Looking for some good desktop/shell replacement programs for Windows? For those of you who feel the need, the need to customize, an alternative shell to the Windows shell is the best solution. So what exactly is a shell replacement? It’s basically a program that will integrate with Windows and replace the default shell. The shell is GUI interface that you use to run programs or view files, etc.
By replacing the shell, you can completely change the look and feel of the GUI. Usually when replacing the Windows shell, users are looking for more control and customization options than what is provided in Windows. Also, a lot of shells end up using less resources than the default shell. There are a lot of different shell replacement programs out there. Some have rich graphical user interfaces and some are very minimal. In this article, I will list out some of the best replacement shells for Windows.
All of the shells are easy to uninstall if you don’t like them, which is good. They won’t go replacing system files and messing up your computer if you end up not wanting to
Emerge Desktop
Emerge Desktop is probably one of the most popular Windows replacement shells out there. It replaces Windows Explorer, the task bar, the start button and pretty much everything else. You can also use desktop customization tools like RainMeter to really create some crazy unique desktops like the one shown above. It’s completely open source and they have a lot of tutorials and a very active forum, so you can quickly learn the software and how to start customizing. Works great with dual monitors too.
Sharpenviro
Another good shell alternative is Sharpenviro. It works on Windows XP, Vista and 7. You can create multiple toolbars that are similar to the Windows task bar, but you can customize them and they can also include real-time info like monitoring CPU, taking notes, getting weather reports, etc. You can also customize pretty much everything, which is the hallmark of a good shell replacement program. Sharpenviro also supports multiple monitors, which is essential nowadays since a lot of people have more than one monitor. You can also create virtual desktops to manage your desktop windows.
LiteStep
LiteStep is another awesome replacement desktop for your Windows PC. Just install it and then start installing themes, scripts or modules. You can customize your desktop in a multitude of ways and it’s all open source and free. Using LiteStep with some of the modules requires a little more technical experience than some of the other programs, but it can do just about anything you want if you get into it. LiteStep has been around for a very long time and the latest release was in 2009, so a few years back. However, the themes and modules are still being updated/created by users.
Talisman Desktop
Talisman Dekstop is a commercial shell replacement that has a good number of themes you can download to fully customize your desktop environment. You can create multilevel desktops, desktop panels, and lots more. With a little bit of self-learning, you can customize the task bar, system tray, clock, start menu, explorer interface, etc.
AstonShell
AstonShell is definitely not my favorite shell replacement program, but it might be great for some! If you really liked specific themes like Christmas or Disney, etc, then you can use AstonShell to download all kinds of crazy themes and convert your desktop into whatever you like. It’s definitely not for those who want a minimalistic look or a modern look. Also, AstonShell is not free, so you’ll have to cough up $30 if you really want to convert your desktop into something crazy.
bbLean
For those of you who like the minimalistic look for your desktop, bbLean is a good choice. It hasn’t been updated since 2009, but a lot of people still love using it because of the simple GUI interface. But just like with most shell replacement programs, new themes are always being created.
CarioShell
CarioShell is a decent Windows shell alternative that allows you to access your files and programs faster from the desktop. It’s not as robust as the other shell programs and hasn’t been updated in a while. However, it still is a good program and works overall. You don’t have nearly as many customization options like you do with Emerge Desktop and others.
Overall, there aren’t a lot of shell replacements out there and only a a handful of really good ones. If you are using a Windows shell replacement program that I haven’t mentioned here, feel free to let us know about it in the comments. Enjoy!
No comments:
Post a Comment