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View Poll Results: Which is the best Desktop enhancement tool?
Talisman 4 20.00%
Style XP 8 40.00%
Window Blinds 5 25.00%
Uxtheme Patcher / Shell Replacement 3 15.00%
Voters: 20. You may not vote on this poll

 
 
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Old 15-08-2005, 01:46 AM   #1 (permalink)
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Default Which is the Best Desktop enhancement tool?


Hi!
There are lots of desktop enhancement tools available. Style XP, so many tools from stardock (window blinds, desktop x, object dock), talisman etc. Which one do you recommend? Which one is faster? Please discuss.

I have used window blinds and Style XP. and i think Style XP is faster than Window Blinds. But i havent tried Talisman.


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Old 15-08-2005, 07:19 AM   #2 (permalink)
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one vote for Style XP.
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Old 15-08-2005, 08:06 AM   #3 (permalink)
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My opinion is WindowBlinds Enhanced.
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Old 15-08-2005, 08:08 AM   #4 (permalink)
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one more vote for style xp
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Old 15-08-2005, 10:07 AM   #5 (permalink)
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stardocks set rocks !
but stylexp themes/skins are better.
not tried talisman.
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Old 15-08-2005, 01:19 PM   #6 (permalink)
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Talisman is the best
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Old 15-08-2005, 03:02 PM   #7 (permalink)
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i'm using window blinds...am satisfied with it's performance!
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Old 15-08-2005, 03:35 PM   #8 (permalink)
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One more to Style XP.

I feel it uses decent amount of memory while running in the background. Talisman is very heavy on memory.
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Old 15-08-2005, 06:15 PM   #9 (permalink)
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I usually apply the theme by replacin the files needed to be, but STYLE XP is the best i've seen, but tis costly...

I wonder how many have it ?:twisted
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Old 15-08-2005, 06:17 PM   #10 (permalink)
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can someone give any info about talisman
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Old 15-08-2005, 06:34 PM   #11 (permalink)
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For just replacing (or having new) Visual style, then I use uxtheme patcher from Neowin.

Get the same from here:
http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=140707

See this as well:
http://www.apurva.com/Articles/AGuid...4/Default.aspx
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Old 15-08-2005, 06:41 PM   #12 (permalink)
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Here u go...

"Talisman Desktop" (Talisman) is a desktop alternative and shell-replacement for Windows 9x/ME and NT/2000/XP, capable of transforming your desktop into an interface organized as you like. The program's basic purpose: Launch other applications in a new interface, instead of the standard Windows desktop. But the opportunities presented by "Talisman" are much broader. The program does not limit your computer fantasies - draw anything you like and arrange it as your imagination tells you to. When you get tired of looking at the same screen - change it all over again. If you are in a good mood - throw flowers and favorite photos on the screen. If you're not feeling so bright - leave the black screen with lonely Norton Commander or winking Bill Gates. Create invisible buttons - they will open those places and the pictures, known only to you. Construct galleries of the best pictures and photos. Simply create your own little world, created by and for you, instead of staring at the same lines of icons on your desktop, year after year.

With the help of "Talisman" you can create your own interface or use one of the hundreds ready themes that are available in our collections and in the internet. Interface (theme) is a set of screens, forms, "rooms" and objects. All these objects are interactive and respond to movements or clicks of the mouse.

The basic sphere of application of "Talisman" is the creation of custom-made interfaces for home and office computers. Talisman Desktop also allows to create:

*

Presentation interfaces for Exhibitions, Shows, Advertisement, etc. Example
*

Protected interfaces for Game Clubs, Information Kiosks, Museums, Libraries and other organizations. Examples
*

Protected interfaces for Hotels, Schools, Universities and other organizations where the limited set of accessible programs is necessary. Example
*

Children's interfaces. Examples
*

HTPC (Home Theater PC), Media Center interfaces. Example

*

Car PC interfaces (built-in car computers). Example
*

Desktop Panels. Desktop Panels covers only a part of desktop. They allow to add Talisman functionality to your standard Windows workspace. Examples
*

Tablet PC, touch-screen interfaces.
*

Interfaces for companies.
*

Other non-standard and protected interfaces for Windows-based computers.





