Scraggles Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 I'm noticing that customization now is nothing like it was 10 years ago. Things like ObjectDock are all but extinct. Am I missing something? Windows still has plenty to improve upon with add-ons. Where did they all go? Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1224901-is-os-customization-dead/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seahorsepip Veteran Posted August 7, 2014 Veteran Share Posted August 7, 2014 Objectdock still exist so does stardock the company behind it. What do you have in mind? Most things are possible these days. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1224901-is-os-customization-dead/#findComment-596525089 Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAZMINATOR Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 Still there.. Such as WindowBlinds, Litestep, etc. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1224901-is-os-customization-dead/#findComment-596525093 Share on other sites More sharing options...
sanctified Veteran Posted August 7, 2014 Veteran Share Posted August 7, 2014 It's not dead, but it's fairly inconsequential and time wasting. GUI's are now quite stable and logical, so I just want to work. And this is coming from the one who wrote all of Neowin's customization guides in the past. TCA, mrp04, Dick Montage and 10 others 13 Share Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1224901-is-os-customization-dead/#findComment-596525095 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scraggles Posted August 7, 2014 Author Share Posted August 7, 2014 Its crazy. Windows users used to be completely unique. Everyones desktop looked different. My computer at home FELT like a completely different machine than my computer at work. Now... all windows 8 machines feel like the same thing... Sort of how all iPhones are identical. fusi0n and +Anarkii 2 Share Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1224901-is-os-customization-dead/#findComment-596525105 Share on other sites More sharing options...
sanctified Veteran Posted August 7, 2014 Veteran Share Posted August 7, 2014 Its crazy. Windows users used to be completely unique. Everyones desktop looked different. My computer at home FELT like a completely different machine than my computer at work. Now... all windows 8 machines feel like the same thing... Sort of how all iPhones are identical. It's true and I do feel nostalgic about those days. I suppose that once you start using your computer for real work the GUI takes a step back. Now I'm convinced that a good GUI is the one that feels invisible. RadishTM, Dot Matrix and devHead 3 Share Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1224901-is-os-customization-dead/#findComment-596525113 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian S. Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 I believe you can still use Rainmeter on Windows 8 and programs like start8. Plus while you can change the accent color and start screen color on Windows, I seem to recall that OSX won't even let you change the dock's color without an application. iOS won't let you customize icon sizes either. devHead 1 Share Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1224901-is-os-customization-dead/#findComment-596525127 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scraggles Posted August 7, 2014 Author Share Posted August 7, 2014 Sucks :( We all used to be so... individual. We're becoming the lemmings they wanted us to be. The internet is a ###### place lately. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1224901-is-os-customization-dead/#findComment-596525135 Share on other sites More sharing options...
perochan Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 OSX has Geektool. That is about it. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1224901-is-os-customization-dead/#findComment-596525141 Share on other sites More sharing options...
nvllsvm Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 I stopped spending a lot of time customizing due to sane defaults and the amount of time I've saved from sticking close to stock. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1224901-is-os-customization-dead/#findComment-596525149 Share on other sites More sharing options...
duoi Veteran Posted August 7, 2014 Veteran Share Posted August 7, 2014 I think the biggest part of the problem was that, for me at least, it resulted in instability. Once the "coolness" wore off, all you're left with is something that is only 90% as stable as it could be. That, and the Start Menu changes in Windows 7 really ended any point for customization. The only real useful accessory these days is Bins, and even its usefulness is questionable. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1224901-is-os-customization-dead/#findComment-596525159 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scraggles Posted August 8, 2014 Author Share Posted August 8, 2014 I think the biggest part of the problem was that, for me at least, it resulted in instability. Once the "coolness" wore off, all you're left with is something that is only 90% as stable as it could be. That, and the Start Menu changes in Windows 7 really ended any point for customization. The only real useful accessory these days is Bins, and even its usefulness is questionable. I still customize my desktop. Not for coolness, but for functionality. I want 100% of my screen for my work if possible. So I go with the most minimalist approach possible. Small Icons. Hidden taskbar. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1224901-is-os-customization-dead/#findComment-596526315 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Norris Posted August 8, 2014 Share Posted August 8, 2014 Eh it's still totally doable, for me the novelty wore off years ago for the most part. I still use a different visual style and icon set, never happy with the out of the box look from any OS yet, and occasionally a launcher replacement, but that's about it. No more extra bars/docks (taskbar does it all now), RainMeter/Samurize (got an LCD panel for that never mind you can't actually see it while you're working), visual effects (meh, cute for showing off but zero practicality), multiple desktops (multiple monitors are way more useful), Explorer extensions (it's good now, this isn't XP anymore), widgets (is it 2003 again?) etc etc. Community is still alive and well though, just look on DeviantArt/etc, still plenty of activity. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1224901-is-os-customization-dead/#findComment-596526325 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason S. Global Moderator Posted August 8, 2014 Global Moderator Share Posted August 8, 2014 i used to be all about customization with XP and Vista. These days, as i get older, i dont care anymore. i just want to use the OS and get the work done. Elliot B., Max Norris and compl3x 3 Share Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1224901-is-os-customization-dead/#findComment-596526329 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 8, 2014 Share Posted August 8, 2014 I like to customise the OS as much as I like to look at it, as in, I don't. It is all about content, who cares how an OS looks like. If it wasn't there to serve me the content, it wouldn't have existed in the first place. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1224901-is-os-customization-dead/#findComment-596526333 Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Majesticmerc MVC Posted August 8, 2014 MVC Share Posted August 8, 2014 Sucks :( We all used to be so... individual. We're becoming the lemmings they wanted us to be. The internet is a ###### place lately. If customization is your thing, try out a Linux distribution, the OS customization crowd is very much alive and well there :). The Linux "Show your desktop" thread here on Neowin is always the best one because everyone's desktop is entirely unique (e.g. July, August). For actual desktop environments you've got Gnome vs Xfce vs KDE vs i3 vs Pantheon vc many others. Then your wallpapers, then your icon sets, then your Conky configurations, your Window Manager themes, your QT/GTK+ themes. The list goes on :) Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1224901-is-os-customization-dead/#findComment-596526351 Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiCKX Posted August 8, 2014 Share Posted August 8, 2014 The older theme artists got old and have less time for it. Windows looks acceptable now compared to the XP days. Most themes have an issue with some program, the usual Aero (Win7) fits all. Then there's this lack of quality, flooding: Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1224901-is-os-customization-dead/#findComment-596526363 Share on other sites More sharing options...
