Windows 7 Classic Theme


Recommended Posts

the menu's when right clicking on the task bar. they look awful and out of place

The start menu is horrid also, the All Programs looks just weird and off center.

The Back and Forward icons are hideous all grayed out like that.

.

Your Thoughts?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Why would anyone use that? It is UGLY. Can it even be "fixed"?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Beyond a complete redesign, I can't see that being "fixed" anytime soon.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

For the insignificant amount of people likely to want to even use the classic theme it's not worth the manpower to make aesthetically pleasing. Probably the only reason they leave it is to give certain people something to whine about, which seems to work quite well.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

For the insignificant amount of people likely to want to even use the classic theme it's not worth the manpower to make aesthetically pleasing. Probably the only reason they leave it is to give certain people something to whine about, which seems to work quite well.

Not sure that the number of users here will be "insignificant". I work in a corporate environment, and I find using Win XP (our current standard) in "Classic" improves performance. I'm not even sure my machine would render Aero. And, yes, my employer is evaluating Win7. And on my home machines I use "Classic" on my local Admin accounts as a visual cue.

I think there's a fair number of users who are still on XP because they dislike Aero just on philosophical grounds. These users are very likely to go with "Classic" on Win7 (because, of course, everyone is going to migrate to Win7, right? ;) )

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Not sure that the number of users here will be "insignificant". I work in a corporate environment, and I find using Win XP (our current standard) in "Classic" improves performance. I'm not even sure my machine would render Aero. And, yes, my employer is evaluating Win7. And on my home machines I use "Classic" on my local Admin accounts as a visual cue.

I think there's a fair number of users who are still on XP because they dislike Aero just on philosophical grounds. These users are very likely to go with "Classic" on Win7 (because, of course, everyone is going to migrate to Win7, right? ;) )

Exactly, I just think they need to make it a little more professional looking.. I'm not saying a "complete" redesign.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don't actually see the complaint here. The classic theme I see in the screen shot looks just like it should to me... functional and nothing more. You wanna start getting into aesthetics you have to switch up into the next theme level... which is Aero basic I believe?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Exactly, I just think they need to make it a little more professional looking.. I'm not saying a "complete" redesign.

I know what you mean, sort of, especially the START menu, but I have to say I don't find it that bad.

Could you be just a teeny bit more specific in what improvements you'd like to see?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well yes, but the classic theme in XP looked actually nice. And in Vista/7 it looks like they didn't even bother trying (see explorer...)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I agree it looks terrible and you can't even get the Classic Start Menu anymore, it just "de"-skinned version of the XP/Vista/7 menu.

We use Classic for all of our users as we migrated from Windows 98, to Windows 2000 to Windows XP. We are skipping Vista like most and moving to 7. Classic is such a mess we are considering using Aero Basic (which is probably what MS wants everyone to do) but we are in a corporate environment....we don't need or want all the eye-candy.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I agree it looks terrible and you can't even get the Classic Start Menu anymore, it just "de"-skinned version of the XP/Vista/7 menu.

We use Classic for all of our users as we migrated from Windows 98, to Windows 2000 to Windows XP. We are skipping Vista like most and moving to 7. Classic is such a mess we are considering using Aero Basic (which is probably what MS wants everyone to do) but we are in a corporate environment....we don't need or want all the eye-candy.

I can only imagine you work in a pretty uninspiring corporate environment then - afraid a splash of colour will send employees into a wild frenzy? That said I don't feel that the Aero interface is unprofessional at all.

Edited by Axel
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I like using Classic on virtual machines and netbooks...

And, frankly, it looks fine to me. Nothing wrong with it at all.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I can only imagine you work in a pretty uninspiring corporate environment then - afraid a splash of colour will send employees into a wild frenzy? That said I don't feel that the Aero interface is unprofessional at all.

+1

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Beyond a complete redesign, I can't see that being "fixed" anytime soon.

I agree.

To me, it looks like how the 'classic' theme always looked, since Windows 95. The jump-lists don't look out of place to me, they just look like they should - 'classic-y-fied'.

It's not particularly ugly, but it gets boring very quickly and the themes in Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7 look much better (and that's saying something for Windows XP as it looks like some Fischer Price toy...).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I agree it looks terrible and you can't even get the Classic Start Menu anymore, it just "de"-skinned version of the XP/Vista/7 menu.

We use Classic for all of our users as we migrated from Windows 98, to Windows 2000 to Windows XP. We are skipping Vista like most and moving to 7. Classic is such a mess we are considering using Aero Basic (which is probably what MS wants everyone to do) but we are in a corporate environment....we don't need or want all the eye-candy.

hows about you give your users the options of classic or aero basic..

also, what's wrong with having a bit of colour and panache?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It's almost exactly like the Classic visual style in Windows Vista. The only differences I could see are the UI changes introduced in Windows 7. They haven't changed it in Windows Vista and I doubt they'll change it in Windows 7.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

What exactly is the Classic theme? It isn't an actual VS at all, it is supposed to be Windows, without any theme, and once you take away Aero, that's what's left. I don't think there is anything there to change.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It's really about time for people to get with the times. If you like the classic theme, you should stay with Win9x. Modern OSes are designed to be personalised and theme-abled.

Perhaps the Aero Basic is the "Classic" theme of Win Vista/7.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I do think he is right about the back and forward buttons-- that should not take long to fix at all... as far as the jump menu == it looks functional--- now the shutdown in the menu -- does look out of place-

Link to comment
Share on other sites

IT's actually very nice and I prefer it as it's slimmer than any other theme. If they REALLY wanted, they could make it look better, e.g. used the WinOrbe instead of the Start Button. I have a hack on mine to enable it and it looks rather nice.

I hate the fact some people don't understand that a lot of people prefer this theme over anything else. It's out right to chose.

There is another "Classic" theme out there that used the Win98 style + Transparency (in some areas) + Vista Min,Max&Close buttons.

Personally, I want MAXIMUM screen real estate and speed from my interface, I don't care about the Luna are AERO theme. Personally, the Win98 theme looked the best.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I completely agree that Microsoft didnt put much attention on Classic theme in Windows Vista and 7 although there are lots of people who prefer to use "Classic theme".

But its also not true that they are ignoring the Classic look. They have fixed the Explorer Back and Forward buttons issue in RC build. You can take a look at following article which describes the Classic theme goof-up present in Windows Vista and Windows 7 beta builds:

Windows 7 Beta Classic Theme Bug

Thanks to MS for fixing it in RC build.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don't actually see the complaint here. The classic theme I see in the screen shot looks just like it should to me... functional and nothing more. You wanna start getting into aesthetics you have to switch up into the next theme level... which is Aero basic I believe?

Yes you are right, there is no need to be beautyfull, it must be functional.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don't actually see the complaint here. The classic theme I see in the screen shot looks just like it should to me... functional and nothing more. You wanna start getting into aesthetics you have to switch up into the next theme level... which is Aero basic I believe?

This. If you choose to use the classic theme, then that's your own fault. Classic: performance > looks. Aero: performance < looks. Get used to it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.