Features:

*

Creating multilevel user defined fullscreen desktops
*

Creating Desktop Panels on Windows Desktop
*

Opportunity to replace the default shell of Windows 9x/NT/2000/ME/XP explorer.exe with talisman.exe
*

Use of any number of pictures, buttons, obkects of any type or dimension, instead of standard icons.
*

Place, free-moving and imposing of objects in the Talisman workspace.
*

All objects can run external programs or internal shell commands or http:// URLs by one click of the mouse.
*

The number of forms (screens) in one theme is not limited. Any screen object can be set to switch from one form to another.
*

You can create a set of independent themes, and store them on any disk in the local computer or on a local area network.
*

You can easily switch between different themes through your own objects or through the Talisman menu.
*

The Built-in Object Editor allows the creation, modification and removal of any element in a theme.
*

Large number of basic elements (forms, pictures, shapes, buttons of different types, text blocks, inputboxes, calendars, clocks, timers, HTML-documents, Flash and VRML documents.
*

Customizable taskbar, system tray, clock.
*

Sound support for all events.
*

Startmenu, foldermenu, taskmenu, controlmenu, custom menu and other menu objects.
*

Script language.
*

Messages engine for communication with other programs.
*

Plugins.
*

HotKeys.
*

Keyboard control.
*

Protection and limited access functions.





System requirements:

Pentium-300 or better, 64Mb RAM or higher, video card with High Color (16bit) or True Color (24bit, 32bit) mode, Windows9x/ME, Windows NT4/2000, Windows XP.

Talisman works in all "old" Windows sytems including Windows95 and Windows NT4!



Supported languages:

English, German, French, Japanese, Spanish, Russian, Arabic, Chinese and other ...

Download new interfaces (themes):

Download new themes from our collection: http://www.lighttek.com/themes

Share your interfaces(themes) with other people:

The Talisman II theme collections are located at: www.artuproar.com , www.skinz.org , www.skinbase.org, www.customize.org , www.deviantart.com , pcdesktops.emuunlim.com in the Talisman sections. In order to upload a Theme (interface), you will need to establish an account (it’s free). Then follow the instructions for uploading.

Updates

Updates to the newest versions of Talisman are free for registered users!
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Old 15-08-2005, 10:36 PM   #13 (permalink)
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I don't like any desktop enhancement s/w.
I simply replace the uxtheme.dll file with the hacked one, which allows u to use un-official themes on XP.
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Old 15-08-2005, 11:51 PM   #14 (permalink)
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I have installed Talisman now. The main advantage or probably disadvantage is that you can configure it (more accurately program it) to behave the way u want. Even simple themes comes with many enhancements than any other theme packs. But the problem is that you need to configure it to get the best from it. Therefore novice users may feel a little bit uncomfortable. Still it is highly recommended if you need some desktop enhancements rather than simple themes. It comes with different types of panels, clocks, calendars etc. You can use the built in commands to configre /add panels, clocks, calendars etc.
I am going to replace my shell with the all new Talisman 2.9.
I think Stardock's Desktop X is a similar tool. But didn't tried yet. (downloading now)
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Old 17-08-2005, 01:39 PM   #15 (permalink)
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One vote to Talisman.
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Old 17-08-2005, 06:29 PM   #16 (permalink)
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I don't like Talisman because It replaces the Default Context Menu on desktop with its own context menu.
Its very irritating!
Is there ne way to overrite its custom context menu with the default one?
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Old 17-08-2005, 06:49 PM   #17 (permalink)
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Dunno, never used it buddie, better move on to style XP as tis the best and even supported by microsoft...
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Old 17-08-2005, 11:16 PM   #18 (permalink)
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one vote to shell replacements ... and to neither of those three in the list ...
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Old 17-08-2005, 11:23 PM   #19 (permalink)
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Yah!
There should be one more option for Shell Replacement (like Uxtheme Patcher)...

I'll definitely go for it.
Pls MODs add that option too.
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Old 18-08-2005, 12:30 AM   #20 (permalink)
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TALISMAN...TALISMAN...TALISMAN...TALISMAN...
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Old 18-08-2005, 02:06 PM   #21 (permalink)
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Talisman....... is the one I prefer ....... 8)
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Old 18-08-2005, 02:31 PM   #22 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Vishal Gupta
Yah!
There should be one more option for Shell Replacement (like Uxtheme Patcher)...

I'll definitely go for it.
Pls MODs add that option too.
Done. And I voted for Uxtheme patcher!


Poll Updated
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Old 18-08-2005, 04:33 PM   #23 (permalink)
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thnx drgrudge!
Now my vote also goes for Uxtheme patcher...
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Old 18-08-2005, 05:52 PM   #24 (permalink)
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Hey i cant vote coz i think i already voted i guess , but heres a posted vote for Uxtheme Patcher...
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Old 20-08-2005, 03:09 AM   #25 (permalink)
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Uxtheme patch by Neowin does a fine job.
It's all that's needed to allow all visual styles to be installed.
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Old 23-08-2005, 03:46 PM   #26 (permalink)
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I like Window blinds as a Windows UI enhancement tool.

For desktop enhancement, Desktop sidebar, Objectdock plus and DesktopX are my favorites.


For Icon enhancements I like Icon packager.

For adding a beautiful calender on desktop I use Reinlender.

For a complete GUI enhancement I like the Alien GUI se.

Longhorn transformation pack too is remarkably good.
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