14 DAY TRIAL // You see it all over the newspapers when a celebrity gets a facelift, or other such operations. The reason they resort to this kind of actions is either because monotony kicked in and they need a change to break the cycle, or because their look isn't up to their demands.
When you're tired of the default look of your system and want to give it a facelift, you're in the need for a program such as StyleXp.
Working with the program
This is a themeing application that will help you improve the way your Windows XP looks.
It's really easy to install (it's recommended that you create a restore point before you install it, since the program works with "heavy" files that your system can't live without).
The first time you run it, the program will prompt you if you want to apply the Panther Visual Style, which is kind of ironic to use, since it gives your computer a MAC look (without the famous toolbar, which requires more specialized programs).
The program uses Microsoft's skinning engine, but it's much more efficient, due to its advanced features.
The main window comes with round corners, smooth edges and nice colors; some might consider it as being too shrill, but there's also the option of choosing a solid color for the interface, which is also changeable.
You can work on the explorer bar, theme, or any of its components (visual style, background, logon, icons, boot screen, cursors); you can also set a different transparency for items such as Windows Taskbar, Control Panel, Start Menus or all application menus.
You have three Explorer bar sets to choose from, by default, but you can easily import any of your own, or check the producer's website for any new additions, in a single click.
The selection of themes that the program offers is varied enough for you to use for months. For each theme you get to preview the visual style, background (wallpaper) and the sounds that come with it. You can just as easy add a new theme to the collection, or download one from TgtSoft.com.
After applying a theme, you can also work on each of its components, and change the visual style; for each style you can choose to use a different color scheme and font size. Also, you can choose one of the existing wallpapers, or load your own. If you want the program to automatically display all the images in a folder in its background list, you can specify multiple paths (the search path feature is available for all other sections too).
Managing logons is easy as well, allowing you to switch between the welcome screens that you want the system to display when logging on. Again, if the ones that come with the installation don't provide a wide enough variety, you can add your own, or download some from the Internet.
As a security measure, for the viruses that infiltrate into the exe file that corresponds to the logon display screen, you can have Style XP create a new, clean file before applying it. Also, you can choose to keep the original LogonUI strings.
Even though when applying a new theme the major icons are replaced as well, there are still unchanged icons that you encounter as you navigate through the operating system. Using the Icon sets feature allows you to change over 50 icons that usually remain the same when changing themes. You can also change the shell icon size to a maximum of 128*128 (I don't think this will be necessary, but the program allows you to go crazy if you want to).
The bootscreen manager is a more sensible area, and just as the program suggests, you should be very careful when working with this category. Once you've backed up your boot.ini file, you're ready to preview, and then apply the desired bootscreen. A cool feature is the fact that you can create your own bootscreen; the generator allows you to load your preferred image, edit the progress bar settings, as well as all the other related details (name, description, author, comments, and so on).
Adjusting the transparency level for the taskbar, start panel and menu items is easily done from the Transparency section, where you can select one of the following levels: very low, low, medium, high, and very high.
Cursors can bring a whole new feel to the way you use your computer, and StyleXP allows you to select one of the many sets available. Working with screensavers is just as easy; I have noticed, however, that the system gets a little busy when you go to this section, and tends to get locked (it didn't, though); but it's worth mentioning that the program is very light on your system in all other cases.
For older systems, where memory resources are an issue, you can choose to unload StyleXp at startup, right after it applies the custom theme, so that you will be able to keep using its visual effects, without overcharging your memory.
To prove that this is not just an ordinary themeing program, StyleXP allows you to rotate your themes, visual styles, wallpapers and logon screens. From all the available components, you can select which ones you want to be rotated; as for what frequency is concerned, you can choose to have the rotation made at logon, daily or on a weekly basis.
The Good
The interface is welcoming, and has a customizable design; also, the features that you can work with will make changing themes and associated components not only fun, but easy too.
The Bad
The program is very light on your computer, but the screensaver section loads the memory, and your computer will get a little slower. Also, this version is free for 30 days only, and after that you have to register, and get the full version for $19.95.
The Truth
If you want to give your Windows installation a new look, without loading your memory or affecting the system's performance in an obvious way, this is the program for you. Also, it's really nice that you can use the program to apply the visual settings, and then unload it, without unloading the themes, visual styles, and other such items. Go ahead and try the shareware version!
Check out the screenshots below to get a glance at the program in action:
