VistaShades for Windows

Used VistaShades for Windows? Share your experience and help other users.

Editors’ Review

Download.com staffNovember 7, 2008

Aging eyes or working in a room with poor lighting can sometimes make staring at a too-bright or too-dim monitor a tiring battle through the workday. This nifty little utility offers you more control over your screen's brightness and can make your eyes less tired.

Vista Shades has a limited feature set: It allows you to control the brightness of your monitor. It launches a simple but easy-to-understand interface--a small window with a sliding bar for adjusting the display's brightness. The utility applies the change as you move the slider bar, so you don't have to guess about the settings to choose.

This free application has no limitations, and performed excellently in our tests. Its feature set is limited, but it does what it says it will do, and it does it well.

What’s new in version 1.1

This version is the first release on CNET Download.com.

VistaShades for Windows

Used VistaShades for Windows? Share your experience and help other users.

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Full Specifications

GENERAL

Release: May 20, 2008

Latest update: November 7, 2008

Version: 1.1

OPERATING SYSTEMS

Platform: Windows

Operating System

Windows Vista
Windows 10

Additional Requirements: Windows Vista

POPULARITY

Total Downloads: 4,811

Downloads Last Week: 1

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Last Updated

User Reviews

3.5/5

4 User Votes

Doesn't work right in Windows 7
jeffheif1February 7, 2010
Pros
It does turn the screen dimmer, if you are not doing work, or the background dimmer if you are doing work
Cons
The actual window you are using doesn't dim
Summary
What a relief. works great. no more headaches
459905January 15, 2010
Pros
It works very easy. simple and effective. after comparing a 40 or 50 percent dim to no dim at all. i use it every day to keep my eyes healthy. no more headaches
Cons
doesnt work well with google earth and fox.com video player. on fox.com with vista shades turned on the video player flashes like a strobe. google earth some mouse movements cause the screen to flash. but only when mousing over the left side toolbar.
Summary
i would recommend to anyone who uses their computer for long periods. after you compare you will see the difference. i use mine around 40 or 50 dim rate. at first it takes getting used to but you forget its on after your eyes adjust
IG-87June 2, 2008
Pros
Love how dark it can make my screen. I am photosensitive, so it helps.
Cons
It reverts the brightness config if you close the program. At least it could be minimized to system tray and started on system startup, but it doesn't.
Summary
Simple, good program
ellehciM88May 25, 2008
Pros
It does what it states, simple, effective, free!
Cons
I couldn't find an "options". I wanted to pin it to my start menu and add it to my start-up programs... had to do it manually. Also, when the screen is dim you sometimes can't see the curser because it is the same gray color. I would also like to be able to adjust the contrast to conteract the effects of the dimmness.
Summary

Developer’s Description

Set the brightness level of your screen.

VistaShades is an open source program for Windows Vista that allows you to dim the screen for more comfortable viewing. It is especially useful for people running Vista on an iMac which can still be bright after turning the built-in dimmer all the way down. This version is the first release on CNET Download.com.