The Desktop Showdown

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Q: Some of you who have worked with me have asked what do I run on my Desktop? Why it looks a bit different!

A: Here are all the secrets, well, not exactly ‘secrets’ – these are the tools available on the internet, either free or for a small fee. I have tried a lot of stuff in past few years, what I am describing here is absolutely the best, in my opinion. Needless to say, that my impressions are heavily inspired by Macintosh …somebody at Apple does deserve an appreciation for making an Operating System ‘consumable’!

All the following is powering my mighty ThinkPad!

 

So, here is the showdown…

CrystalXP for transforming the Desktop look-n-feel. If you are bored with standard Windows interface (XP atleast), and have played with Linux etc, you will like this. There are various themes available, including Vista Ultimate. Additionally, this BricoPack comes pre-bundelled with UberIcons (really good-looking icons with click effects), Y’z Shadow (to cast a shadow underneath Windows) and RocketDock (a Macintosh style application launcher).

 

DeskSpace is a multi-Desktop utility, but with captivating cube effects. Allows you to create 04 Desktops, with their own wallpapers, one on each side of a cube that you can rotate and switch Desktops. Great effects, and notice that reflection, looks even better on black background. This utility was originally called Yod’m3D, recently bought over by Otaku Software and got commercialized. You may still be able to find the freeware version on the internet, but mind you – the freeware version does not have reflection effects, oops.

 

A great Macintosh style application launcher called ObjectDock. No comments needed, I would just say – try it! …and don’t forget to download additional icon packs from the site.

 

Launchy is great if you like typed program launch function, you can download additional skins and customize it to look into specific folders for applications and content. Great little handy utility.

 

With LClock, add a bit of flavor to the boring clock in the taskbar.

 

ShellEnhancer is good if you are someone who end up with tons of Windows on the Desktop, it allows you to add transparency to Windows, roll them up to make Desktop slightly neat, and switch between Windows.

 

And my favorite – Yahoo! Widgets. Fantastic for pretty much for anything that you want to keep handy on your Desktop, and it makes it look pretty too. Check out the widgets from the site and you should be able to find one to please yourself with. Trivia – what was it called before Yahoo put it into its shopping bag? It was a utility called as KONFABULATOR, two geeks thought about it over a lunch session, and then quickly wrote coded it in JavaScript! The API is available, you can write you own Widgets too! …and if i am not wrong, the Macintosh Dashboard featured in OSX.4 was derived from this application, atleast the idea, or, was it just the timing! Macintosh surprise, for once.

Enjoy, have fun :)

 

All opinions written on this site are my own, no company has paid me anything, so please don’t sue me if I have offended you in any ways.