Anyone into customising their desktops?

FishLicker · 30 Mar 2018 at 18:10

Many moons ago I would nearly always “skin” my desktop as I hated nothing more than mine looking like anyone else’s.

I haven’t bothered for a while now, but am starting to think I would maybe like to do this on my gaming PC. I use Win10 at work, as most people by now probably do, and looking at it reminds me of work. I even bought (and sold) a Mac just to try something different.

I cant be bothered with Linux and all the pit-falls of that.

Anyone customise theirs? Any screenshots, or recommended apps or themes? I guess I am just really bored of looking at a Vanilla Windows desktop!

Cromulent · 30 Mar 2018 at 18:42

I used to play around with things like that when I was younger. I know you said you are not interested in Linux but honestly if you like customisation then nothing beats Linux (well maybe one of the BSD operating systems is comparable). Unfortunately, Windows and Mac OS X just are not built to be all that customisable unless you use a load of hacks.

FishLicker · 30 Mar 2018 at 19:07

I probably wouldn’t completely rule it out in all honesty, but my past experiences with it were not good!

Django x2 · 30 Mar 2018 at 23:20

What was that really cool Windows one you could use that would show like real time CPU usage and stuff? Rainmeter or something?

Delta3D · 30 Mar 2018 at 23:31

Rainmeter here

The home one uses NXT-OS which is basically a simple setup to add all you see apart from the background, that's using Wallpaper Engine on Steam

PS: The clock looks lobsided because it's in the centre of the screen, it's generally on a separate monitor when I'm at work

AHarvey · 31 Mar 2018 at 00:58

Honestly, for the amount of time I spend actually looking at the desktop, I can't see it's worth the effort.

98% of my time is in browser/software/gaming/dev/photoshop

I've a few wallpapers I use, photos of the kids, cars/bikes etc but that's as far as it goes because they also appear when it's locked.

Delta3D · 31 Mar 2018 at 11:08

AHarvey said:
Honestly, for the amount of time I spend actually looking at the desktop, I can't see it's worth the effort.

98% of my time is in browser/software/gaming/dev/photoshop

Generally my personal PC is the same, it's always in a different window, but is a nice little thing if you have multiple screens to leave it open on one

FishLicker · 31 Mar 2018 at 16:58

AHarvey said:
Honestly, for the amount of time I spend actually looking at the desktop, I can't see it's worth the effort.

98% of my time is in browser/software/gaming/dev/photoshop

I've a few wallpapers I use, photos of the kids, cars/bikes etc but that's as far as it goes because they also appear when it's locked.

I was thinking more like skinning windows, icon sets similar to what you'd have an android, that sort of thing. Just to make it feel a bit less "Microsoft" if you get me.

Rroff · 31 Mar 2018 at 17:14

I used to back in the day - though some OSes would look pretty plain if you didn't.

I still have a theme and some other tweaks for Windows 7 which adjusts the UI for a darker aero glass look and minimises the size of some UI elements, etc.

I hate Windows 10 as the flat monotonous look takes me back to Windows 3.x but you can't so easily theme it effectively and 3rd party UI replacements tend to get broken by updates, etc.

I don't need a massive overhaul, especially these days, but a little bit goes a long way in making the UI easier on the eyes.

V F · 1 Apr 2018 at 12:24

FishLicker said:
I was thinking more like skinning windows, icon sets similar to what you'd have an android, that sort of thing. Just to make it feel a bit less "Microsoft" if you get me.

WindowBlinds, Icon Packager and Start10?

https://www.stardock.com/products/windowblinds/