The question is if and how much Microsoft have allowed to be able customized. But yes, I'm also looking forward to the Vista era of Stardock apps.

The question is if and how much Microsoft have allowed to be able customized. But yes, I'm also looking forward to the Vista era of Stardock apps.

Do you believe it might be less that what Stardock can do today? I doesn't make sense since part of what makes Vista interesting is the look of it apart from performance and security.

I think MS knows it will benefit the company to work with StarDock & others making apps that skin Windows without interfering with its functionality.

I don't know, but my guess is that improved security will make it harder to skin by way of a Visual Styles analog in Vista-- that kind of access may be blocked or something-- just a guess on my part...

I am also looking forward to what Stardock has in store for us.

I don't know, but my guess is that improved security will make it harder to skin by way of a Visual Styles analog in Vista-- that kind of access may be blocked or something-- just a guess on my part

Yea. That's what I was thinking as well.

Yeah, Me tooo....bursting with enthusiastic exuberance and 'impatiently' awaiting the goodies in store for us at Stardock when Vista hits the shelves. Ohhhhhh my, the anticipation is sooooo...okay time for another Valium Yep me thinks it'll be a great era for skinning/customisation.....'cept for maybe one mob.

Wonder how the makers of StyleXP are gonna get on if Vista is coded in such a way that their msstyles just don't take to it....they'd become as useless as udders on a bull, one would think
Oh well, no skin off our noses, hey people!

Hehe, just a thought. Would anyone think that Linux would join the skinning world someday soon? I mean why not? And what about Mac, do they have skinning software? i have never seen or heard any, would like to know though.

You can make your own themes in Linux.

As for Macs, I'm not sure, but I imagine I read something about it at one point. Perhaps it has hacked themeing. Not sure.

The thing is, I think most Mac users are happy with the OSX theme. And most Linux users aren't that bothered about this 'GUI thingy'. But I think as Linux improves it's desktop 'nixes and it becomes more easy for the general public I think we'll start seeing more of it.

Linux has a very long way to go before it's "easy" for the general public. It's numerous hardware incompatibilities alone make linux terrible for the average user.

Linux has a very long way to go before it's "easy" for the general public. It's numerous hardware incompatibilities alone make linux terrible for the average user.

That's my point, security might be very important to many people, but ease is much more. It can be seen in the progress of technology over the years. Example:

Why open a fridge to get water when you can get it from the outside, filtered and with ice.

The remote control.

Microsoft Windows.

People like easy. That's what Windows gives. People like nice, good looking, style, large library of skins. Windows provides. An incredible amount of software to chose from, including freeware. Windows has.

Linux is not easy for the average user. Skins can be made but not only do you need to be software savvy but also designing able. And even though Linux has a free alternative for just about anything Microsoft has, they are still just free versions. I personally don't trust free stuff much, there is no such thing as free to me.

All in all Linux has that one side that Microsoft still lacks but is working to achieve while Linux lacks a lot that Microsoft has to offer but are not looking to reach to.

I have a good question for you Linux users. I have often heard that if Linux becomes mainstream (in other words what Windows in today) that it, too, will become another OS with hundreds of vulnerabilities found all the time. That it being an OS found on 90% of the computers in the world, that hackers will be working their butts off to hack it just like they do with Windows today.

If this were to happen and Linux could be in the same place Windows is now, why would anyone want people to switch from Windows to Linux? Why would you want an OS that, according to Linux users, is a solid OS with very little problems that is used by a very small amount of PCs, to become mainstream and a potential target for hackers who live trying to hack that which claims to be safer, specially when they can get to thousands and thousands at once because of the wide spread use?

I remember someone once saying that they don't understand why all the Linux people are trying to convince others to drop Windows and go for LInux. He likes it due to the fact that not everyone has it and so the potential for finding vulnerabilities in it is very, very low. He would rather have Linux stay the way it is rather than become mainstream. What do you guys think?

And what about Mac, do they have skinning software? i have never seen or heard any, would like to know though.

Yeah, for Mac there is Shapeshifter for themes http://www.macthemes.net/, CandyBar http://www.iconfactory.com/cb_home.asp for icons and packages called iContainers, a few dock skinning/modding programs, and a few other things I can't think of right now.

Those are the main ones.  I use Candybar, and it works great.  Shapeshifter is supposed to be good, but I haven't tried it yet.