Thanks Mike,I also found it easier for older people who get new computers and are lost and complain when they can't find anything.
When I show them how to use classic mode they think I'm brilliant
Heck,I've got a coupla customers who after 4 years still need stick-ums on the monitor to know how to Start and Stop computer.One person needs a larger monitor to hold them all

LilJoe

I run Windows in VMware only these days, and I can do without the bloat. So I use the Classic Windows style, and I turn off all the unnecessary effects.

I do, however, like the new style of start menu better than the old. It's generally less cumbersome and most of the apps I launch end up in the recent list and are readily accessible.

Grogan

Actually, I'm not really sure what XP Mode is? I just use Windows Explorer about 99.9% of the time, and it's set-up with Two Panes. The Tree on the Left and the File Window on the Right. If you mean having "Great Big" Icons in place of Files, Forget it.

How would you like to go through 1000 Music Files with "Large" Icons.
I need Information quick. Just one straight line across the Page with all the Details right there. File name, size, type, and attributes.

I'd like to find the "Idiot" that put those "Really..Really.. Great"

"BALLOONS" that Pop-up when you Mouse-over a File. What a waste of Coding.

Ken:

I'm referring to these two things.

The Style (Theme) used in Display Properties:



The setting in Start Menu Properties:



I know what you mean about those thought balloon tips. The most annoying of all, is the one on the start menu that informs you that there isn't enough space to display all the items. (e.g. when your display is set to low resolution). That stupid thing, covers up the rest of the space making it even more difficult to navigate. It's resistant to being dismissed, too lol

Grogan

Oh Yea Grogan. I remember them now. I took one look and changed them.
Actually it doesn't really matter to me much. I don't spend much time looking at the Desktop, with the exeption of the Start Menu.

Ken:

Grogan

Re: your fist image in post#6

I'm confused.

I thought you can have any theme you want. Then the style can be changed under the Display Properties - Appearance tab (XP or Classic).

Example:
under the theme tab - "Windows Classic" theme w/ XP style selected under the Appearance tab becomes "Windows Classic (modified)"

So the theme name can be anything. And the windows style (XP or Classic), would be the setting under the appearance tab.

And if you change the style or any settings in the Appearance advanced section back under the Theme tab your theme name automatically becomes "Modified" and at this point if you want to keep this setup you give it a name and save it.

Anyway here my setting and a screenshot.

Modified Theme
Windows XP style (Windows and Buttons)
Classic Start menu

Modified theme is just what you get after you've changed settings, yes.

I didn't want too many choices in the poll, so I went for the start menu, and the theme. (which I unwittingly referred to as style, sorry for the confusion, but that's what it really is)

I felt that both the start menu and the classic look were the most significant. The original intent of the Poll (and this was Lil Joe's idea) was a simple distinction between using Windows the old fashioned way, or the Windows XP way. The screenshots were just to clarify this distinction, not to show any specific selection.

Those who were outside the confines of the poll question, were encouraged to elabourate.

Last time I had an actual Windows XP install on the PC, I had bought StyleXP and used a Lord of the Rings style. It was rich, and I'm glad I at least preserved a screenshot of it.

I do enjoy eye candy when goofing off

Grogan

I use the new style with most of the effects turned off. I do not use the Welcome Screen.

I cannot stand the XP Theme it's terrible, but love the classic theme, with the exception of the icon for the desktop in the quick launch bar.

I can hardly wait until they come out with a version that has a Verbal Interface instead of Icons to Click.

You're going to see so many G@d D**n People Swearing at their Computers. We ain't seen nothin yet.

It's going to sound like one of those Abbot & Costelo skits.

"What do you mean, "PRESS START TO STOP"

Ken:

>I use the new style with most of the effects turned off. I do
>not use the Welcome Screen.

Can you point me to those settings to remove the "Welcome Screen"?

Dave101

"The only goddamn thing you know about the law is how to break it." Chief Lafleche

Control Panel-User Accounts

LilJoe

No, I use the new style of start menu and Windows XP style I set it up in Menu style I prefer that to the link style. I also use Stardocks object Desktop which allows me to customize Windows. Like boot skin and logon logo along with skinning almost everything. It has great Icon packager. you can also skin your web browser.

