How much do you really use skins?

To what level?

from WinCustomize Forums

When I meet people who customize their computers, there seems to be a general..pathway they take.

At first, they change just their wallpapers.  Most people stay at the wallpaper level.  But some move on and want to change say their icons. And then others want to change their Start bar or title bars and such and learn about WindowBlinds and such.  And eventually they start getting into programs like DesktopX and widget enabling programs.

My question is, how much of this stuff do YOU use?

Me, I pretty much have it all going.  WindowBlinds is a must. My wallpaper is always changing.  Got various kinds of icons on my system. And I usually have a couple widgets going.  I also use RightClick which is skinned. And of course ObjectDock Plus.

17,179 views 53 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top

First proggy installed on a new OS.....Powerdesk [zipping, etc]

Second....Litestep ... to get away from Redmond's influences.

Third....Windowblinds ... see second....

Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Windowblinds (can't imagine using the default)
Object Dock Plus
IconPackager
DesktopX
Constant Wall Changes
Sysmetrix
Rainy
Cursor XP
LogonStudio
Winamp
Cursur XP
Sins of a Solar Empire II
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I've got 6 apps that are vital to me:
WindowBlinds and IconPackager (for obvious reasons)
Hoverdesk - Was the first application that I'd used for major OS customization, made my first theme back in 2001
Rainlendar - For keeping track of various appointments (I can't remember from noon till 12pm....)
WinAmp - The first skinnable application I tried, some...... 8-9 nine years ago, been stuck to it ever since. Started on my first (ever) skin back in 1998 (still not finished and never will be)
Final appliction is
TotalCommander - I hate Explorer (as a filemanager) with a passion and TotalCommander (formerly known as WindowsCommander) is the first piece of software I install after having (re-)installed Windows. Some 10 years ago I came across a dual-pane filemanager for DOS called NortonCommander (the 'oldies' knows it). I havent used any other type of filemanager ever since. TotalCommander came on as I progressed from DOS and Win3/95 into Win98. It's got more features than you can shake a stick at and then more.... (check it out yourself www.ghisler.com )

Those are the essential applications that I use/skin and just for space's sake I won't mention the rest of the skinnables I've got installed/ever skinned
(I've made 400+ skins for 50 diff applications, most are still installed)

Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I've got two desktops. One has nothing running and is setup with the classic Windows GUI and is for gaming. The other has Windowblinds, DesktopX, Iconpackager, CursorXP, Wallpaper, ObjectDock Plus and Rainlendar running and every once in a while I'll run a widget to try it out. If I like the widget, I'll run it as an object and add it permanently to my DesktopX Theme.
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
WindowBlinds
IconPackager
CursorXP
LogonStudio
BootSkin
BeatNik
Rainlendar
Wallpapers
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I just change my walls, use object dock, and change what icons I can by default. I don't like a lot running in the background. No windowblinds for me, I look at the ugly normal windows gui everyday
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Bad horiz0n

I have WindowBlinds, IconPackager, DesktopX, IconX, ObjectDock+, CursorXP, EnhancedDialog, Sysmetrix, Kapsules and Konfabulator running atm. I change skin on Winamp and Windows Media Player every now and then as well as I use LogonStudio for it's purpose. I do change my wallpaper, but not that often since I find myself organizing my desktop after Winamp, widgets and desktop icons. Don't wanna re-organize it all the time.
Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Pretty much everything you said, Brad. Except for RightClick.

Must have running...
WB
LogonStudio
Rain*
DX
CursorXP

I change what icons I can, and just started using OD and AveDesk last week! Lastly, I change the walls at least once a month. Oh, and I dislike having to get on the nasty, Windows-default family PC. *shudders*
Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Don't run any skinning software really.

Starting on a new machine usually goes like: 1) turn background to black; 2) kill all themes; 3) move taskbar to top and set it to autohide; 4) kill desktop icons; 5) switch colours to something that will make people go "what the hell are you running"; and on my own machine 6) replace the shell by LiteStep. Can't do that on other machines or people will really freak out.
Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top
First there was wallpaper!

Then came WindowBlinds...
WindowFX...
Iconpackager...Although I don't use icons as much as .png's
CursorXP Plus...
Logonstudio...
ObjectDock Plus...2 docks 1 tabbed dock
UniverseMetal...
Unorthodox Skins...
Rightclick...
Winamp...


And anything else that works. As long as it works and doesn't hog resources I will use it. And I change my wallpaper whenever I change my skins. I usually make my own wallpaper from a portion of the skin I'm using so that it matches better.

And I like to play around with all the apps from time to time to learn more about how they all work.

