Window Blinds VS Style XP

Short "story":
WindowBlinds is a true windows skinner
StyleXP is a mere "hack-in-a-box"

I'd say go for WindowBlinds!

wb is the best made by the best and the skins are the best !!!

To be honest Babyruffy, the best way to decide is try each out seperately and see which is best.
You'll always get different opinions depending on where you ask. We're predominately WB-biased here, so most people will reccomend that.
But, I say see which you like best.

WB does things that StyleXP can only dream of. Plus, WB isn't a hack. You're going to find good and bad skins for both formats so don't base your decision on skins. base it on the functionality of the app. if you do that, there's no comparison. WB wins hands down!

StyleXP? what's that?

Also bear in mind that StyleXP will not work on the next version of Windows.

It isn't a true skinning program, just a free dll hack for which someone has the nerve to charge money

just a free dll hack

Forgive my ignorance, but what exactly does this mean? I never contemplated buying Style XP, because I didn't even know it existed, until I bought Object Desktop. Believe me, I'm sure that I made the right decision. But, what does "hack" mean, just for academic reasons? TIA

dabe (....hoping the answer isn't too complicated)

If you like minimalistic looking skins, slim taskbars and Mac's then go with Style Xp.

If you are more into a flashy desktop *for the most part* then I suggest Windowblinds.

I prefer windowblinds but at the moment I'm running Style Xp because I'm in a minimal mood.
[Message Edited]

But, what does "hack" mean, just for academic reasons? TIAdabe (....hoping the answer isn't too complicated)

Put simply, a "hack," in this sense of the word, is an unauthorized (by the original program author - in this case, MicroSoft) modification of software (in this case, the uxtheme.dll of MS Windows XP). The purpose of the original hack in this case was to permit the use of .msstyle files(Visual Styles) which are not authorized by MS.

A "patch" is an executable program which modifies part of another program or application. In this case, the uxtheme patch, which is available for free on the net, modifies the uxtheme.dll of Windows XP so that one can apply .msstyle files and change the appearance of much of the WinXP GUI. There are all kinds of patches, and many come from the original author to correct an error in the software. In this case, however, the uxtheme patch is unauthorized by MS.

StyleXP essentially takes this free patch, adds a simple GUI to make the patch easier(?) to use, and then is sold to the public. No real functionality is added in terms of skinning WinXP beyond what is available in the free patch.

Windowblinds does not modify any of the operating system files of WinXP. It works with the OS to skin the GUI without modifying any of the files created by MicroSoft. Hence, Windowblinds is neither a "hack" nor a "patch", and in addition, skins more elements of the WinXP (and other Windows) GUI than the uxtheme patch or StyleXP can do.

[Message Edited]

The uxtheme.dll controls which themes (luna, silver, olive) Windows can display and does not allow any non digitally signed themes. To use other themes the uxtheme.dll needs 'hacking' so it ignores the lack of a digital signature in third party themes.

Not only is it risky doing this, it breaks the Microsoft EULA.

My objection to Style XP (aside from the obvious that it should be free) is that it doesn't improve on the Windows GUI. All you can do is exactly what Luna does, no more, no less.  You can't change border sizes, re-arrange button placement, add other functions, roll-up the window, add plugins like a clock or winamp controls, etc, etc, etc. 

Windowblinds is the only one to consider... imho

Thanks for the responses, everyone. Allow me to reiterate.... From what I can glean from these explanations, Style XP merely allows you to "recolor" what already exists, without the ability to really change the GUI, while at the same time requires a change in the software, the .dll, to do it. WB enables you to change virtually everything without changing any of the underlying software. Very cool.

And, I entered into this from a place of absolute ignorance. All I wanted was a way to make my computer look nicer, and to redo the GUI that has next to nothing to do with MS (MS is clumsy, with submenus of submenus, often deeply embedded so ya can't figure out how to do anything, unless you practically have a PhD in computer science). I guess that's why I love using DX as my primary GUI. It's smooth, very functional, and elegant, thanks to the great skinners who work with it. It has a fairly steep learning curve, but it is worth it. DX combined with OB, and resorting to MS taskbar and start bar, when absolutely necessary, works well for me. Also, it astounds me how few people tend to use DX as their primary GUI, judging from the monthly desktop screenshots.

Babyruffy, go with Window Blinds. You get so much more for your money. With Style XP, you get Style XP. With Object Desktop, you can have the whole shootin' match.

I prefer windowblinds but most of the time I work with styleXP. Most of my customers want to get a styleXP skin because they dont need a program in that case to run it. There is a great iconpack given away by TGTsoft too btw

who did they rip to make it?

Hmn...that should read a "msstyles skin" rather than "StyleXP skin," Styl skinner.

I don't know if they're still doing it but the IconPackager files they were "including" were Stardock's Icon Packager format, which TGSoft claimed some eminent-domain type possesion of. I believe they even sued Stardock to stop claiming copyright for the format, even though Stardock created and owned it.

