Some people I know never leave the Windows 'classic' appearance, some even go back to the battleship gray Windows 2000 look, and the rest are sitting in Blue XP.

What about 'alternative' skins? I'm a visual person myself (ISPF as of yesterday's assessment) and appreciate sensory comfort, so I do cycle through themes a lot.

I use the one that ships with MCE 2005. Similar to, but more polished, than the XP blue theme.

I use WindowsBlinds on Windows 2000. While I don't like the standard Windows look I tend to stick with a given visual style for a long time.

So, yes, I use a different visual style, but I don't change it often. Maybe once or twice a year. Also, I used to use a different icon set. nowadays, I'm back to the original Windows icons.

If you're into desktop customization, I really recommend Stardock's Object Desktop (www.stardock.com). It has a lot of stuff.

Janek.

I use Object Desktop and DesktopX to give me a desktop that's usable with the maximum amount of free space but I don't theme other than the regular XP theme. I have in the past, including the swimming fish in the title bar, but it soon palls, plus strange things still happen with Window blinds from time to time.

I will never use Stardock again. I bought the $50 subscription package which allows you to download all of their applications "AND WHAT YOU DOWNLOAD YOU KEEP FOREVER!!"

What they neglect to tell you is that there's no way to save the install binaries, everything is downloaded and installed from "Stardock Central" which is the only binary you get to keep. When your subscription runs out, you can no longer download the apps you paid for, so you'd better never format your computer if you expect to really keep anything "forever"

dicks.

You can save everything that's downloaded.

I sure didn't find a way to save the binaries. Or rather, I didn't really look for a way I guess, since I was under the understanding that I could download the versions I had purchased ad infinitum.

Bad news about online music stores, muppet...

Philo

Ah DRM that boon to ummm someone.

Philo -

Lucky I don't pay for music anymore. :)

Here's the latest I found... Now using it (minus the fancy widget bar which is as useless as difficult to install).

http://www.deviantart.com/view/11860228/

Looks like Highway 9 around Santa Cruz down to Monterey.