I like the new style Start Menu, it has many customization options. I prefer the classic theme though. I don't need all the rounded objects.

Behind every good computer... is a jumble of wires 'n stuff.

Classic all the way.
Cleaner, clearer, faster, easier to use, IMO.

Odd man out here...... I use WindowBlinds and love how I can customize the look of the entire interface. Many of the "skins" I use have very useful features not included in either the "Classic" nor "XP (Luna) theme), e.g., a button to rollup/down a window, make it stay on top, open a variety of applications I use often, etc. Not only does WindowBlinds use very little memory, it actually "paints" faster than the default XP theme engine.



Jeff
simul iustus et peccator

Attachment #1, (jpg file)

I luv WindowBlinds Pilgrim. I've been using it for a few years. Luv the ability to customize my start menu. Interesting...I'm using that skin right now too!

Jazzgirl

I use the XP start menu and the XP style. However, I revert the Control Panel back to the old style.

>I use the XP start menu and the XP style. However, I revert
>the Control Panel back to the old style.

Good point, that dumbed down control panel is lame. I switch Control Panel to classic view, on every system I touch. Just how is a user supposed to get proficient with Windows, if all the settings are buried in multiple levels of nanny dialogs?

Grogan

I can't find anything while using the new XP style Control Panel.

One more question "dumbed down control panel" - is that the Folder task garbage, "common task" in the folder options dialog box under the general tab. Its refered to several places in this thread called control panel....

If it is "common task" I thought that was an all folders or no folders type deal.

If not what is everyone talking about. Hate to think there is something I can change and I don't know about it.

The Dumbed Down Control Panel (tm) is what you get when you first run Windows XP and before you click Classic View off to the left, on the Control Panel window.. It's missing many of the control panels. A dumbed down selection of settings categories, to protect us from ourselves.

Grogan

googled control panel images - and see what your talking about.

Add a check mark to the long list of Thank Yous from me.

Same here!!!

Dave101

"The only goddamn thing you know about the law is how to break it." Chief Lafleche

Classic on 4 PCs.

I use the classic style with the Windows XP visual styles

Attachment #1, (jpg file)

The only setting I use in 'Visual Effects' is, "Use drop shadows for icon labels on the desktop".
It does look much better that way.

I prefer the Win XP style, lots more functionality built into it. I simply got used to it because all of the system that I had to deal with at school are set to that by default. The machine that I'm posting from right now hasn't been changed from the default, I've been too lazy to bother.

If we were forced to use the default XP themes, I'd use classic windows with new start menu, but since I have a theme I like, I use XP style.

Classic all the way.

When working on other Computers that run XP style, I have to revert to Classic style to figure anything out. Of course I always change it back, although, a lot of times, the owner is flabbergasted that you can run the "old school" style and want it left that way!!!

XP Style (silver) when I venture out of PCLinux OS.

LOL, it took me weeks to figure out how to turn off all the default crap in XP mode. If someone snuck in and reset everything to default, I wouldn't know how to find anything either, and it would probably take a month to remember how to get rid of the junk. My XP mode runs as close as I can make it to classic style, it just looks prettier. I'll bet if I had upgraded from W2K instead of Win98, I'd probably use classic.

Mine is called Windows Classic (Modified)

Classic - all the way.

Classic.

Surely there is a way to turn off those damn darn blasted annoying interfering £&%("%* things that some ijit in MS loves. those pop ups.

I HATE them, I detest them and I can't find how to stop them.
the option in TweakUI to do just that doesn't do that.

Thank you
Ian

XP Style with the Media Centre theme - can't stand the bland, grey 98 look

Use classic Control Panel though.

I am elderly (77) and use classic. I keep several friends machines up to date and set them all to classic. Half of them still use 98 and it helps me with all looking about the same. Les

LLH

I tried Classic Mode two years ago when wanting to speed things up and I stayed with it. I find it easier on the eyes.

A thought:
Though I promote investment in Windows Vista™ Aero Glass™ capable hardware, I may not necessarily use Aero Glass myself. I promote it within my computer club and suggest it in this forum because I feel that future computers and their users should at least have an option to use Aero Glass.

