Introduction

HP VUE is shorthand for Hewlett-Packard Visual User Environment. Assuming you already know what Hewlett-Packard is, that leaves "Visual User Environment" to be explained.

HP VUE is an environment and a set of powerful applications.  HP VUE creates an environment for interacting with your workstation. The environment it provides is called a "visual" or "graphical" environment because it provides things you can see on the display that guide you through performing tasks. HP VUE also includes a set of applications that make it easier to interact with your workstation and extend its functionality.

HP VUE is an alternative to commands.  Computers understand commands, and commands often have complex rules and syntax. In the absence of HP VUE, you must learn the commands and type them in exactly the right way to accomplish a task. When you are running HP VUE, you can issue commands to the computer without having to learn the commands.

HP VUE provides controls you can maniputate.  In HP VUE, commands are represented by controls drawn on the display that look much like buttons on an instrument panel. You use the mouse or keyboard to "push" the buttons. Since you must be able to find all these controls, the designers also fashioned a number of standard control containers such as menus and dialog boxes.

Figure 1  HP VUE uses many different types of controls.

HP VUE extends the functionality of your computer.  In addition to making it easier to get things done, HP VUE extends your computer's capabilities. For example, in an ordinary command-driven environment, you have one command line. With HP VUE's windows, you can have many applications running at once.

HP VUE also extends some physical limits of the computer. For example, most systems have only one physical display. HP VUE makes the most of that display by providing multiple workspaces. Each workspace occupies the entire screen, and you can switch from one to another.

HP VUE is part of your workstation's open system.  HP VUE is one component in a layered, open system. An open system can be adapted and extended to meet your needs. Since the building blocks of HP VUE use industry standards, you can easily integrate other applications into it, providing a way to start the application in its own window without having to type a command.

HP VUE includes a set of applications.  In addition to providing you with an environment that provides windows, workspaces, and easy-to-use controls, HP VUE includes a set of applications that help you use and customize your workstation. For example, Text Editor and Icon Editor provide an easy way to edit text files and create your own icons; Style Manager is an application for setting your own personal color scheme, fonts, and other aspects of the appearance and behavior of your system.

HP VUE is flexible.  There are two forms of HP VUE.

Depending on your system and your needs, you can run:

You choose which type of session you want at the login screen.