But by far...WindowBlinds...ObjectDock Plus...CursorXP Plus are a must!
Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Window Blinds
Object Dock Plus
Sysmetrix
CursorXP
Wallpapers

Sysmetrix being the least used. Might take it off.
Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top

WindowBlinds

IconPackager

Icon-X

Wallpapers

Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Windowblinds
Icon Packager
WinFX
CursorXP Pro
Bootskin
LogonStudio
ObjectDock+
DX
Wallpaper

Posted via WinCustomize Browser/Stardock Central
Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Obviously I change the wall frequently. The rest of my 'must haves':

Windowblinds
Icon Packager
Object Dock Plus
Cursor XP
WindowFX (for shadows and tiling windows-I don't care for the transitions)
Enhanced Dialog

As much as I want to like widgets and DesktopX, I just generally find they aren't necessary for me. I like pulling them out and running from time to time, but none that are running all the time. I also really like Right Click, and desparately want to use it, but refuse to do so until the option to save the theme is added. Too many times I spend a long time getting it exactly how I want it, only to have it revert back to the default or do some other stupid thing. I am also looking forward to the next, non-beta versions of BandVWM and Object Bar, and will use them quite a lot once they are full featured and good to go.
Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top
At Home

Musts:
Nextstart from Winstep
Windowblinds

Nice to Have:
CursorXP
Iconpackager
Workshelf from Winstep
Dexpot VDM

At Work (no admin privileges):\
BBLean (running on top of Explorer, not as a shell)
Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I use:

WindowBlinds
IconPackager
CursorXP
Plus change my wallpaper

Occasionally I'll use Windows FX as well.

Reply #17 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Full time:

WindowBlinds
IconPackager
CursorXP
Wallpaper

Sometimes:

WindowFX
DesktopX (and/or IconX)
ObjectDock Plus

Reply #18 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I use:
WindowBlinds
Logonstudio
CursorXP
Rainy
Beatnik
Bootskin
ObjectDock
WinAmp and change wallpaper everytime I change my blinds!
Reply #19 from WinCustomize Forums Top
WindowBlinds
Logonstudio
Skinstudio
ObjectDock+
DesktopX
WindowFX
Reply #20 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I use all the time:
Windowblinds
Iconpackager
Logonstudio
Bootskin
Cursor XP Plus
Icon X
Sysmetrix
Thememanager to build suites from existing skins for personal use, ie: using logons, boots, icons, cursors and ported MS Styles, walls, sounds etc.

sometimes:
Desktop X
Right click
Objectbar.

My desktop is changed sometimes 2 or 3 times a daydepending on my mood and level of boredom with what's on screen.

Walls: have a wall changer and theme oriented folders of walls so I can create various co-ordinated desktops with ever changing walls if I like. My walls library consists of mostly surrealistic fantasty art of Egyptian, Roman and American indian flavours.

A wall changer from Stardock would be even nicer though - to keep it all in the family, so to speak. The one I have is functional, but obviously it can't be incorporated into OD, which would be better. Any chance of one happening - please???
Reply #21 from WinCustomize Forums Top
WindowBlinds is a must.
IconPackager to follow
CursorXP is third
Natural Desktop is Forth
Then some DX Stuff brights my desk
Reply #22 from WinCustomize Forums Top
IconPackager, WindowBlinds, ObjectDock Plus, DesktopX & IconX, WindowFX --> all the time
I don't use CursorXP anymore coz it's a processor hog and may soon do away with WindowFX too, because I hate when my system doesn't respond to my clicks. Other than that I couldn't live without IP & WB, DX is a plus but still needs improvement.
Reply #23 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I currently have over 20,000 wallpapers and have them randomly changed every five minutes.

I'm also running WindowBlinds, IconPackager, CursorXP Pro, WindowFX, IconX and a couple Desktop Widgets.

Of course, I also run some other programs that skin themselves, such as Zoom Player and Maxthon.

Posted via WinCustomize Browser/Stardock Central
Reply #24 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I have disabled the XP theme service and HATE Win Classic, so WB is always on. I like DesktopX and currently have the Microsoft Bob XP theme applied-- which I need to contact somebody on how to actually be able to right-click icons in the tray, and I would have WindowFX on all the time if I didnt play games. I will be renewing my subby soon (ODNT 2005!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) so I can use IP themes- I had 2.50 before my subby ran out, but then my HD unexpectedly died, with no warning and I am stuck with 2.20 which is now incompatable with even the older themes. ObjectBar I dont like version 2 very much, but I dont really like 1.65 either. I constantly use CursorXP, except for before it has been loaded. I also use LogonStudio and BootSkin.
Reply #25 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Windowblinds, Iconpackager and CursorXP are a given. Winamp always running, and skinned. Wallpaper changes every couple of days...
Also have meters, weather and a calendar going. Sometimes Sysmetrix and Rainy... sometimes Widgets.
Currently I have Tiggz OMNI weather, mail checker and news widgets running... plus a see through calendar and meter widget (don't remember the name)
And of course DRONE Winamp.. In my opinion ther is no other...