Desktop Modding

[GDW]

Ive always been an admirer of the desktop thread and all the efforts people have made to individualise ther own desktop.

In the past I've toyed with it but got frustrated due to a lack of time, to understand and use the various little programmes.

Can someone recommend an idiots guide type website that will allow me to use the little time I have to its maximum effect. Or perhaps we could have a sticky thread tutorial from those of you who know what they're doing.


Thanks

Gramps

/edit spelling

 

[dysfunction]

I'd also be interested in this. I have no clue how to do any of the special customising.

Just installing things like samurise dont help me much as I find whats available just doesnt seem to fit what I want to see...

 

[Clown]

I would like to see this too.

Cheers.

 

[Mazling]

I'm not much into this, but...

http://www.skinbase.org/ - skins, themes, wallpapers.
http://www.deviantart.com/ - loads and loads of graphics.
http://www.themexp.org/ - what it says on the tin.
http://www.artuproar.com/ - more graphics.
http://www.wincustomize.com/ - random themes for random programs, and lots and lots of wallpapers.

http://virtualplastic.net/ - many complicated and time-consuming ways to completely ruin your windows install.
http://blizzle.com/ - similar to shellcity.
http://www.shellcity.net/ - random programs, leaning more towards functionality and specific programs rather than appearance.
http://www.stardock.com/products/windowblinds/ - change the appearance of the entire windows gui.
http://www.samurize.com/ - über-configurable stats program, it will show a lot of really useless info on your desktop, or in a window.

Shell replacement can be dangerous. So don't play with it.
From wikipedia: "The shell of an operating system is a program that presents an interface to various operating system functions and services." ie - your start menu, taskbar and system tray. This isn't merely a change of appearance, but a change of functionality.
Here are some links anyway.
http://geoshell.com/ - simple, though a pain to configure (has to be done via the registry)
http://bb4win.org/ - black box for windows. sleek with a capital "ssss".
http://www.litestep.com/ + http://www.litestep.net/ - litestep (the daddy)
"sharpe" too, though I cannot find the url. There are a load more, but those ones are fairly mature.

FireFox (formerly phoenix, firebird) is a skinnable, extendable, secure, stable-ish web browser. It's also 100% free
zoom player is a free skinnable media player type of program. Pay some money, and you can upgrade for DVD functionality.
bsplayer is the same kind of thing.

Last word: google is your friend - good hunting, and be sure to RTFM!

 

[Xavier]

Best first step would be to go to stardock.com and download the shareware version of object desktop. From there you can download and install a bunch of shareware versions of their programs and tinker with the preinstalled skins and widgets. If you want a dock they produce their own called objectdock - which from the look of many of the more recent desktops in the thread is the dock of choice for Freddies.

Xav

 

[Mazling]

Sorry if I wasn't too useful before. There aren't any tutorials online for "desktop modding" ... best thing to do is have a poke around, see what *can* be done, then figure out what you *want* to do.

 

[Xavier]

Think the best 'first step' for anyone new to the topic is a canned app like those provided by stardock. Combine them with the HUGE library at www.wincustomize.com and you can produce some pretty awesome results.

Xav

 

[babs]

I can vouch for Coolplayer for mp3 goodness too. Less than half a meg, loads instantly and totally skinnable.

 

[GDW]

Thanks To Mazling and Xavier. Ive been toying with DesktopX for the past hour and achieved more in that time than I achieved using Samurize in a week...excellent, thankyou

 

[Trem]

Excellent post Mazling, loads of effort went into that.

Get a job you pikey

 

[Xtro]

If you want a shit I suggest holding it in for a bit so it feels "special" when you do eventually plop.

Back on topic, thanks for the info!

 

[Trem]

Especially if it curls the right way, the male g-spot is there you know.

 

[Mazling]

what's the internet for ?*







* actual answer neither required nor solicited.