lot.

Well they tried to decrease the size of various UI elements in 8.1. (e.g. window borders) I never noticed it was smaller until you mentioned it. Probably because I rarely use it, but it still looks OK. :)

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It is definitely smaller. I'm not sure what Microsoft was thinking. The new size doesn't help either desktop or touchscreen users in any way. Perhaps my least favorite change in Windows 8.1.
 

cvmr.png
Windows 7 / 8 Show Desktop button size

as09.png
Windows 8.1 Show Desktop button size

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The new button appears to be broken also, if I use winkey + d to toggle the desktop it correctly remembers which window was active, if I use the button it strangely always uses iTunes as the active Window.

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Works for me just fine. I'm glad that it doesn't even show the button anymore and it's basically invisible. I can just do Win+D or throw my mouse over there and click without even thinking or seeing the button and it works just fine. :)

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Done some tests only seems to happen if iTunes is running. Perhaps its an iTunes Bug

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It is really bugging me because its so darn smaller now and I do use it to show the desktop in many instances.

 

Why would it be a problem though?  You move your cursor to the bottom right corner and click.  Doesn't matter how big the area is as long as your in the bottom right corner.

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its smaller to avoid fat finger accidentally tapping it.

Isn't that in stark contrast with the Windows 8 design goals?

 

That would be a funny reason considering that in Windows 7 "Touch Mode" that button got bigger to allow for better tapping?^^

Yes. The button's horizontal length increases by 9 pixels.

 

cvmr.png

Windows 7 Show Desktop button (normal)

CmPpKVd.png

Windows 7 Show Desktop button (large)

 

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Its noticeably smaller than in Windows 8. I remember the button slightly bigger in Windows 8.  Its irking me a lot.

IIRC, this changed in Windows 8 and hasn't directly changed since.  It's a pretty underutilized aspect of the system, so keeping the functionality while giving people back some precious screen space seems like a useful and valuable change. :)

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