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Skin/Shell Customization applications for windows (Read 761 times)

Started by Tony 3rd, March 25, 2008, 03:43:37 am
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Tony 3rd

Skin/Shell Customization applications for windows
#1  March 25, 2008, 03:43:37 am
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Is there anyother Skin/shell customizations apps for windows besides Astonshell or Windowblinds?

Windowblinds is quite the resource hog, but fully changes the way windows look (if you want vista look but don't have 8GB of RAM, this is the way to go).

Astonshell is lighter and dandy, but only changes taskbar and add a few plugins (stuff like, CPU and RAM monitors and clocks).

plus, i find it extra taskbar quite uselless, since i don't use (or have installed) half of the stuff it links.

right now, using Astonshell.


and the Vista transformation pack uses Windowblinds, so it does not count.

Cybaster

Re: Skin/Shell Customization applications for windows
#2  March 25, 2008, 10:53:42 am
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In all the stardock softwares, I use ObjectDock over WindowBlinds. Dunno any others though, which fully change the way Windows looks like (Well, there's Style XP, but I'm not sure it's what you want)

He-Man

Re: Skin/Shell Customization applications for windows
#3  March 25, 2008, 04:01:24 pm
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VPO Cybaster said, March 25, 2008, 10:53:42 am
In all the stardock softwares, I use ObjectDock over WindowBlinds. Dunno any others though, which fully change the way Windows looks like (Well, there's Style XP, but I'm not sure it's what you want)

Nah - I tried Style XP, but it has to be bought, I think. It's a good programe, but not THAT good.
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Valodim

Re: Skin/Shell Customization applications for windows
#4  March 25, 2008, 04:37:47 pm
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Well there are skinning programs, and there are shell replacements. The former just change the way your usual taskbar look, the latter actually replace it (as in, no explorer.exe process running).

If you just want some style changes and looks, style xp or windowblinds are the way to go I guess, never really got into this stuff. Style XP just patches the original windows styling engine ("xp look") so it is relatively easy on the resources. For the full spectrum, WindowBlinds is the de facto standard, but resource heavy no way around that.

If you have some time to spare and actually want to customize the behavior and not only looks of your windows (basically everything except ctrl+alt+del and ctrl+shift+esc), I recommend LiteStep. You'd be surprised how efficient a user interface can get if you actually take the time to adapt it to your specific needs. I suppose you're more interested in styles though so I won't start rambling ;)

A good hybrid option is actually using both. One of the most resource heavy parts is styling the windows taskbar, if you disable that part and use an explorer.exe replacement you will likely have less total resource usage than otherwise (shell + foreign overlay > alternate shell), not so much in RAM but in cpu and responsibility (which tends to suffer from skinning). IINM.
Last Edit: March 25, 2008, 04:48:19 pm by Valodim

M79

Re: Skin/Shell Customization applications for windows
#5  March 27, 2008, 06:22:45 pm
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You could try using UXTheme patcher. It makes it so you can use different themes/skins for your OS, assuming you're using Windows XP. I get my themes from deviantART.
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Tony 3rd

Re: Skin/Shell Customization applications for windows
#6  March 29, 2008, 02:56:58 am
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thanks guys, for all the suggestions.

right now, i'm using litstep. i found some themes that do preety much what i wanted, as in changing the whole overall look (windows+ taskbar) + adding some features.

The Aboriginal One

Re: Skin/Shell Customization applications for windows
#7  March 29, 2008, 03:10:11 am
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Invictus

Re: Skin/Shell Customization applications for windows
New #8  March 29, 2008, 01:28:39 pm
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Last Edit: April 20, 2008, 06:20:04 pm by Invictus

Valodim

Re: Skin/Shell Customization applications for windows
#9  March 30, 2008, 12:05:16 am
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I found the windows key to be very useful. Unlike Ctrl, Alt and Shift, it is not used by any applications whatsoever, so you can freely use it in combination with any alphanumeric key for application starting shortcuts. Very useful :)
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