Network Meter Vista Gadget

Sidebar gadgets are small utilities designed to offer you easy access to system information or frequently used programs. Such an application is Network Meter Vista Gadget, a tool that you can use to monitor your computer's network adapter usage.
Once installed, the gadget appears on your desktop, enabling you to place it wherever you think it's convenient. The currently used adapter type is automatically detected and displayed in the main window, together with two meters, which display the download and the upload speed, in real time.
The 'Settings' section is the place where you can change some of the configuration options that the gadget comes with. Thus, you can choose the network card you want the program to monitor and change the sample interval, which varies from 500 to 2000 miliseconds. Setting up a maximum speed and auto-scaling are other options that this application provides you with.
The interface appearance is also customizable, since the gadget includes a wide collection of background skins in different colors, enabling you to integrate it with your desktop theme.
Besides the traffic details, there is no other information that the application displays and that is a drawback for sure, especially since other similar tools do offer extra features. For instance, a window displaying recent activity, the IP and MAC addresses or the total traffic could help any user who wants to keep an eye on the network usage.
One of the advantages of the program is simplicity, providing you fast access to information regarding network traffic and adapter type.
Overall, advanced users might be disappointed by the application's lack of features. However, if you are looking for a user-friendly tool to monitor traffic usage in real time, Network Meter Vista Gadget is worth a try.