How to Put a Windows 8 Power Button on the Taskbar. If the multiple clicks it takes to get to the Shutdown button on your Windows 8 desktop is a few too many, there is a way to add a button that ...

The Windows 7 taskbar combines window management with an application launcher, since you can right-click on any item and pin it to the taskbar, but that's not nearly enough for a power user.

You'll see an icon in your taskbar from which you can toggle power plans with a single click, as well as change the brightness by right clicking.