15 Options to Switch Off Windows

Usability does not mean pouring in too many options. But providing the minimalistic set to achieve full functionality.  While many say, you must have explicit options to do different things, I agree with Joel, that all we need is one button to put the computer to rest. Everything else is implicit and can be done by Windows without confusing users. Less is More, just like 37signals say.

Every time you want to leave your computer, you have to choose between nine, count them, nine options: two icons and seven menu items. The two icons, I think, are shortcuts to menu items. I'm guessing the lock icon does the same thing as the lock menu item, but I'm not sure which menu item the on/off icon corresponds to.

On many laptops, there are also four FN+Key combinations to power off, hibernate, sleep, etc. That brings us up to 13 choices, and, oh, yeah, there's an on-off button, 14, and you can close the lid, 15. A total of fifteen different ways to shut down a laptop that you're expected to choose from.

Source: Joel on Software