- Are you bored of gazing at the same Windows interface everyday? Even if its Win7, it gets old.
- Do your friends have all gadgets n gizmos on the desktop and cool interface?
- Or you already have cool interface, gadgets and dock but they consume a lot of memory and your PC’s juice!
Here I bring you a handpicked collection of applications which will change your desktop into cool futuristic theme. Below is the screen shot of my desktop.
And here is the screenshot labelled with the applications and skins that I have used. Click on the image or download it for detailed view.
This image must have given you some idea. Following is the list of applications that I have used to achieve the result.
1. Changing the Windows OS theme / Visual Styles
Read this article on how to install Windows OS themes and Visual Styles – LINK.
There are various ways and application to change Windows third party themes. I always use TuneUp Utilites to change and manage themes. But you can also use Windows Themes Installer. Or you can Google on how to change Windows themes and also note that different Operating System version have different theme format. It means Windows Vista’s theme is not compatible into Windows 7 and so on.
I have used the theme called Clearscreen Sharp for Vista by K-Johnson. Download Link
You can search for similar themes according to your OS verison. K-Johnson’s Gallery
2. Getting a dock.
I love docks and the flexibility they give. From customization on icons to the background, transparency, effects etc. If you don’t know about the docks, well they are shortcut holders which you can access anytime. For more details on docks or to download, visit these most famous dock sites : Stardock ObjectDock and RocketDock.
I use ObjectDock for my laptop as it has more customization power than the Rocketdock. Also the skin I’m giving you is for ObjectDock.
I have used the icon pack and background called Minimal Black developed by me, myself :). Download Link
You can search more similar skins in deviantart.com
3. Adding Sidebar from Samurize!
Whao! what is Samurize?! Any Japanese warrior?! No, its one of the most popular system monitor tool. To know more or to download Samurize visit this link. I should tell you now that Samurize is not for the beginners. You must first know how the Samurize application works. But its not that hard though, its just like designing a basic HTML website.
I have used skin called Samurize MacDock developed by me, again. Download Link v2 and Download Link v1
You can get more similar skins in deviantart.com
4. Awesomeness of Rainmeter!
Rainmeter is not any application which measures rain. This is another system monitoring tool but is way advanced and updated than the Samurize. More about Rainmeter, click me.
I have used skin called ABP for Rainmeter by toastbropascal. Download Link
You can get more similar skins in deviantart.com
Finally!
After you get all these apps, its time to install them and place it on desktop as you like or like what I have done.Its not a work of 10 minutes, desktop customization can take hours depending on the screen resolution and selection of the skin. All the best.
You might also wonder how much memory or my CPU’s juice is used by these apps. I must say very low. Its way way better than Windows official gadgets, Yahoo and Google widgets. Below is the small quick comparison.
My modification memory details
- Rainmeter : 9.1MB
- Samurize : 20MB
- Object Dock : 16MB
- Total : 45.1MB
Calculating Windows Sidebar Gadgets Alone
- Sidebar with 4 basic gadgets (Note, Weather, Calendar, Clock) : 37.7MB
Now you do the calculation.
Also for more quick startup of my Windows, I have disabled Rainmeter and Samurize to open at starup. I open them when I work for longer duration or only when I need them. So this is how my desktop looks like after a boot.
More…
If you are interested in the wallpaper, here is how I created it. Link
If you want this particular wallpaper, DOWNLOAD HERE.
Have a nice day!
Note: My screen resolution is 1366×768, so you have to modify the Samurize skins for your screen before applying them.
