Theme: New Windows XP Theme

[andrewfblack]

I have the first Alpha of my new Windows XP theme. I noticed that the non working Windows Vista Theme is one of the most downloaded files ever from Garage so I decided to do a couple windows based themes starting with a Blue Windows XP one. The first Alpha version is up it works fine but I'm calling it an Alpha since it has very little done. Just the Top Bar is done and the Close/Minimize Buttons. I also have a the standard windows background resized to look nice on the Tablets. I will be Doing alot more work this weekend and plan on a second release coming out as soon as Saturday Morning.

Garage Page: Here (https://garage.maemo.org/projects/windows-theme/)
Download: Here (https://garage.maemo.org/frs/download.php/4414/wds.deb)

https://garage.maemo.org/frs/download.php/4412/screenshot01.png

https://garage.maemo.org/frs/download.php/4413/screenshot03.png

[Scarflash]

hahaha i probably will download this just for showing off to my friends.

[Den in USA]

When I set the background image to "windows" I get a corrupted brownish image that is not the correct Windows XP theme.

[andrewfblack]

I'll check that out when I get home.

[Un27Pee]

nice theme good work can you make the scroll bars larger and the text fonts bigger thanks

[Sevanteri]

Just wondering: Why would anyone want any kind of Windows styled theme?
Everything is better than Windows.

[iamthewalrus]

No. DOS is worse.

[Sevanteri]

No. DOS is worse.

I actually disagree with that. :D
I like DOS more. :)

[DeeJay_XB]

this is a nice theme!
please make it nicer :D

[fatalsaint]

DOS was at least functional for it's time...

Windows is just..... pretty? I guess?....

[joshv06]

haha this is nice! thank you!

great job!

[allnameswereout]

Just wondering: Why would anyone want any kind of Windows styled theme?
Everything is better than Windows.

1) Because they can.
2) Because it makes them feel more comfortable with the NIT.
3) For fun.

[danramos]

Come on, folks. We're talking about a theme--not an operating system. If it feels and looks nicer to someone using it, it's worth making that theme.

I absolutely hate Windows.. but, from looking at the screenshots, the theme looks very pleasant to the eyes and I'd consider it once I got over the initial gag reflex from what it reminds me of. :)

Please keep on working on this--it looks fantastic and I'm sure more folks will appreciate it than will be able to tell you here. :)

[andrewfblack]

Come on, folks. We're talking about a theme--not an operating system. If it feels and looks nicer to someone using it, it's worth making that theme.

I absolutely hate Windows.. but, from looking at the screenshots, the theme looks very pleasant to the eyes and I'd consider it once I got over the initial gag reflex from what it reminds me of. :)

Please keep on working on this--it looks fantastic and I'm sure more folks will appreciate it than will be able to tell you here. :)

Thanks for all the comments guys the reason I released it with so little work done was because I wanted to get a feel for what people thought about it before I put to much time into it. I'm going to keep working on it I'm sure there are some people who wont like it but hey I don't see a lot of people working on or atleast releasing new themes. Also I would say atleast some people liked the old Vista theme since it has been downloaded 50,000 times. I'll let you guys know when I release a new version.

[Un27Pee]

please do continue and remember my suggestions if possible thanks.

[allnameswereout]

Thanks for sharing your work, Andrew.

[briand]

It'd be uber-funny if you could change all the system error dialogs to look like "blue screen" GPF messages!!

[spartanNTX]

Thanks for all the comments guys the reason I released it with so little work done was because I wanted to get a feel for what people thought about it before I put to much time into it. I'm going to keep working on it I'm sure there are some people who wont like it but hey I don't see a lot of people working on or atleast releasing new themes. Also I would say atleast some people liked the old Vista theme since it has been downloaded 50,000 times. I'll let you guys know when I release a new version.

Can you replace some of the default icons on the left with XP ones?

[danramos]

It'd be uber-funny if you could change all the system error dialogs to look like "blue screen" GPF messages!!

That boy's not quite right, is he? :) hehe It would be pretty funny to do all sorts of stuff with dialog and error messages but I would imagine that sort of deep work would be pretty complicated or at least a bit more detailed than he seemed to imply he has time for.

