There are methods and add-ons - all of them free - that will give your XP computer much of the power of the new operating system with none of the hassle.
February 27, 2007 (Press Release) --
Has the cost and trouble of moving to Windows Vista put you off? You're not alone. Many companies and individuals will move to Vista slowly, perhaps even waiting until the initial bugs are worked out with the first Vista service pack.
But waiting a bit longer for Vista doesn't mean you have to forego much of what Vista offers. There are methods and add-ons - all of them free - that will give your XP computer much of the power of the new operating system with none of the hassle.
Q: How good is Vista's new desktop search ability, and is there a way I can approximate what Vista does on my XP PC?
A: Vista's built-in desktop search capabilities do a much better job of finding your files, e-mail messages, and other documents than does XP's Find system. In fact, Vista's search gets better with age. As your computer sits, Vista's much-improved indexing is working in the background, and by the time you're on day two or three of the operating system, searches are blazing fast.
But so are searches with others tools available for XP. Good Desktop (http://desktop.google.com) does almost as well as Vista's search, and it does so from within the framework of the Google Web browser which you probably already know well.
Google Desktop even adds a Vista-like sidebar with customisable "gadgets" that do things like give you the latest headlines, weather, and allow you to create to-do lists.
Copernic Desktop Search (http://www.copernic.com) is another capable contendor that promises to search your entire hard drive in less than a second to get you almost immediately to the e-mail, file, or image you're looking for. Its spartan interface and thoughtful use of your computer in the background means that it's unobtrusive and that when it's indexing your files, you won't be bothered.
Q: Can I replicate the Vista sidebar on my XP computer:
A: Vista's sidebar, for those who haven't seen it, is a quite attractive collection of system and Internet-enabled utilities that line the right-hand side of your computer monitor. Offered are small applications that can bring headlines from newspapers and forums to your desktop in the form of RSS feeds, calculator, media player, calendar, and a few other goodies.
Little apps like this are nothing new, though, and you can find similar functionality for free in several places.
Google's toolbar offers most of the functionality of the Vista applets, but its no-frills look may not give you the Vista feel you're after. A better bet is Desktop Sidebar (http://www.desktopsidebar.com), which arguably offers more than the widgets built in to Vista.
Included with Desktop Sidebar are not only the usual headlines and to-do list but also a mail checker, messenger applet, photo gallery application, music player, clock, and about 12 other options, including search. It's free.
Q: Most of the changes I see in Vista are desktop related. Is there any way I can get that look on XP?
A: You can. Indeed there are ways that you can "transition" to Vista one visual enhancement at a time right on your current Windows computer.
If you want to have most of the visual enhancements in one package, however, your best best is probably the Vista Enhancement Pack (http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/OS-Enhancements/Vista- Transforma tion-Pack.shtml), a free, open-source XP add-on that that will make your XP computer look remarkably like Windows Vista.
The Enhancement Pack does everything from change the look of the Start button to add visual glass-like elements to file and application windows. Widgets that line the right side of the screen are included as well.
If you'd rather add one enhancement at a time, start with the Start menu. The Vista Start Menu SE (http://www.vistastartmenu.com) actually retains some of the useful functionality that the Vista start menu dropped - such as Reboot - while giving you a facsimile of the genuine Vista Start menu on your XP machine.
Vista's transparent Aero interface elements are markedly different - and some say markedly better - than XPs, thanks to being both more visually pleasing and more useful, since windows and applications in Vista have a harder time getting lost behind other windows.
You can get a good likeness of the Aero interface with Window Blinds. While not free, this 19 dollar application changes both desktop and folder appearance to give you the Vista experience.
Author: Jay Dougherty
Source: http://www.playfuls.com/
But waiting a bit longer for Vista doesn't mean you have to forego much of what Vista offers. There are methods and add-ons - all of them free - that will give your XP computer much of the power of the new operating system with none of the hassle.
Q: How good is Vista's new desktop search ability, and is there a way I can approximate what Vista does on my XP PC?
A: Vista's built-in desktop search capabilities do a much better job of finding your files, e-mail messages, and other documents than does XP's Find system. In fact, Vista's search gets better with age. As your computer sits, Vista's much-improved indexing is working in the background, and by the time you're on day two or three of the operating system, searches are blazing fast.
But so are searches with others tools available for XP. Good Desktop (http://desktop.google.com) does almost as well as Vista's search, and it does so from within the framework of the Google Web browser which you probably already know well.
Google Desktop even adds a Vista-like sidebar with customisable "gadgets" that do things like give you the latest headlines, weather, and allow you to create to-do lists.
Copernic Desktop Search (http://www.copernic.com) is another capable contendor that promises to search your entire hard drive in less than a second to get you almost immediately to the e-mail, file, or image you're looking for. Its spartan interface and thoughtful use of your computer in the background means that it's unobtrusive and that when it's indexing your files, you won't be bothered.
Q: Can I replicate the Vista sidebar on my XP computer:
A: Vista's sidebar, for those who haven't seen it, is a quite attractive collection of system and Internet-enabled utilities that line the right-hand side of your computer monitor. Offered are small applications that can bring headlines from newspapers and forums to your desktop in the form of RSS feeds, calculator, media player, calendar, and a few other goodies.
Little apps like this are nothing new, though, and you can find similar functionality for free in several places.
Google's toolbar offers most of the functionality of the Vista applets, but its no-frills look may not give you the Vista feel you're after. A better bet is Desktop Sidebar (http://www.desktopsidebar.com), which arguably offers more than the widgets built in to Vista.
Included with Desktop Sidebar are not only the usual headlines and to-do list but also a mail checker, messenger applet, photo gallery application, music player, clock, and about 12 other options, including search. It's free.
Q: Most of the changes I see in Vista are desktop related. Is there any way I can get that look on XP?
A: You can. Indeed there are ways that you can "transition" to Vista one visual enhancement at a time right on your current Windows computer.
If you want to have most of the visual enhancements in one package, however, your best best is probably the Vista Enhancement Pack (http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/OS-Enhancements/Vista- Transforma tion-Pack.shtml), a free, open-source XP add-on that that will make your XP computer look remarkably like Windows Vista.
The Enhancement Pack does everything from change the look of the Start button to add visual glass-like elements to file and application windows. Widgets that line the right side of the screen are included as well.
If you'd rather add one enhancement at a time, start with the Start menu. The Vista Start Menu SE (http://www.vistastartmenu.com) actually retains some of the useful functionality that the Vista start menu dropped - such as Reboot - while giving you a facsimile of the genuine Vista Start menu on your XP machine.
Vista's transparent Aero interface elements are markedly different - and some say markedly better - than XPs, thanks to being both more visually pleasing and more useful, since windows and applications in Vista have a harder time getting lost behind other windows.
You can get a good likeness of the Aero interface with Window Blinds. While not free, this 19 dollar application changes both desktop and folder appearance to give you the Vista experience.
Author: Jay Dougherty
Source: http://www.playfuls.com/
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