Windows Vista is here, and regardless of whether you upgraded from XP, or just purchased a new PC with it installed, I'm sure you are ready to customize the way Vista looks. Now we can go in all sorts of directions in customizing Vista, but I wanted to cover some of the basics as that is enough for most people.
Let me also take this time to cover a few questions about customizing Vista that you might have.
Q. Will it use many resources or "slow" Vista down?
A. By using the tools I will show you, your system performance should not be affected at all.
Q. Will this somehow "hurt" my computer?
A. Not at all. The methods used here are not system hacks, and the software I will show here is fully tested on Vista.
Q. Is this free?
A. Some applications are free, and some require a purchase after the trial period runs out. The price of the applications are typically small and well worth the investment.
Changing the Vista Logon
The logon screen is basically the first thing you see when you start your computer. Windows Vista has a nice default logon screen, but why not personalize it? To do that, just go and grab yourself a copy of LogonStudio Vista and have at it. LogonStudio Vista (free) lets you easily change a create the Windows Vista logon to any number of downloadable logons already available. If you prefer to use an image of your own, it's as simple as drag and drop to create your own.
Changing the Visual Style/Theme
Vista Aero is also somewhat decent to look at, but as usual, it gets old after a while, and if you really want to personalize your desktop, changing the visual style (skin) is the way to go. WindowBlinds (30 day trial, $20 full version) is the best way to change the skin of Windows Vista. It includes several high-quality skins, and there are thousands more available to download at the WindowBlinds gallery on WinCustomize.
WindowBlinds will not only change the visual style, it also has advanced features like changing skin colors, adjustable transparency levels, customizable Explorer backgrounds, font customization, and much more.
Add a Dock
When people talk about adding a dock to their desktop, many people think it's just to emulate the look of OS X. Well that can be done, but it really isn't about that anymore. Docks are a fantastic way to keep your desktop organized and free of icons. It's also a great productivity booster has you can have your most common shortcuts right where you need them.
ObjectDock (free) has many options and what seems like a countless amount of backgrounds and icons to use with it. If you want more features like multiple docks and tabbed backgrounds, then there is ObjectDock Plus ($20). Both versions also have the ability to use docklets (mini-applications) that let you check the weather, search Google, etc.
Change the Cursor
The cursor, that little thing you navigate all over the desktop throughout the day. It's plain, it's boring, why not change it then? CursorFX (free, Plus version $19.95) is the replacement to the extremely popular CursorXP. The free version lets you change your Windows cursor, animations, theme editor, and much more. The Plus version adds special effects, colorization, sizing, transparency, and more.
Changing the cursor is as simple as double-clicking the one you want, and getting back to the default cursor is just as easy.
Animate your Wallpaper
Regardless of what version of Vista you are running, you can now have animated wallpapers (.dreams) on your desktop as well. Having a nice wallpaper is one thing, but having a wallpaper that has subtle movement and can even change depending on the time of day is completely different and just plain cool. DeskScapes 2.0 goes way beyond just playing videos on the desktop. It has the ability to display dynamically generated wallpapers, triggered animated wallpapers, and more.
There is a free preview version available which includes 3 .dreams (animated wallpaper), including dynamic ones. You can read an article about the DeskScapes preview here. The full version gives you access to hundreds of .dreams of all types, from subtle nature scenes, to wild animations.
Change the Icons
Vista has many new icon types, and it also introduced the Live Folder feature which allows you to see the contents of the folder, not just a static icon. To change all the Vista icons by hand would take a huge amount of time and resources. The best way to change the Vista icons is to use icon packs which will change nearly the entire Vista icon set with the specified one. Icon packs are used by IconPackager (free trial, $20) which offers other features like icon coloring, upscale pre-Vista icons, set Live Folder icons, and more.
Remember, you don't have to use all these tools to get the desktop you desire. You can pick and choose, try different setups, it's all about personalization and what suits you best.