Best Minimalist themes?
Thursday, July 31, 2003 by Astro Lad | Discussion: WinCustomize Talk
I just found this one here:
https://www.wincustomize.com/skins.asp?library=31&SkinID=1576
And this one is from deviantart. I really like the design, but I can't get the system tray to show properly and I'm having a hard time working with DesktopX overall:
http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/2273121
These are both DesktopX themes and I think that program is generally more useful for minimalist-minded themes, but any suggestions within the Object Desktop suite would be much appreciated.
https://www.wincustomize.com/skins.asp?library=31&SkinID=1576
And this one is from deviantart. I really like the design, but I can't get the system tray to show properly and I'm having a hard time working with DesktopX overall:
http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/2273121
These are both DesktopX themes and I think that program is generally more useful for minimalist-minded themes, but any suggestions within the Object Desktop suite would be much appreciated.
Astro Lad
Reply #2 Thursday, July 31, 2003 1:00 PM
Reply #2 Thursday, July 31, 2003 1:00 PM
By "minimalist" I mean very sleek-looking. Not cluttered, very different from the standard Windows XP. A lot of the good themes are really just very slight deviations from standard XP (new colors, new scroll bars, etc.). If you look at my second example there, that's almsot exactly what I'm talking about. Not that this is the purpose, but to give you an example at the difference, people will look at that theme and go "whoa, what the hell is that? What OS is that?" and it looks really great, very simple but very subtly stylish, like a nice shirt. On the other hand, people will look at most themes and go, "oh cool, what XP theme is that? Where can I get it? Your start bar is so cute!" I'm interested in both style and functionality. Unfortunately right now I'm too n00b to really put the functionality to good use (see: my problems with the second theme), but I'm working on it.
Astro Lad
Reply #3 Thursday, July 31, 2003 1:07 PM
Reply #3 Thursday, July 31, 2003 1:07 PM
As far as object bar, that's cool. I'm totally new to this whole thing so anything you tell me I can almost guarantee I'm finding out for the first time. But... I'm looking at some ObjectBar skins and they all seem like the ones that come with WindowBlinds. Are there any that are more stark deviations from the norm?
JeremyG
Reply #4 Thursday, July 31, 2003 1:23 PM
Reply #4 Thursday, July 31, 2003 1:23 PM
Well theres good things and bad things about Obejct bar. Most of the good things you can do with a good, flexible theme (unfortunately there are very few flexible themes).
The best one is BlackComb in my opinion, because theres several bar-types to choose from.
I took the blackcomb theme and configured it to be ALOT different than a normal windows taskbar.
-First I made a section that shows all my running tasks with 32x32 icons, and told it NOT to show me the text for these icons (i can tell what app it is by its icon after all, right?). Then I told it to exclude all instances of explorer and Internet Exlporer from showing.
-Then I added a second taskbar section. this one i set to show ONLY explorer and IE tasks. This bar sits above the other one and shows 16x16 icons with accompanying text (since all IE windows have the same icon, i need the text here to tell them apart)
-Then i added a couple other sections for the functionality i like....Programs menu (not the start menu, just the "All Programs" part), Control Panel, Favorites etc.
It ends up being simple-looking, but very striking when people look at it. I've had people think i'm running linux, with only Object Bar.
As far as DesktopX, its alot harder to get the "bar effect" to work, because its all set graphics as opposed to "skins". You can stretch to tile th graphics, but it doesnt have alot of the features.
that sounds alot like an advertisement for ObejectBar when i actually like DesktopX alot more. But if you want minimal functionailty OB is really better.
The best one is BlackComb in my opinion, because theres several bar-types to choose from.
I took the blackcomb theme and configured it to be ALOT different than a normal windows taskbar.
-First I made a section that shows all my running tasks with 32x32 icons, and told it NOT to show me the text for these icons (i can tell what app it is by its icon after all, right?). Then I told it to exclude all instances of explorer and Internet Exlporer from showing.
-Then I added a second taskbar section. this one i set to show ONLY explorer and IE tasks. This bar sits above the other one and shows 16x16 icons with accompanying text (since all IE windows have the same icon, i need the text here to tell them apart)
-Then i added a couple other sections for the functionality i like....Programs menu (not the start menu, just the "All Programs" part), Control Panel, Favorites etc.
It ends up being simple-looking, but very striking when people look at it. I've had people think i'm running linux, with only Object Bar.
As far as DesktopX, its alot harder to get the "bar effect" to work, because its all set graphics as opposed to "skins". You can stretch to tile th graphics, but it doesnt have alot of the features.
that sounds alot like an advertisement for ObejectBar when i actually like DesktopX alot more. But if you want minimal functionailty OB is really better.
Astro Lad
Reply #5 Thursday, July 31, 2003 1:30 PM
Reply #5 Thursday, July 31, 2003 1:30 PM
Okay, that is very helpful. I'm really playing around with a lot of different programs right now. Object Desktop Suite has definitely been a worthwhile purchase, so I will try ObjectBar once I get home.
Maybe you can help me with DesktopX tho. In this theme http://www.deviantart.com/view/2273121 I can't get the sys tray in the bottom right to show up. It's there, but the objects in it are just dark and basically invisible. Also, how do I add programs to the five little tabs in the top left? Any general DX advice would be much-appreciated.
Maybe you can help me with DesktopX tho. In this theme http://www.deviantart.com/view/2273121 I can't get the sys tray in the bottom right to show up. It's there, but the objects in it are just dark and basically invisible. Also, how do I add programs to the five little tabs in the top left? Any general DX advice would be much-appreciated.
JeremyG
Reply #6 Thursday, July 31, 2003 1:43 PM
Reply #6 Thursday, July 31, 2003 1:43 PM
in order for the system tray in DX (or object bar for that matter) to work, yuo need to load the TrayServer.exe at system start up. Normally when you install DX or OB it does this for you by putting it in HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run. However i remember a little while back there were a couple screwy betas that didnt do it properly, so that migh be your problem.
As far as general DX advice....first I'll say since you're a new user, immediately use the DX2 betas, not the 1.4 release. Its MUCh easier to learn now, and the interface will help you alot more than fuddling with 1.4.
As for changing those icons, it all has to be done manually for the most part. (though in near future you'll start seeing cool scripted objects that can automatically change things) So if you right-click one of those icons and look at it's properties you'll see how it has a set graphic and a set launch target. Thats what you need to change to get it to launch another program.
As far as general DX advice....first I'll say since you're a new user, immediately use the DX2 betas, not the 1.4 release. Its MUCh easier to learn now, and the interface will help you alot more than fuddling with 1.4.
As for changing those icons, it all has to be done manually for the most part. (though in near future you'll start seeing cool scripted objects that can automatically change things) So if you right-click one of those icons and look at it's properties you'll see how it has a set graphic and a set launch target. Thats what you need to change to get it to launch another program.
Astro Lad
Reply #7 Thursday, July 31, 2003 1:59 PM
Reply #7 Thursday, July 31, 2003 1:59 PM
Could you recommend me a DX theme perhaps that you've used in the past and found to be simple and easy to use so that I can get accustomed to the program? Btw, I am using the version I downloaded from Stardock Central when I bought the suite. Not sure which one that is since I'm not at my laptop right now, but I'm assuming that's the most recent version. Also, if I turn off the sys and turn it back on, it loads DX automatically when I start up and I am using the full version so do you think I still need to mess with trayserver.exe or maybe there's another problem I need to figure out? Thank so much for the help, btw.
JeremyG
Reply #8 Thursday, July 31, 2003 2:08 PM
Reply #8 Thursday, July 31, 2003 2:08 PM
Tell ya what...when you go home go into SDCentral and click View ..Show Pre-Release Versions.
Install the latest DX Beta (1.99c). That should actually fix all the trayserver problems. That or maybe uninstall DX completely first, then you'll start clean with the sample DX2 theme, which actually shows you both simpel and more advanced features of DX.
Install the latest DX Beta (1.99c). That should actually fix all the trayserver problems. That or maybe uninstall DX completely first, then you'll start clean with the sample DX2 theme, which actually shows you both simpel and more advanced features of DX.
