The Windows Alt-tab application switching hot key has improved greatly over the years but it still is put to shame by the VistaSwitcher application. Don’t be fooled by the name, it is compatible with Windows XP, Vista and 7. At the core VistaSwitcher works by displaying a list of open applications and shows a preview of the selected window.
The real power of the utility is the hidden right click menu on the alt-tab screen that allows you to minimize, maximize, close, end the process and more.
Different from other alt-tab changes, you can also switch between windows opened by a specific application by pressing alt + ` (accent key typically located above tab).
Give it a try and see if you like the extra features. The software is completely free and available in both 32-bit and 64-bit versions.
One of the things I look for is quick, smooth applications that are useful.
I find this one to be faster than a lot of the other alt-tab replacements out there in the wild, but it still is laggy for me.
I don't intend to upgrade my PC just to have a faster alternate alt-tab functionality - the old alt-tab functionality is fast enough for me, and doesn't consume vast amounts of the screen.
If anything, I'd rather have fast alt-tab replacement that works like the one I have configured in Compiz for Linux.
I don't get the point of having a context menu for the alt-tabber. I trained myself to be a left-handed mouser even though I'm right-hand dominant. For data entry - it's the only configuration that makes true sense - and I've tried it both ways. It's cumbersome to cross my hands over to access the context menu. Besides, it's much faster to right-click the tab bar.
It's cute, but hardly useful.
Works well for me because I have way to much open at once.
And the program is so smooth.
Now I give up, it is simply too slow.
Try SmartTab, it is fast and meet basic requirment.
http://www.oelgaard.dk/software/torkilstaskswitcher/