K’s Weblog

As some of you may already know, I run Windows Vista on my Macbook.  Not full time, mind you, I’m a fan of virtualization.  :)  I’ve been trying to give my ol’ Vista install a bit more of a “wow” factor recently, and I’ve come across some great tips to help make your PC unique.

1. Lively Logon

This app’s not Vista specific, but Logon Studio will allow you to completely customize the way that your login screen looks.  Make your Windows Vista look like Mac OS X or Fedora Core 6.  The only downside to the Vista version is that it will only allow you to change the background, whereas previous versions provided a finer degree of cotrol.

Logon Studio is maintained by the Stardock folks.  For a bit more detailed review, you can check out GGP #79.

2. Gadgets Galore

Much like some other operating systems that shall remain nameless, Windows Vista has a sidebar to help you pimp-out your desktop with all sorts of fun and useful gadgetry.  Everything from traffic monitors, to CPU monitors, to gadgets that will do a slideshow of your favourite Facebook pics.  You can pretty much do anything with a sidebar gadget because it’s written using HTML and CSS.  Microsoft hosts a site called the Windows Live Gallery which will allow you to download dozens of these great free gadgets.

3. Wicked Wallpaper

Wallpaper is the quintessential customization that nearly everyone seems to know how to do.  As soon as we get our new computers almost the first thing that most people do is change their wallpaper.  Popular choices are the family pet, children, or “that beach” that you’ll get to… someday.

There are tons of sites out there that produce great wallpaper.  But one that most people forget about is good old photo-sharing site Flickr.  A simple query for “Vista Wallpaper” yields thousands of potential wallpaper candidates.  Here are a few of my favourites:

Photo Credit: wvs on Flickr

Photo Credit: janusz on Flickr

Photo Credit: spitfirelas on Flickr

Photo Credit: creativesam on Flickr

4. Spectacular Screen Savers

After the wallpaper, the next most common customization is changing one’s screen saver.  Sure, Windows has a dozen or so “interesting” screen savers, but really how many more times can we watch the starfield, or pour over those same photos again and again.

A great application called InstantStorm will allow you to turn any flash file (.swf) into its own screen saver.  This tool will take the flash file, and compile it into a self-installing screen saver ready to deploy on your computer.  This has the added bonus of being easily distributable and makes for a great screen saver to use at trade shows, or to distribute to clients on one of those funky business card CDs.

Instant storm was also reviewed on GGP #77.

side note: I borrowed the flash file of the pug licking a monitor to do my demo.  Worked out pretty well!

5. Theme Theory

This is the half-tip… I really wanted to include some detailed theme information for Vista but I couldn’t.  Here’s why:

Windows themes have been a topic that for many users lays shrouded in mystery.  How come there are people with better looking versions of Windows than me?  Where can I get that?  Well, I have some answers for you here.  A theme is a way of customizing everything in your Windows UI in one fell swoop.  This includes colours and wallpaper for a start, but often will include new icons, application skins or screen savers as well.

In Windows Vista theming really has a long way to go.  After seven years, there are tons of great theming devices for Windows XP, but for Vista many of the third-party theme options are limited and buggy.

Plug: If you’re still using XP and like high-tech looking themes… go get AlienGUIse.

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