Is there an alternative to Exposé for Windows?

Question

Is there any software for Windows comparable to Mac's Expose feature? It is an application switching feature that is activated when you move your mouse to the edge of the screen.

Answer 1

I think I am going to go with Switcher

I tried a few others, but this one seems to be more light-weight and quicker.

Answer 2

Try these:

• Switcher (free). Arguably the most popular free and open source option. Even a cursor search will bring up this one. It is widely recommended. Highly configurable. Downside: last updated 2007-NOV-08.
• Dexpot (free for private use; EUR 19 for commercial). Includes expose and spaces functionality. In fact, it is advertised first as a multi-desktop tool (like spaces), with the expose-features as a secondary feature. Other pluses include integration with the Windows 7 taskbar, actively updated, 64-bit compatible, plug-ins, and partnerships with popular tools such as UltraMon, TaskBar Shuffle, and Rainmeter. The main criticism is speed, though that may not be an issue depending on your graphics card and RAM.
• TopDesk ($20) I have used this for 3 years and am quite satisfied. Company also sells DeskSpace, which is 3D multiple desktop app. You can get them as a bundle. Reliable.
• Dexpose2 (free) Comes up in a lot of searches. Supports multi-monitors. Reports suggest it is fast.
• Small Windows (free; open source). Was developed in 2004 to provide this features on Windows 98 or later. Not updated but officially open source as of May 2010.
• See Wikipedia for a more comprehensive list that covers both Windows & Linux. The ones above seem to be the most popular and often recommended items. I haven't tried any of the other items listed in Wikipedia.

My recommendation:

• I use TopDesk (since 2007). It works well. Has enough features for me. But it hasn't been updated much and I am considering a replacement
• I'm testing Dexpot. It is the most actively developed and, arguably, the most feature-rich. It works great, but I'm running 64-bit Windows 7 with 8GB RAM and an excellent video card.
• Switcher seems popular and makes shortlist. My hesitation is that it was last updated in late 2007. That raises questions for people running 64-bit windows 7 (which I am). Are there bugs? What's the support?

Answer 3

DExposE is an alternative. Here's a Lifehacker review of DExposE2.

DExposE2 is a clone of Mac OS X's Expose feature for Windows XP and Vista.
Aside from the basic Expose features, which we've seen from a lot of clones in the past, DExpose2 features a handful of extra features like interactive previews, hot corners, multi-monitor support, and more. If you like the look and feel of Expose but have never found a good substitute for your Windows PC, the freeware DExposE2 may be the best available. DExposE2 comes in portable and zipped versions

Answer 4

MyExpose (link currently down) is an Expose clone for Vista, described more in detail by The How-To Geek:

There is also the older iEx:

DExposE2 is supposed to be an Expose clone for Windows XP and Vista as well:

Answer 5

Dexpot, a very detailed virtual desktop software (for Windows) has an Expose-like feature, called "Windows Catalogue" and "Active Window Catalogue."

However, Dexpot does not seem have Expose's hot-corner functionality. Instead, it uses configurable keyboard shortcuts (e.g. Super+F10 etc.) It's the most versatile virtual desktop program for Windows I've been able to find.

Answer 6

SmallWindows seems to work ok. It is an Expose clone for Windows 98 and newer.

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Topdesk is a fairly cheap version you can trial as well.

TopDesk radically reduces the time you spend switching between tasks by giving you the ability to quickly find the window you want from a thumbnail view.