In the meantime, you could always replace the wallpaper background with something nerly as creepy like:
http://www.macbrosplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/cat-blue-screen.jpg
Or any number of other screenshots of the famous blue screen:
http://images.google.com/images?&q=blue+screen+of+death

Joy. :P heheh

[andrewfblack]

Can you replace some of the default icons on the left with XP ones?

Replacing the icons is one of my plans.

[Aisu]

Looks great, Andrew. I think this will be the first theme I'll install from a 3rd party. :D

[gerbick]

Well... there goes my argument that nobody would want their NIT to look like WinXP. And it's done so well... bravo.

[danramos]

Well... there goes my argument that nobody would want their NIT to look like WinXP. And it's done so well... bravo.

It's all about the 'retro', man. :) Now if I could ONLY get a nice Commodore VIC-20 theme going.. ;)

[marce]

When. I try to use the windows background I get an "Uglly Brown". Is there a way to fix that. Untill that works I did a screen shot of your screen shot and it works. But it shows Dothan temp. Is that Dothan Al. by Fort Rucker ?

[andrewfblack]

When. I try to use the windows background I get an "Uglly Brown". Is there a way to fix that. Untill that works I did a screen shot of your screen shot and it works. But it shows Dothan temp. Is that Dothan Al. by Fort Rucker ?

I'll releasing an update tonight that will have the right background plus several other updates. Also yeah its Dothan, AL near Fort Rucker.

[Sevanteri]

1) Because they can.
2) Because it makes them feel more comfortable with the NIT.
3) For fun.

You're absolutely right.
It doesn't make me feel comfortable at all, but maybe it does for somebody.

But it's nice to see different themes.
There's only one theme at the moment which I like, Echo.
But I'm waiting for the Doom3 PDA theme. That's going to rock. :)

So.. Nice work. I don't have interest to make my own theme, so it's good that some people do them.

[andrewfblack]

Is the Doom3 PDA theme still being worked on havn't seen anything from it in a while.

[Sevanteri]

http://www.internettablettalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10364
Nothing new... :(

[HalSF]

The dearth of cool new themes, apart from the hideously disruptive Vista theme (still available and still wrecking setups) and this adaptation from an OS that gives me PTSD nightmares, is a melancholy phenomenon on the N8xx landscape, which is otherwise a largely open-source and cheerful place.

[andrewfblack]

Alpha 0.2 is out. Fixed the Background, recolored menu background, and replaced menu arrows, also keep an eye out for the windows logo a few places.

[danramos]

Hey, Andrew.. what are you using to make this theme? I'd like to see what I could try and do.

[qole]

Hate to say it, but you should replace the browser globe with the IE icon, just for the full-on Redmond look. Probably replace the app menu icon with the "My Computer" icon, too.

[Un27Pee]

hi Andrew nice work clean theme, the media player panel is missing the control buttuns can't figure which buttons do what but the rest looks very neat, keepup.

[danramos]

I wouldn't use the actual IE icon.. maybe just a look-alike icon with the same look of the IE icon. I would suggest avoiding using trademarks as much as possible and I'm pretty sure the IE icon is trademarked (as well as the Windows logo and so on).

[DeeJay_XB]

maybe firefox icon :D

[danramos]

maybe firefox icon :D

That's not a bad idea at all, considering it actually IS the firefox engine anyway, right? Good suggestion! :)

[overfloat]

i have a suggestion - i think it would look better if you remove the resize bar on the taskbar (the small bar at the bottom) , also maybe it will look better if you remove the darkened side bar - so the icons look more like desktop icons

[allnameswereout]

There are some icons which combine the Firefox logo with the IE logo.

[andrewfblack]

Hate to say it, but you should replace the browser globe with the IE icon, just for the full-on Redmond look. Probably replace the app menu icon with the "My Computer" icon, too.

I've been wanting to do that but I haven't changed icons before. I know there are some posts about it here. If I can figure it out I will do that next.

Also I'll look into the media player buttons.

[iamthewalrus]

At least with Maemo you already have the clunky windows-like modal dialogs.

