NIK Vivesa, Any alternative or equivalent?

Having heard a lot about Vivesa and being entirely unfamiliar with it, I just took a look at the Vivesa 2 (trial) via LR3 on a Win XP Pro PC. The U Point method seems very convenient, flexible and capable.

Nonetheless, I was astounded to discover that a number of typically expected and familiar Windows UI features were absent!

1) No way to Maximize nor Drag to Resize the Vivesa window!?
2) No way to Revert each individual effect control field (Brightness, Contrast, etc.) to its default value!? Clicking on it's name does not reposition that slider to it's default position. (Although there is a Reset button affecting all the sliders of the Control Point).
3) No Undo stack (although there is a Reset button).
4) No image fill nor fit to window nor slider zoom control (although the Z key and clicking the image steps through various sizes and dbl clicking the image toggles it to 100%)
5) Fine adjustments to the size of the Control Point by adjusting its small slider can be very rough. Is there another method?

Is this simply the state of evolution of Vivesa 2's UI? Users are embracing Vivesa's U Point and effects technology while tolerating such conventional UI omissions? Am I missing something obvious?

Is there anything on the market that is an alternative or equivalent to the results achievable using Vivesa?

Do NIK's other products also share the same UI? Or are they more enriched when it comes to Windows and feature controls?

Very much looking forward to hear input from those familiar with Vivesa (or similar) and the NIK products on the PC.

All of these are VERY good points!
Since having purchased and used Topaz products, I haven't used my Vivesa2 in sooo long now.
I REALLY dislike the control of the UI point sizing, and in round only?
Though, there is a way to "paint on" the effects.
I just never used it much, except when I first got it.

MusicLaw wrote in post #13458227
Having heard a lot about Vivesa and being entirely unfamiliar with it, I just took a look at the Vivesa 2 (trial) via LR3 on a Win XP Pro PC. The U Point method seems very convenient, flexible and capable.

Nonetheless, I was astounded to discover that a number of typically expected and familiar Windows UI features were absent!

1) No way to Maximize nor Drag to Resize the Vivesa window!?
2) No way to Revert each individual effect control field (Brightness, Contrast, etc.) to its default value!? Clicking on it's name does not reposition that slider to it's default position. (Although there is a Reset button affecting all the sliders of the Control Point).
3) No Undo stack (although there is a Reset button).
4) No image fill nor fit to window nor slider zoom control (although the Z key and clicking the image steps through various sizes and dbl clicking the image toggles it to 100%)
5) Fine adjustments to the size of the Control Point by adjusting its small slider can be very rough. Is there another method?

Is this simply the state of evolution of Vivesa 2's UI? Users are embracing Vivesa's U Point and effects technology while tolerating such conventional UI omissions? Am I missing something obvious?

Is there anything on the market that is an alternative or equivalent to the results achievable using Vivesa?

Do NIK's other products also share the same UI? Or are they more enriched when it comes to Windows and feature controls?

Very much looking forward to hear input from those familiar with Vivesa (or similar) and the NIK products on the PC.

Thanks! I'll take a look at Topaz's offering.

Vivesa's vertical display area for their control panel items, particularly when all the choices of a panel were expanded, required quite a bit of scrolling to satisfy where my eye and subsequently cursor pointer wanted to go.

To set the record straight:

I overlooked the drag to resize handle in the lower right corner of the window.

Nik's site Help > Interface Controls mentions the "F" Key maximizes the display window.

Reverting any individual slider to its default is accomplished by dbl clicking the triangular slider itself.

Ctrl + and Ctrl - step the image through several sizes.

Fine adjustment of the Control Point's area of influence is accomplished via the Left and Right Arrow Keys after clicking the CP's Size Slider.

Color Efex Pro 4 has a more Windows OS like UI, and appears more contemporary as compared Vivesa's current UI.

I did take a look at Topaz's products. They are also very compelling and numerous.