Start Menu - Notification Area

The notification area is the area of the Start Menu right above the Start Orb, when you left click on it.

The notification area contains items that are useful. When you open a computer with Windows Vista, for the first time. You will have some default icons in this area. The icons in this are is what Microsoft thinks you will need, or would like you to use. The more you use your computer more the commonly used programs will be moved into this area. This is Windows way to help you have easier access to the program that you use the most.

You can add specific short cuts to this area by copy and pasting from the desktop.