style xp vs. windowsblinds

[lethebikesin01]

i dont know which one to use and i was wondering which one has more styles for it and which one is more or less complictad, also which one takes up more RAM.

[abysal]

windowsblinds takes more memory, but you can do more with it.

[Pookster]

i dont know which one to use and i was wondering which one has more styles for it and which one is more or less complictad, also which one takes up more RAM.

On this board, a lot of people prefer MSStyles. It's really a personal preference. Some people don't like running an additional skinning program on top of XP. But, some people claim Windowblinds is faster than Windows XP internal theming system (i.e. Running Windowblinds and shutting off the Theme Service). You should try both and see which one you prefer. I would probably try MSStyles first since it would require very minimal changes to your system.

[Kane]

On this board, a lot of people prefer MSStyles. It's really a personal preference. Some people don't like running an additional skinning program on top of XP. But, some people claim Windowblinds is faster than Windows XP internal theming system (i.e. Running Windowblinds and shutting off the Theme Service). You should try both and see which one you prefer. I would probably try MSStyles first since it would require very minimal changes to your system.

Wrong. to use an alternate msstyle you have to PATCH a system file. With windowblinds you dont do anything.

[gazebee_]

i prefer using Window Blinds, nice features.. :D

[TCA]

i choose both

[icecaveman]

windowsblinds takes more memory, but you can do more with it.

WRONG, it takes infact far less memory :angry:

You don't get the BS service pack issues with it, it's far more advanced and takes even less CPU!

[ev0|]

Windowblinds is a better and more complete solution but it has less "nice" style skins than what you can get on here. plus it's bucks.

[pr0wn3r]

StyleXP is better...

[Schmoove]

WRONG, it takes infact far less memory :angry:

You don't get the BS service pack issues with it, it's far more advanced and takes even less CPU!

WRONG. It all depends on the theme you use. A theme with heavy animation and such will use both more RAM and CPU cycles.

[Bearded Kirklander]

Why not just use UXTHEME.DLL hack and not pay a dime for it? No additional overhead at all. Works just as good as anything else, if not better. And it is totally free.

[XanDaMan]

windowsblinds takes more memory, but you can do more with it.

Wrong. :angry: :no:

WB takes less memory.

[insanekiwi]

i don't use any of those 2 because i don't like the fact using a 3td party app justo apply themes/visual styles.

[Slimy]

they both are bloated and crap, but windowsblinds is better than the 2

uxtheme.dll all the way

if u really want a third party app, use tune up utilities 04

[jack_canada]

U can disable themes service in windows xp if u use windowblinds.

[A.K.R.]

On this board, a lot of people prefer MSStyles.  It's really a personal preference.  Some people don't like running an additional skinning program on top of XP.  But, some people claim Windowblinds is faster than Windows XP internal theming system (i.e. Running Windowblinds and shutting off the Theme Service).  You should try both and see which one you prefer.  I would probably try MSStyles first since it would require very minimal changes to your system.

Wrong. to use an alternate msstyle you have to PATCH a system file. With windowblinds you dont do anything.

You are both WRONG. Visual Styles require you to patch your Uxtheme.dll system file, while WindowsBlinds requires you to install a program, and to turn off the Windows default theming service if you want it to run faster. Also, WindowsBlinds hooks the Appearance tab of the Display Properties dialog box, which can be frustrating at times. With Visual Styles, all you need to do is to patch your Uxtheme.dll file. There are no installation programs and additional programs to run in the Tray.

Edited August 13, 2004 by A.K.R.

[A.K.R.]

WRONG, it takes infact far less memory  :angry:

You don't get the BS service pack issues with it, it's far more advanced and takes even less CPU!

Wrong.  :angry:  :no:

WB takes less memory.

icecaveman, you are only half - right.

XanDaMan, you are completely wrong.

Yes, with WindowsBlinds, you do not need to care about what service pack you use. However, WindowsBlinds is a resource hog - unless you turn off the default theming service. And it can be quite a hassle for newbies to turn off a "service".

WRONG. It all depends on the theme you use. A theme with heavy animation and such will use both more RAM and CPU cycles.

This is another contributing factor to the amount of resources any Windows Themes (Visual Styles, WindowsBlinds) can use. For example, a theme that is rather large will hog more system resources, compared to smaller and simpler ones. Visual Styles suffer from this problem too, but the problem is usually felt the most in WindowsBlinds, because of the extra features it provides (sound effects, toolbar skinning, progress animations, animations in elements of the interface itself, and much more).

Edited August 13, 2004 by A.K.R.

[RoP]

I used to use windowblinds - and loved it, until I found the styles here. Visual styles are generally much better (according to me, at least) in comparison to windowblinds skins... see for yourself!

Windowblinds skins tend to be bloated because people think that they NEED to use all the skinning capabilities of skinstudio. Visual styles artists tend to make minimalistic, yet very attractive styles (most cannot be perfectly turned into windowblinds skins)...

I would just hack uxtheme.dll - it's not as though something horrible will happen to your computer... and it really won't that slowly (same as current...)

[Imperfect63]

both are pretty gentle on system resource imo. what should matter is the skins. there are more visual styles available than windowblinds skins (arguable but the good ones are always available in visual style). some people will also argue you can import visual style into skin studio and convert, but the result is not perfect and why not just use visual styles.

right now i'm using windowblinds for the 0px border (can't do it w/o messing up some dialogs with visual styles). i'm a bit annoyed that matlab isn't skinned by windowblinds but it is by visual styles.

[lethebikesin01]

so whos right? lol

[A.K.R.]

It really depends on your personal preference. It's a complicated and controversial "battle" of sorts. I have a lot of things to do right now, and I don't have time to post some long - winded message right now, but I suggest that, if you do not have the money and experince, get Visual Styles.

[Kane]

I am not wrong A.K.R. Talk to frogboy about it yourself. To use a msstyle you have to patch a system file [the uxtheme]. Windowblinds does not touch any system files and is easyier to Install. Wb's Useage varys on how well the skin was put together, and even with the theme service enabled, Windowblinds CAN still be faster.

EDIT : And btw, if you actually read any documentation, about the apearance tab, Hold Ctrl when u right click on desktop properties. I for one don't see how this is "frustrating". I have purchased Windowblinds, but i still use msstyles the most.

Edited August 13, 2004 by Reble

[ootput]

i dont know which one to use and i was wondering which one has more styles for it and which one is more or less complictad, also which one takes up more RAM.

Try out both, and see what takes your fancy. Fanboys ruin the whole "experiment" experience.

[Danrarbc]

Visual Style is a generic term guys...

With Visual Styles, all you need to do is to patch your Uxtheme.dll file. There are no installation programs and additional programs to run in the Tray.

Then just set the option to have WB not run in the tray :rolleyes:

Both skinning engines require a program that runs, Windowblinds just doesn't hide it's exe behind a generic system process.

[+unabatedshagie Subscriber¹]

I just use window blinds with the xp theme service turned off. Most of the themes I use take around 700k ish of memory and it doesn't slow my computer down.

* I wish someone would pin one of these threads so that a new one doesn't appear every couple of weeks *