I use XP style and have changed the control panel also.

I like the rounded look of XP, but have made lots of tweaks behind the scenes, so it's like Classic with a face lift.






Barb

I use Window Blinds.

Les

I prefer the classic start menu and classic control panel but like to use the XP style windows. However, I turn off all the animation.

Attachment #1, (jpg file)

XP with lots of eye candy.

Attachment #1, (jpg file)

I use WindowBlinds on one computer so I have to pretty much use Windows Classic Mode to use it. I use the new Windows style on the other two computers but use classic folder views in Windows Explorer.

Jazzgirl

Hey Grogan. I am an "old dog" and it is hard to teach an old dog new tricks, so for me it is "Classic" all the way.

Classic Start menu and Control Panel, XP silver theme. I didn't buy XP so I could look at W9X.

Shelly

Interesting thread, thanks.

XP Style theme (via xptheme.dll) and Start Menu.
Classic Control Panel.
Some of the eye candy turned off (hey, 256mb card and 1gb ram, so... phfft)

XP Start Menu, Classic Control Panel. XP Silver Theme. You can turn off the pop-up bubbles in Folder Options.

I have it turned off.
Also off in Tweak UI

Thank you
Ian

XP Menu. Classic style appearance. Lots of toolbars - 10 actually, just counted them, including one for Control Panel (classic style) so I rarely use the Start menu anyway.

Wallpaper by Boris Vallejo - genius fantasy artist. And I use Webshots to change my wallpaper.

(Edit)Obviously I have dual monitors. I also run an excellent shareware program called UltraMon which provides a taskbar for each monitor and a couple of ways of moving maximised windows between screens. I thoroughly recommend it.

Attachment #1, (jpg file)

I first saw his work probably 30 years ago and have always liked it.

MSU

Where did you get that Paul?






Ant

The CLASSICS are expressed here with the task bar locked on the left
side of the screen. This allows for a quick access to the task manager
to see how various processes are running like network activity. All of
the task bar icons are also hidden along with no quick launch.

Classic Start Menu/Classic Control Panel/XP Royale Theme.


The XP start menu is horrible!!. Whenever I work on a computer it's the first thing I change. Then the control panel to classic.

Visit the Basement

The New Style!

My option wasn't availible. I use XP for everything except Control Panel. I selected the I use XP option

I wasn't really thinking about Control Panel when I made up the poll questions. I always took it for granted that everyone would pretty much have to select "Classic View" for control panel, because it's the only way to get at much of the configuration. It's more than just a preference.

Grogan

I took another look at this Control Panel thing, and spent a few minutes clicking around. I now see that you can get to everything in non-classic view if you follow the right links. I have to confess that I just never wasted the time trying to navigate it. I noticed the Classic View setting on the left, the very first time I saw XP.

I'm sure some folks will have different tastes (and after all, someone at Microsoft obviously likes it), or possibly those who have never used a control panel in their lives might not take issue with it, but I personally find it irritating and illogical.

Grogan

And Vista has about 55 items in theirs.

LilJoe

I haven't seen Vista yet, but I can't wait

Grogan

Classic for me, dude!

.
Onward & Upward !
Sid

WINDOWS 10
ASUS P8Z77-V Pro MB
Intel i5 3750K CPU
8g Corsair Vengeance DDR3 RAM
Corsair Neutron 250g SSD

>Classic for me, dude!

I'm just an old (fashioned?) guy - Classic all the way!

I'm going to "unpin" this thread now, but that doesn't mean the poll is closed or anything. Of course, feel free to continue the discussion as well.

Thanks to all for participating. The results show that as many people like the classic modes of Windows as those who like the new.

Grogan

i run a modified theme with the WXP style appearance because i like the olive green and rust hues on the background colors of my windows. i find the blue intense after them.

Yes, I don't much care for that blue taskbar and stuff either. I don't mind the silver or olive green colours though.

Grogan

I like the siver and I changed my BSOD from Blue to Titty Pink ,but I never have a problem so don't get to see it.

LilJoe

classic