View Poll Results: Is the smooth/cartoon look of XP enjoyable?

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  • Yes. I'm mesmerized by its prettiness.

    15 37.50%
  • No. It makes me feel dirty, like I just watched a Barney show.

    25 62.50%

Thread: Windows XP (and Vista) shiney look and feel

  1. #1

    Windows XP (and Vista) shiney look and feel

    I was tempted to moderatly hijack the Windows Vista thread but decided that this topic was different enough to warrant its own thread.

    I noticed at least one person comment that they hated the WinXP default. e.g. The rounded windows, cartoony schemes and animated menus and whatnot.

    I hate it too. I hate it a lot. Having just recently reformatted from XP Home to a clean install of XP Pro, the very first thing I did was turn off all the irritating fading menus, default start menu, and other pointless pyrotechnics. I rate this more important than such things as installing a sound driver, a real internet browser, or even *gasp* my compiler.

    So my question; Who actually enjoys this cartoon style interface? And if so, why? I find the default start menu to be so horribly cluttered and poorly organised that its difficult to navigate. I find applications using the default themed concept of rounded buttons, graphics, etc, and faded doodads, to be harder to intuitivly use. The classic "theme" may be less pretty, but I find them far far easier to interface with visually.

    As a side discussion; Its too bad about basically every feature I was looking forward too in Vista being cut out. Looks like I'll have to wait till 2012 for Blackcomb. Especially sad since I've been so consitantly impressed by XP... Aside from a few bumps, such as my recent clean install seems to have done something rather horrible with some of the files on my secondary data HD. They're still there, but some are randomly corrupted in some way.
    "There's always another way"
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  2. #2
    C(++)(#)
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    If I ever get XP or Vista that new GUI is going. We have to use it at school and it is horrible. The machines are slow enough without that crap added on.
    To code is divine

  3. #3
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    It's nice for a personal computer. I think it makes it very easy to use for simple tasks, but if I'm doing any serious computing I'll take the extra power.

  4. #4
    Software Developer jverkoey's Avatar
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    I have to say that, honestly, Vista's interface looks like windows XP with StyleXP added on to it (StyleXP being software you can use to customize the interface). I really don't understand how or why it's taking them so long to design a duplicate of windows when it's just a few different graphics.

    *double sigh*

    Another thing though, if they truly are reworking the code from scratch...isn't that just going to introduce more problems than it fixes?

  5. #5
    Quote Originally Posted by jverkoey
    I have to say that, honestly, Vista's interface looks like windows XP with StyleXP added on to it (...). I really don't understand how or why it's taking them so long to design a duplicate of windows when it's just a few different graphics.
    I was wondering that myself. Especially since there apear to be essentially no new features. What exactly has been going on in the OS department of MS since XP was released? Why do we have to wait almost ten years between new features? (From XP to Blackcomb.)

    Although I am rather curious what DX10 will bring us. Since the development of Vista is so closely integrated with the development of DX, I forsee some useful advances in that area.

    P.S. With my new format of XP, I've installed Netscape 8 (Firefox) instead of Mozilla. Takes a little getting used to but the options for customization alone make it far more agreable. I'm very pleased so far. Just wish I could get the search bar off of my "Navigation Toolbar" and the "Close Tab" button off each tab and a single one back on the far right of the toolbar.
    "There's always another way"
    -lightatdawn (lightatdawn.cprogramming.com)

  6. #6
    Supermassive black hole cboard_member's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by jverkoey
    Another thing though, if they truly are reworking the code from scratch...isn't that just going to introduce more problems than it fixes?
    I think it will too, but it's what you'd expect.
    I think we should start a poll: How many service packs do you think Vista will reach?
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  7. #7
    S Sang-drax's Avatar
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    I like XP's blue theme.
    Last edited by Sang-drax : Tomorrow at 02:21 AM. Reason: Time travelling

  8. #8
    Slave MadCow257's Avatar
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    I use windows classic with high contrast white. Q: Does the XP interface really slow down the computer at all? From a programming aspect, I can't see why it would have any difference at all, and if it did, it would be negligible.

  9. #9
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    You're going to get a biased result since programmers generally prefer functionality to looks.

  10. #10
    carry on JaWiB's Avatar
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    I actually like the default style a lot better than the classic look. I've been working at the community college here this summer, so I work on computers that have both styles, and I really don't mind working on either, but I think that the default just looks better. (and actually, most of the computers are set up with the classic look)

    For the control panel, though, classic is definitely better. Having ten categories only makes it more difficult to find what you want.

    Edit: On a side note, it's pretty dumb that there's only 3 XP themes (or is this only on Home edition?) With all the graphical stuff you should be able to customize it a lot more
    Last edited by JaWiB; 08-17-2005 at 05:54 PM.
    "Think not but that I know these things; or think
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  11. #11
    It's full of stars adrianxw's Avatar
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    I was another that turned all the gimmicks off as soon as I installed XP. I run with the classic windows shape using the "Desert" colour scheme as I find it less contrasty which tends to make my eyes ache.
    Wave upon wave of demented avengers march cheerfully out of obscurity unto the dream.

  12. #12
    5|-|1+|-|34|) ober's Avatar
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    I'm a fan of the curved edges and "cartoony" feel. Using the classic look makes me feel like I'm using 98, and I'm happy for a change. Granted, I turned off the animation in the menus, but I think the look is fine. I also love the XP start menu. You can do SO much more with it than the classic POS.

    And honestly, if you really think turning the extra stuff off gives you a boost, you should consider upgrading some hardware.
    EntropySink. You know you have to click it.

  13. #13
    Mayor of Awesometown Govtcheez's Avatar
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    I run with the XP Silver style, but I've turned the control panel and start menu things back to their old styles. I knew where everything was before, and I don't feel like searching for i again.

  14. #14
    5|-|1+|-|34|) ober's Avatar
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    Oh, I guess I should add that I did revert back to the old control panel. The new one is just %*&^ing stupid.
    EntropySink. You know you have to click it.

  15. #15
    Has a Masters in B.S.
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    EVERYTHING get's turned back to old school(win2k) style... i aint no fairy...
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