How much do you really use skins?
To what level?
Wednesday, May 4, 2005 by Frogboy | Discussion: WinCustomize Talk
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.
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Reply #2 Wednesday, May 4, 2005 1:14 AM
Object Dock Plus
IconPackager
DesktopX
Constant Wall Changes
Sysmetrix
Rainy
Cursor XP
LogonStudio
Winamp
Cursur XP
Reply #3 Wednesday, May 4, 2005 1:44 AM
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 Wednesday, May 4, 2005 1:59 AM
Reply #5 Wednesday, May 4, 2005 2:52 AM
IconPackager
CursorXP
LogonStudio
BootSkin
BeatNik
Rainlendar
Wallpapers
Reply #6 Wednesday, May 4, 2005 2:53 AM
Reply #7 Wednesday, May 4, 2005 3:54 AM
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 Wednesday, May 4, 2005 3:59 AM
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 Wednesday, May 4, 2005 4:37 AM
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 Wednesday, May 4, 2005 4:47 AM
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 Wednesday, May 4, 2005 5:43 AM
Object Dock Plus
Sysmetrix
CursorXP
Wallpapers
Sysmetrix being the least used. Might take it off.
Reply #13 Wednesday, May 4, 2005 6:31 AM
Icon Packager
WinFX
CursorXP Pro
Bootskin
LogonStudio
ObjectDock+
DX
Wallpaper
Reply #14 Wednesday, May 4, 2005 8:01 AM
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 Wednesday, May 4, 2005 8:06 AM
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 Wednesday, May 4, 2005 8:29 AM
WindowBlinds
IconPackager
CursorXP
Plus change my wallpaper
Occasionally I'll use Windows FX as well.
Reply #17 Wednesday, May 4, 2005 8:56 AM
Full time:
WindowBlinds
IconPackager
CursorXP
Wallpaper
Sometimes:
WindowFX
DesktopX (and/or IconX)
ObjectDock Plus
Reply #18 Wednesday, May 4, 2005 9:04 AM
WindowBlinds
Logonstudio
CursorXP
Rainy
Beatnik
Bootskin
ObjectDock
WinAmp and change wallpaper everytime I change my blinds!
Reply #19 Wednesday, May 4, 2005 9:19 AM
Logonstudio
Skinstudio
ObjectDock+
DesktopX
WindowFX
Reply #20 Wednesday, May 4, 2005 9:59 AM
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???
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Reply #1 Wednesday, May 4, 2005 1:01 AM
First proggy installed on a new OS.....Powerdesk [zipping, etc]
Second....Litestep ... to get away from Redmond's influences.
Third....Windowblinds ... see second....