MS Bob 11 Posted August 8, 2014 Share Posted August 8, 2014 All the dozens of free, high quality tools from Winaero are precisely for OS customization. And there's Classic Shell and 7+ Taskbar Tweaker as well. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1224901-is-os-customization-dead/#findComment-596526367 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scraggles Posted August 8, 2014 Author Share Posted August 8, 2014 If customization is your thing, try out a Linux distribution, the OS customization crowd is very much alive and well there :). The Linux "Show your desktop" thread here on Neowin is always the best one because everyone's desktop is entirely unique (e.g. July, August). For actual desktop environments you've got Gnome vs Xfce vs KDE vs i3 vs Pantheon vc many others. Then your wallpapers, then your icon sets, then your Conky configurations, your Window Manager themes, your QT/GTK+ themes. The list goes on :) If I didn't play so many games, I would use Linux in a heartbeat. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1224901-is-os-customization-dead/#findComment-596526373 Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Majesticmerc MVC Posted August 8, 2014 MVC Share Posted August 8, 2014 If I didn't play so many games, I would use Linux in a heartbeat. Oh I'm not suggesting moving over wholesale, but if you need a good fill of OS customization, try dual booting or setting one up in Virtualbox and playing around :) Brandon H 1 Share Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1224901-is-os-customization-dead/#findComment-596526383 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Norris Posted August 8, 2014 Share Posted August 8, 2014 Then there's this lack of quality, flooding:Eh that's not unique to Windows, you'll find nasty/amateurish themes for any OS. Just as a random example: (And no, the irony of Luna being in there isn't lost on me.. hated that from day one.) If customization is your thing, try out a Linux distribution, the OS customization crowd is very much alive and well there :). The Linux "Show your desktop" thread here on Neowin is always the best one because everyone's desktop is entirely unique (e.g. July, August).Eh you do all of that on Windows too, and as pointed out already, it's not even remotely dead on Windows, there's still a lot of activity. (Even Windows 8.) Just not everyone feels the need to do so anymore. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1224901-is-os-customization-dead/#findComment-596526385 Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiCKX Posted August 8, 2014 Share Posted August 8, 2014 Eh that's not unique to Windows, you'll find nasty/amateurish themes for any OS. Just as a random example:(And no, the irony of Luna being in there isn't lost on me.. hated that from day one.) Eh you do all of that on Windows too, and as pointed out already, it's not even remotely dead on Windows, there's still a lot of activity. (Even Windows 8.) Just not everyone feels the need to do so anymore. It wasn't meant to show that it's a Windows thing. Just that the number of horrid styles has increased tremendously compared to what it was when I was checking out plenty VS' being released right here on Neowin even. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1224901-is-os-customization-dead/#findComment-596526789 Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkeylove Posted August 9, 2014 Share Posted August 9, 2014 In my case, I've been using Win 8 for several days, and I'm still trying to figure out how to make the background color of Windows (or file) explorer grey (both the main and the tree window). (I'd like to use the default explorer rather than alternative ones and the default theme.) Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1224901-is-os-customization-dead/#findComment-596526963 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torolol Posted August 9, 2014 Share Posted August 9, 2014 its the return of MS-DOS's all must look the same thingy. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1224901-is-os-customization-dead/#findComment-596526965 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrp04 Posted August 9, 2014 Share Posted August 9, 2014 In my case, I've been using Win 8 for several days, and I'm still trying to figure out how to make the background color of Windows (or file) explorer grey (both the main and the tree window). (I'd like to use the default explorer rather than alternative ones and the default theme.) As far as I'm aware that's not possible. Don't remember ever seeing that option in 7 or Vista either. Dot Matrix 1 Share Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1224901-is-os-customization-dead/#findComment-596526967 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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