This is especially problematic on system’s with large, high-resolution monitors. On my 22-inch LCD, for instance, the thumbnails rarely give me a clue as to what’s actually inside the program.
Fortunately, I’ve discovered the awesome Vista Thumbnail Sizer, a free utility that lets you make thumbnails just about any size you want.
After extracting the Zip file, open the 32bits or 64bits folder (depending on which version of Vista you have), then run the AveThumbnailSizer application. Use the two sliders to set the maximum width and height for your thumbnails. I’ve got mine at around 550, but you should experiment until you find the settings you like best.
Fortunately, the changes are instantaneous: After you move a slider, you can mouse over any program to see the newly resized thumbnail.
When you’re done, click Start AveVistaThumbnailSizer with Windows so that your settings stay in effect after you reboot.
Note that Vista’s Aero effects must be turned on for this program (and, indeed, Vista’s window preview) to work.