MaxMax

MaxMax is an OS enhancement tool that brings back the Windows Vista Sidebar in Windows 7. This way, you can facilitate quick access to desktop shortcuts or gadgets when working with any application in full screen. The Windows Sidebar was removed from Windows 7 and subsequent versions.

The setup procedure is fast and doesn't require special attention. Although this isn't mentioned anywhere, the program gets integrated into the Windows autostart sequence until told otherwise.

Once launched, the utility automatically adds the Sidebar on the right part of the screen and creates an icon in the systray, where it silently runs and gives you fast access to its configuration settings. No balloon messages are displayed, so you can carry on with your regular PC activity without any interruptions.

It's possible to disable the sidebar without having to exit MaxMax, adjust the top, bottom, left and right margins for restricting maximized windows, select another monitor to apply options for (if your system supports multiple monitors), remove the application's entry from the system startup, as well as pick a different language for the interface.

Left Shift is the default key for temporarily disabling MaxMax (hold it down while maximizing a window), and it can be swapped for any other key from the ones listed in the panel. Lastly, the program is capable of excluding the windows of any specific applications if you write down their process name.

No error dialogs popped up in our tests, and the tool didn't freeze or crash. As expected, it didn't hog system resources, using low CPU and RAM. However, we've noticed some display issues after adjusting two or more margins at a time and maximizing the windows.

To conclude, MaxMax provides a simple solution for emulating the Windows Vista Sidebar in Windows 7, backed by some handy customization properties.