Windows' Settings while using WebEx

Aesthetic details matter.  WebEx screws them up on a PC.  Nothing bad ever happens on a Mac so this article is only about PCs.  Don't let it happen to you on your next demo.

Two things happen when you share your screen on WebEx:

1. Window Color changes to "Windows 7 Basic"
2. ClearType is turned off

I use Chrome and I also use full screen when I present.  If I have window transparency turned on (Windows calls this Aero) before sharing, after I stop sharing, I can no longer close my Chrome window because the [x] is not positioned and recognized properly.  This is not a big deal, but it sucks.  To mitigate this, I have simply set my Window Color to Windows 7 Basic at all times.  This eliminates that initial screen refresh and the alert that your settings have changed when you click on Share Desktop also.  Here are my settings.  Keep a clean background, remove sounds, and say no to screen savers (we're not in 1997 anymore).  Your audience and your sanity will thank you.

The ClearType setting is a big deal.  Here are 3 images comparing the 3.  Hover over to understand the differences.

ClearType is on by default, but WebEx will turn it off.  Turning it back on while you're sharing, is a major no-no since there are a number of screens to "optimize" the settings (see the video).  Here is how I've gotten around this:

1. You must have Windows 7 Basic as your Aero theme.  If your theme changes when you share your desktop, your entire screen turns black to refresh the screen and voids this workaround.  You must eliminate this refresh first by setting your Window Color to Windows 7 Basic!
2. Load up your site in your browser (I tested in Chrome).  You must have the tab or window open prior to sharing your desktop.
3. When you share your screen, because there is no refresh, all graphics on the screen will keep to ClearText.  This includes your desktop and your open tabs and windows in your browser.  If you create a new tab or new window, that will use the new setting for ClearType off.
4. You can now navigate within your open browser tab/window without any ClearType changes.

While most people don't view this as a big deal, you have to remember that it might be a big deal to the prospect.  In my vertical especially, I meet a lot of designers, marketers, and coders and these are the things that can really irk them whether they can truly put their finger on it or not.  They'll say the UI didn't look nice when in reality, it was just a setting that WebEx changed on you.  Don't let it happen to you!