[DeeJay_XB]

make the fonts a little larger, like in the default theme and the selected text in the menu gets white, please change the selection colour!

[qole]

It's all about the 'retro', man. :) Now if I could ONLY get a nice Commodore VIC-20 theme going.. ;)

I'd prefer a Commodore PET / Apple II (black/green, with chunky fonts) or Commodore 64 (navy/sky blue border) theme over a VIC-20. VIC-20 really had nothing much to speak of on its screen, just gigantic characters.

Hmm, but that gets me thinking... retro themes... old b/w Mac? Win 3.11 (Mosaic browser icon! Yeah!)? Palm?

What about making a WinCE theme? <evil laugh>

[BoredOOMM]

I'd prefer a Commodore PET / Apple II (black/green, with chunky fonts) or Commodore 64 (navy/sky blue border) theme over a VIC-20. VIC-20 really had nothing much to speak of on its screen, just gigantic characters.

Hmm, but that gets me thinking... retro themes... old b/w Mac? Win 3.11 (Mosaic browser icon! Yeah!)? Palm?

What about making a WinCE theme? <evil laugh>

Icons for 3.11 would probably be found easily and installed in this theme with a green background would be easy too....

[rcadden]

Great work, I'd also like to see the wide scrollbars from EchoWB included. These should be default for Maemo, imo.

[andrewfblack]

I'd prefer a Commodore PET / Apple II (black/green, with chunky fonts) or Commodore 64 (navy/sky blue border) theme over a VIC-20. VIC-20 really had nothing much to speak of on its screen, just gigantic characters.

Hmm, but that gets me thinking... retro themes... old b/w Mac? Win 3.11 (Mosaic browser icon! Yeah!)? Palm?

What about making a WinCE theme? <evil laugh>

I considered doing some of those before not sure if it would be worth the time lol.

[andrewfblack]

New Windows XP Theme Update check it out Version 0.5 is first Beta Version. Lots of change can't wait to hear what you guys think.

[DeeJay_XB]

hi,
ive installed beta 0.4 the latest but didn't see any difference from the alpha version...

[tso]

I'd prefer a Commodore PET / Apple II (black/green, with chunky fonts) or Commodore 64 (navy/sky blue border) theme over a VIC-20. VIC-20 really had nothing much to speak of on its screen, just gigantic characters.

Hmm, but that gets me thinking... retro themes... old b/w Mac? Win 3.11 (Mosaic browser icon! Yeah!)? Palm?

What about making a WinCE theme? <evil laugh>

amiga!!! :D

[andrewfblack]

hi,
ive installed beta 0.4 the latest but didn't see any difference from the alpha version...

Alot of the fixes where small things like a button to far to the right or several other things. also on theme to see changes I beleave if you update it while using it then you have to change to another theme and them back. Also an easy way to see if your using beta is on beta the home bar goes all the way to the right all the time.

[rcadden]

Did you implement the wide scroll bars, like on EchoWB?

[qole]

I went and installed EchoWB after rcadden mentioned it earlier. It is great having those big fat scrollbars everywhere!

EDIT:

First of all, great theme. Very cute to see the familiar blue bars and minimize/close buttons.

Andrew, I notice that you're calling every version "wds.deb"; usually you put the version number into the name of the .deb file.

But it sure is funny to get the message, "Windows successfully installed!"

I think the menu bar (on the left) should probably be made completely transparent. It doesn't quite look Windows-y enough as it is. And there's still lots of work to do on icons and window decorations on home screen applets (like the search applet). But I'll use it for a while, freak my colleagues out.

[DeeJay_XB]

still the selected text is white and cannot see it!!

ex: when i press powerbutton there are 4 option but the selected one is like invisible!

[qole]

still the selected text is white and cannot see it!!

ex: when i press powerbutton there are 4 option but the selected one is like invisible!


Yes, me too.

[andrewfblack]

Did you implement the wide scroll bars, like on EchoWB?

I'm not sure how to implement the large scroll bars I have made them but not sure how to make the theme use them. Anyone got any info on this?

