Windows Vista Themes Galore for PC Users

The visual style of Windows Vista is causing some amazement. The quality and the feel of the graphical user interface has caught the attention of PC users everywhere. Windows Vista themes are what separate it from the earlier versions of Windows in a whole new level.

Windows Vista has 4 kinds of visual styles that go along with it. All themes correspond to what is currently set, depending on the requirements. Free Windows Vista themes have become available online, which add to Vista’s benefit of customizability.

Windows Classic

The most basic among all the themes in Vista is Windows Classic, which is the design that has always been the template since Windows 95, although this version is mostly that from Windows 2000 and Windows Server 2003. This is the theme that is best suited for purposes of freeing up memory and system resources for improving performance, as well as personal preference. Variations are from color schemes, just like those of Vista’s predecessors.

Windows Vista Basic

Also included is Windows Vista Basic, which is a theme that is almost similar to that of Windows XP, with its subtle animations and lack of Vista’s latest visual features. It does not use transparency, translucency, window animation, the new Windows Flip 3D, and other functions that is provided by the Desktop Window Manager and requires the Windows Display Driver Model. This is for people who want something that is not plain-looking, but also not too embellished.

Windows Vista Standard

Windows Vista Standard is what people will see the most in Vista. It is basically a stripped down version of the full Windows Vista Aero theme, which means it does not include the cool visual effects like translucency, transparency, and the like.

Windows Vista Aero

The most amazing of these themes has got to be the Windows Vista Aero theme, which takes the visuals to a whole new level. It features use of 3D graphics, detailed shadowing, transparency, smooth animation, and many more. The menu bars look like glass and the transitions look like metamorphosis with all the cool effects that has been embedded in this latest version of Microsoft Windows. These features utilize the Desktop Window Manager, a desktop composition engine that was designed specifically Vista, as well as the Windows Display Driver Model, which is responsible for all the graphical effects that makes it look so good.

There is a potential disadvantage though with using graphically intensive themes in Windows Vista, which is the possibility of a decrease in overall performance, depending on the theme used. This is due to the additional use of system resources brought on by all the effects and visual augmentations running in your computer, which eats up RAM. If you have a newer computer with plenty of RAM, then it should not pose too much of a problem. If you have an older computer you may want to add some RAM or otherwise choose a less complex theme to use.

For most people, the new visual themes serve as eye candy due to the beauty of their overall design. If you want to make changes, right click on your desktop and click on “personalize”. In the window, choose the “themes” tab. In there, you can change your theme according to your preferences and tastes. This also includes being able to select a custom theme that you may have downloaded from the Internet.

You may also use third-party programs like Windows Blinds to change your themes in a different way. Some themes over the Internet are available for a fee, while there are others that are for free. Whatever you do, just make sure that the files that you download are virus free. The worst thing that you can do is not check something you got for free from some website and end up with more problems than convenience.

With these things in mind, you can gain another reason to enjoy Windows Vista with such a convenience. As long as you do it right, then there are no worries and your desktop will end up looking cooler and more dynamic than ever.

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