JeremyG
Reply #9 Thursday, July 31, 2003 2:09 PM
Reply #9 Thursday, July 31, 2003 2:09 PM
Tell ya what...when you go home go into SDCentral and click View ..Show Pre-Release Versions.
Install the latest DX Beta (1.99c). That should actually fix all the trayserver problems. That or maybe uninstall DX completely first, then you'll start clean with the sample DX2 theme, which actually shows you both simpel and more advanced features of DX.
Install the latest DX Beta (1.99c). That should actually fix all the trayserver problems. That or maybe uninstall DX completely first, then you'll start clean with the sample DX2 theme, which actually shows you both simpel and more advanced features of DX.
Astro Lad
Reply #10 Thursday, July 31, 2003 3:15 PM
Reply #10 Thursday, July 31, 2003 3:15 PM
Will do! I'm looking at DX Objects right now and there's a lot of cool stuff. If I'm correct, I can load a DX theme and then customize it with these objects, yes?
SuperheroCanadian
Reply #11 Thursday, July 31, 2003 4:11 PM
Reply #11 Thursday, July 31, 2003 4:11 PM
for minimulistic i would look into litestep, its not very user friendly, but once u learn it, it can be very functional and sleek, just take alookat my desk top, i have no graphics whatsoever except my winamp controls.
I love my computer minimulistic very minumlistic, everything i have is run off the ls right click menu or hotkeys
if u want more information just give me an email
I love my computer minimulistic very minumlistic, everything i have is run off the ls right click menu or hotkeys
if u want more information just give me an email
Astro Lad
Reply #12 Friday, August 1, 2003 9:42 AM
Reply #12 Friday, August 1, 2003 9:42 AM
Ok. I downloaded 1.99 and updated. But then when I ran the program it just switched to a very crappy theme that had a fish floating around. Was this the "sample theme" that was supposed to show me the features of DX? Because I didn't see anything but a fish! Perhaps there is something I need to click on? Anyway, when I tried to load some themes I had downloaded, namely:
https://www.wincustomize.com/skins.asp?library=31&SkinID=2559
and
https://www.wincustomize.com/skins.asp?library=31&SkinID=1576
and I was bombarded with error messages. The resolution problem was obvious, but there were too many error messages to keep track of when loading these themes. Additionally, when I unloaded the first theme, it left its wallpaper as my wallpaper! A simple gripe to fix, no doubt, but why would it do this? I am very confused. If someone could point me in the direction of a theme that will work or the aforementioned sample theme that guides you through the DX features, I would be very appreciative.
https://www.wincustomize.com/skins.asp?library=31&SkinID=2559
and
https://www.wincustomize.com/skins.asp?library=31&SkinID=1576
and I was bombarded with error messages. The resolution problem was obvious, but there were too many error messages to keep track of when loading these themes. Additionally, when I unloaded the first theme, it left its wallpaper as my wallpaper! A simple gripe to fix, no doubt, but why would it do this? I am very confused. If someone could point me in the direction of a theme that will work or the aforementioned sample theme that guides you through the DX features, I would be very appreciative.
JeremyG
Reply #13 Friday, August 1, 2003 10:46 AM
Reply #13 Friday, August 1, 2003 10:46 AM
The error messages all come from an outdated plug-in. DXPerf which shows drive space/memory/cpu. It actually warns about this when you load the theme.
Hopefully some theme authors will update their themes, but in this case its very easy to recreate it with the new updated plug-ins once you learn DX a little.
Hopefully some theme authors will update their themes, but in this case its very easy to recreate it with the new updated plug-ins once you learn DX a little.
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Reply #1 Thursday, July 31, 2003 12:48 PM
DesktopX isnt meant as much to be pretty, as it is to be functional. So i'm kind of confused...if you minimalize it, you basically have extra CPU and memory usage with no gain except for a different looking taskbar....objectbar is good for that.
Its different if you mean Minimal in appearence but with lots of cool thing. Thats exactly what my upcomming theme will be...lots of things, but all hidden unless you want them.