There are huge benefits to using Style XP, which has a 30-day free trial, to manage your Windows XP desktop customizations.
Style XP supports native Microsoft visual styles instead of a non-Microsoft skinning engine. As a result, skinning in Style XP
will not slow down your computer as other skinning software can.
($19.95 shareware) |
| Allows third party Visual Styles to be loaded and used by the Microsoft Visual Style engine. |
| Does not touch any system files. Operates in memory 'on-the-fly'. Just install and use. |
| Comes with 3 skin packs including 'Coughdrop' |
| Can use zero system resources |
| Support for multiple users (custom search paths and settings) |
| Can hide in system tray for easy access |
| Comes with slick, easy to navigate, interface |
| Supports rotation settings on a weekly, daily, or at logon basis. |
| Can auto rotate, preview, organize, add (from zip), edit, and delete Themes. |
| Can auto rotate, preview, organize, add (from zip), edit, and delete Visual Styles. |
| Can auto rotate, preview, organize, add (from zip), edit, and delete Logons. |
| Can auto rotate, preview, organize, add (from zip), edit, and delete Backgrounds |
| Protects against bad "logon" EXE files |
| Can preview and play sounds in a theme |
| Application can be skinned easily for your own look. |
| Can change visual styles from one language to another language (English to Japanese) |
| Support and help offered. |
| Support for other languages (21 languages currently supported) |
| More to come! One year of free upgrades! |
Benefits of Native Microsoft Visual Styles Over Other Non-Microsoft Skinning Engines
| Benefits |
Description |
| Zero Footprint Operation |
Since Style XP uses Microsoft Visual Styles, the engine already exists inside Windows XP. Style XP can automatically unload itself and operate consuming no extra resources. |
| Explorer Views are Skinnable! |
Unless you are using the built-in Visual Styles native to XP, no third party skinning package can skin Explorer's left pane. |
| 100% Application Compatibility |
Microsoft spent multiple man years testing their skins to make sure they are 100% application compatible. Do not compromise this compatibility by using a less tested skinning engine. |
| Integrated into Theme Files |
Theme files contain visual styles, icons, sounds, screen savers, backgrounds, and cursors. The only way to get a skinned themed file is to use a Visual Style. Style XP supports the rotation of Themes and Visual Styles. |
| Multiple Language Support (incl. Far East) |
Not all fonts are created equal. Japanese and other Far East fonts have special characters which are only available with the proper font name. Visual Styles, with the proper font, can work in any Windows XP supported language. |
| No hooking of SetWindowsHookEx |
Most skinning packages call SetWindowsHookEx. Aside from consuming extra resources, this also slows down your machine as almost every windows message is looked at by a third party software package. |
| Multiple Font Size |
Not everyone likes small fonts, including some of our senior citizens. Visual Styles have built-in support three fonts sizes to accommodate most anyone. |
| Multiple DPI Sizes (<96, 130, >150) |
Newer monitors, especially high resolution laptops, are not 96DPI. Visual Styles have different bitmaps at three different DPI sizes to support higher resolution monitors. |
| Integrated into Themeing APIs |
Microsoft has added a new themeing API to Windows XP. No other third party skinning engine, to date, supports this themeing API properly. Unless you are using a true visual style, some themed controls just come up blank. |
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