From HowToGeek

The Windows Sidebar is a new panel in Windows Vista that allows you to dock Desktop Gadgets to the side of the desktop as well as move the gadgets around the screen.

Contents 1 Overview 2 Using the Sidebar 2.1 Add Gadgets 2.2 Hide the Sidebar 2.3 Close Sidebar 2.4 Sidebar Add-ons 3 Similar Software 4 See Also

Overview

Using the Sidebar

You can bring all of the gadgets to the foreground by using the Win+Space key combination. You can also hide the gadgets again with an additional utility. [see also] Todo: screenshots for basic usage.

Add Gadgets

You can add gadgets to the sidebar by right-clicking anywhere on the sidebar or the system tray icon, and choosing Add Gadgets.

Now you can drag any of the gadgets from the Gadget Gallery onto the desktop or the sidebar.

Hide the Sidebar

You can hide the sidebar but dock the gadgets to the desktop. First drag each of the gadgets off the sidebar and then right-click on the sidebar and choose "Close Sidebar".

The gadgets will stay running but the sidebar itself will be closed.

Close Sidebar

The only way to actually close the Sidebar process is by right-clicking on the system tray icon and choosing Exit.

Sidebar Add-ons

You can use the sidebar styler [need link]

Similar Software

• Google Desktop's Sidebar
• Desktop Sidebar (freeware)

See Also

• Desktop Gadgets
• Shortcut Key to Hide Windows Vista Sidebar Behind Other Windows
• Applying Themes to Your Windows Vista Sidebar
• Run Windows Sidebar Gadgets Without the Sidebar
• Disable Windows Sidebar in Vista

List of Windows Components v
Features	Windows Aero - System Restore - Previous Versions - SuperFetch - User Account Control (UAC) - Offline Files - ReadyDrive - Instant Search - Windows Sidebar - Parental Controls - Speech Recognition - ClearType - DirectX 10 - ReadyBoost - BitLocker - Flip3D - Remote Desktop - Search Folders - Tablet PC - Windows SideShow
Services	Task Scheduler - Desktop Window Manager - Application Experience - Application Host Helper Service - Application Information - Application Layer Gateway Service - Application Management - Background Intelligent Transfer Service - Base Filtering Engine - Block Level Backup Engine Service - Certificate Propagation - COM+ Event System - Computer Browser - DHCPClient
Applications	Notepad - Windows Mail - Internet Explorer - Command Prompt (Cmd.exe) - Windows Calendar - Mobility Center - Task Manager - Photo Gallery - Windows Media Center - Windows Media Player - Wordpad - Windows Sidebar - Snipping Tool - Windows Contacts - Device Manager - Disk Defragmenter - Event Viewer - Fax and Scan - Windows Journal - Windows Meeting Space - Windows DVD Maker - Windows Easy Transfer
Security	User Account Control (UAC) - Windows Defender - Windows Firewall
Admin Tools	Control Panel - Device Manager - Microsoft Management Console (MMC)