Pretty cheeky for a "company" like TGSoft which has never created any software of their own. They are hard to believe... they remind me of a cross between snake-oil salesmen and carpetbaggers.

David, yes that is indeed the case, they will be down in court next month or something like that, I am sure we will hear about that when the time is there.

sig, yes but styleXPbuilder works great for that too

Not intending to start an argument here but most of the facts stated in this thread about how StyleXP works are not factual at all and generally just plain wrong.

While it is true that TGTSoft and a host of individuals have either hacked uxtheme.dll replacements or patches that actively hack the uxtheme.dll already in you Windows System folder available, StyleXP does not modify any system files in any way. StyleXP installs a hack in memory *only* via a system service in order to fool Windows into thinking that every msstyle file has been authentically signed. It's basically proxy to Windows' theme engine so the folks at TGTSoft have done slightly more coding that anybody here seems to want to give them credit for. StyleXP is also a theme "manager" allowing you to actively organize, preview and apply a few discrete functions at once such as applying a window style, icons and bootscreen. Further evidence of more code than some here would lead you to believe.

All that being said, StyleXP doesn't come near the skinning capabilities of Windowblinds due to the fact that StyleXP *doesn't* skin anything at all but relies instead on Windows' built in skinning engine which is rather outdated and short on features. Let it also be said that in order for TGTSoft to accomplish this, they had to reverse engineer parts of Windows and the msstyle theme file format itself which is in clear violation of Microsoft's EULA. Technically that means every home-grown msstyle theme file you see on the Net is probably illegal.

I hope this clears up some misconceptions people have. It should also give most anybody with reasonable intelligence justification technically and morally to use Windowblinds. It's just plain better. It's just that simple.

Be cool,
:e.m::.

thanks e.man... that's a lot more info than I was aware of...

StyleXP installs a hack in memory *only* via a system service in order to fool Windows into thinking that every msstyle file has been authentically signed. It's basically proxy to Windows' theme engine so the folks at TGTSoft have done slightly more coding that anybody here seems to want to give them credit for.

Let it also be said that in order for TGTSoft to accomplish this, they had to reverse engineer parts of Windows and the msstyle theme file format itself which is in clear violation of Microsoft's EULA.

Whether TGTSoft did their own coding, or borrowed from the uxtheme patch, it's still as you pointed out a clear violation of Microsoft's EULA, and therefore a hack. Being a hack doesn't mean that the code is simplistic, uncomplicated, or shoddy in anyway from a technical (as opposed to legal/ethical/moral)standpoint. In fact, some of the most elegant code I've ever seen has been in hacks.

As for StyleXP's capabilities as a theme manager, I'll stand corrected in omitting that function from my post. However, I stand by my original statement that

No real functionality is added in terms of skinning WinXP beyond what is available in the free patch.

Technically that means every home-grown msstyle theme file you see on the Net is probably illegal

That's the salient point.....and one worthy of consideration when not trying to be hypocritical about Artists' Copyright at the same time as violating an explicit EULA.

Whether the dll coding 'mod' is complex or not, the Professional Practice/ethics of the company concerned is IMPO somewhat 'lacking', leaving a sour taste which deters one's use of the 'product'....

Emptyman:

You are incorrect. What Style XP does is install a file system filter driver that patches a particular place in memory where uxtheme.dll resides. That is why you have to update Style XP every single time a new build of Windows XP comes out. It is, as others have pointed out, a hack.

I'm biased of course but the truth is very straight forward. WindowBlinds users can make use of both WindowBlinds visual styles and .msstyles without having to patch anything in memory.

We could write a Style XP clone in about 2 days. There's really nothign to Style XP and IMO, no justification for them selling it. I'd go as far as to say that what they are doing is probably borderline illegal.

I see no technical difference between Style XP and those cracks you can get online that allow you to play games without the CD in the drive.

The only reason Style XP has a market is because Microsoft asked Stardock during the Whistler beta NOT to do what they are doing. Microsoft, so far, has not bothered to go after them. But Style XP only will work as long as they are able to continue patching uxtheme.dll. Any significant change to the OS would make it obsolete.

At the end of the day, WindowBlinds and Style XP cost the same while WindowBlinds does much more.

BTW, ever .msstyles file on the net is technically illegal. That is why WinCustomize doesn't allow them on here. It is also why the boot screen and logon screen sections are different than other sites where kernels and logonui.exe's are distributed.

What amazes me is that people who would never think of clicking on an email attachment from a stranger have no problem going onto some site that distributes patched versions of Windows OS files and install them right onto their system. Particularly from sites that don't even have moderation.

"What amazes me is that people who would never think of clicking on an email attachment from a stranger have no problem going onto some site that distributes patched versions of Windows OS files and install them right onto their system. Particularly from sites that don't even have moderation."

Haha, never thought about it like that, but it's true!

ever .msstyles file on the net is technically illegal. That is why WinCustomize doesn't allow them on here

If this is the case, what makes a port of any msstyle file any more legal and available for download here?