my desktop   my desktop customization page.

If you have ever used any other operating system (mainly Linux) you will see how poor a window manager explorer is compared to some of the others that run on top of linux. 

When I first started using linux, I was totally blown away by what Rasterman and Mandrake were doing with Enlightenment (dr09 at the time). I saw an interface that had a totally different look. Plus it had things like multiple desktops, that windows explorer didn't have. 

When I would go use windows again, I found it not only boring, but not as useful as ones like Afterstep, Windowmaker, and enlightenment. I started using other managers like Afterstep, which lead me to litestep. 

Litestep was a shell/window manager for windows. I loved it. Finally, a way to have all the stuff I liked under windows. Since then, other windows' shell replacements have come out. I have stayed with litestep, it is just more stable right now than some of the others out there lke e-sense (enlightenment for NT).

 my current desktop....(yes, this is windows)

this is a theme I am currently working on ... 

this is an older desktop with the bluesteel theme.

 
Links...

Official Litestep Site [http://www.litestep.com/]

Litestep.Net [http://www.litestep.net/]

Skinz.org [http://skinz.org/]

Glabouni [http://www.glabouni.com/]

DesktopWatch [http://www.desktopwatch.com/]

Customize [http://www.customize.org/]

ShellCity [http://www.shellcity.net/]

M's Factory [http://www.venus.dti.ne.jp/~mueji/factory_e.htm]

 about window managers...

I guess first I had better explain some things about what window managers and what windows calls "shells." 

If you remember back to the DOS days you will recall typing win at the command line. Basically, Windows 3.x was a window manager for DOS. A graphical representation of the operating system. 

Windows grew and emerged into it's own operating system. In windows 95 and 98, if you look at the system.ini file. You will see a 

shell=explorer.exe

This is what windows looks to see what "shell" or window manager to load. WinNT and Win2k does this too, but they look at the registry.

 
other apps I use...

There are other apps I like to use.  I try to look for ones that are freeware or open source and that are "skinable."  Below are a couple and some screen caps of them.  Follow the links to download them.  All of these also have skins at Skins.Org

ezpop
ezpop is a cool util that will check your pop3 accounts for new mail.  I found this cool skin for it.  And as you can see I get a lot of mail...:-)

URL: 

 

 

 

kjofol
Don't ask me how to pronounce this one.  But this is a great one for listening to your MP3 files.  Once again, this has a skin on it too.  As you can see I like that Neo-Industrial-Metal-kind of-Look

URL: http://www.kjofol.org/

 

e-console
This one is just plain cool.  If you have used enlightenment under linux, you will recognize this one.  This allows you to use your dos shell with different backgrounds or even transparent!  Finally, DOS is cool! The title bars are not part of it, that is from windowblinds.

URL: http://zeus.informatik.uni-frankfurt.de/~corion/econsole

 

WindowBlinds
This allows you to change the borders of windows and also thier funtionality.  Once again Linux/*NIX users will love this.  This allows you to do tons of stuff, not only skins, but also able to blind them.  However, this one is not freeware, but it is only 20 bucks.  A small price for such a cool util.  Plus you can find TONS of skins for this.

URL: http://www.stardock.com/products/windowblinds/