I spend half of my time with Windows and the other half with Ubuntu. However when I last use Ubuntu and switch back to Windows I just can’t bear the windows shell’s unstability and other related issues. So transforming desktop into completely replaced with a new interface, reffered to as shell replacement and can be a very good idea if you are still using windows shell.
For first timers using a shell manager like shellon which would let you choose which shell to use when starting up makes your work easier.
Apparently Cairo shell another Windows shell alternative appears to be the most used shell to replace the windows UI. Cairo is really easy to install, anyone with no eperience in shell replacement can replace using the cairo desktop. Other downloads like the Cairo desktop, start bar, desktop concept, desktop switching and revolution wallpaper.
Another good and easy to install shell is the Talisman. Helps to keep your desktop more organised.
Black box is a window manager for the X Window System shell with lot of development activity currently going.It is fairly simple to make it look really cool using premade skins from the forum, though it isn’t basically to look cool. It has a dedicated forum to dicuss problems, bugs and to find modifications and cool plugins for the shell.
If you want to make your desktop 3D, with physics enabled. You can try the recently released simple to use Bumptop shell. A boon for microsofts surface. It makes your desktop easy to organise if you prefer to keep a lot of files for easy access there. Still I could not adjust with it due to its first release and lot of lack of some essential features. But it is really worth a try, nothing to loose.
Aston shell-It replaces the standard Windows Desktop
and provides you with a host of new features, such as Sidebars, clock, weather monitor, animated buttons, transparency effects and much more. Several other partial shell replacements like aston menu and panels are available at the Aston’s website. Aston shell with panels make the dektop look really cool.
Shells like Flyakite(Mac OS X transformation pack), Vista transformation pack and 7 transformation pack are more or less self explainatory.
Previously discussed sharpE now SharpEnviro shell is another good to use shell.
Lastly, FYI it is also possible to transform your Windows environment to KDE or Gnome shell (Linked to the tutorials) with limited usability. Not recommended for non experienced.
Tags: 3d desktop, 3d windows, aston, aston shell, bbwin, blackbox, cairo, flyakite, freeware, gnome, gnome shell, interactive surface, KDE, OSX, replacement, sharpe, shell, shellon, talisman, ubuntu, vista transformation, windows, windows 7
May 5, 2009 at 7:55 am |
If u have done this on ur comp. upload the screenshots for us to see the change…..
May 5, 2009 at 11:28 am |
Hey, I tried aston and sharpEnviro only, when it was called sharpE was long back didn’t store screen shot. I used bumptop 3d recently, I’ll upload the pics now.
May 5, 2009 at 12:20 pm |
And do these work with VISTA???
May 5, 2009 at 12:26 pm |
Yes Bumptop works well with vista