[andrewfblack]

still the selected text is white and cannot see it!!

ex: when i press powerbutton there are 4 option but the selected one is like invisible!

This is a problem I havn't figured out yet I'm sending my template to the guy who made theme maker so he can help me with that. Also anyone know how to Use large scroll bars, Change Icons. Please let me know how to do it.

[qole]

I'm more of an expert at complaining to theme makers ;)

[andrewfblack]

lol I've searched and searched and haven't been able to find out how to change icons or scroll bars. Also got any ideas to add to the theme? Going to start a Mac version next I think if I can find someone to send me some screen shots of some stuff.

[alephito]

lol I've searched and searched and haven't been able to find out how to change icons or scroll bars.

I think ah.sima explains how he (or she) did it in this topic (http://www.internettablettalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17678).

[andrewfblack]

Version 0.5 is out get it while its hot.

[Un27Pee]

Hi Andrew good to see improvemets on this beta keepup, and a big thank you

[andrewfblack]

Hi Andrew good to see improvemets on this beta keepup, and a big thank you

Thanks, If anyone has any ideas on how to make this theme look more windows like besides the icons let me know, I'm still trying to find out how to change the icons.

[Un27Pee]

well just a question why do you choose double color and drop down menu icon that arrow? and l hope you find the trick for the large scrollbars,
if we know the roadmap to this project we can suggest something like adding some vista icons features just a suggestion here. also the other applets have a slight rounded corners so if you can make the top-level bar look similar will make it more like maemo made.

[harpgliss]

Hi,

Un27Pee, why would you add or want to add Vista icons to a Windows XP theme?

David

[qwerty12]

lol I've searched and searched and haven't been able to find out how to change icons or scroll bars. Also got any ideas to add to the theme? Going to start a Mac version next I think if I can find someone to send me some screen shots of some stuff.

Quick and dirty way is to repack the deb with the added files in /usr/share/icons/hicolor/hildon and add an gtk-update-icon-cache in the postinst

[andrewfblack]

well just a question why do you choose double color and drop down menu icon that arrow? and l hope you find the trick for the large scrollbars,
if we know the roadmap to this project we can suggest something like adding some vista icons features just a suggestion here. also the other applets have a slight rounded corners so if you can make the top-level bar look similar will make it more like maemo made.

Are you talking about the color and arrows on the application menu if you are those colors and arrow are taken from windows XP thats why. As far as I icons I will be adding some XP icons to it I might do a new vista theme after this theme and my Linux Mint theme are done.

As far as the icons go and the large screen bar they both require I repack my deb since the theme maker can't do that as of right now I'm not sure how to do it. Qwerty12 if you know how Can you help me with that or do it for me?

[Un27Pee]

harpgliss i was suggesting some icons to make it nice, i know xp and vista are diffrent but if we have some nice once it will do after all it is just a theme, i personally have xp with vista ui .
beta 5 allready looks nice.

[iamthewalrus]

Two questions:

Even though I think the xp theme is fun I unstalled it some days ago. But it still shows up in the 'set theme' menu. How do I completely uninstall it?

A related question is that I'm trying to make my own theme but it won't show up in said menu. I copied the echo folder in /usr/share/themes to echo2, changed the theme name in index.theme and deleted the 'cache' files from the gtkrc folder in it, thinking it works the same way as with the icon cache. After rebooting I expected it to see in the theme selection menu but I didn't. Any idea why?

[andrewfblack]

I have no idea, I haven't heard anyone say that they couldn't uninstall the theme I uninstall it several times a day when I'm updating and it always go away. Try to remove it again and see if it works. The best way to make a new theme is to just use theme maker. Only way I know of.

[qwerty12]

As far as the icons go and the large screen bar they both require I repack my deb since the theme maker can't do that as of right now I'm not sure how to do it. Qwerty12 if you know how Can you help me with that or do it for me?

Sure, I can help you do it if you have a deb based linux distro, if not, I can do it for you.

[andrewfblack]

Sure, I can help you do it if you have a deb based linux distro, if not, I can do it for you.

I have Linux Mint installed on one of my desktops but I can always install another one. I'll contact you on IRC later today about it if thats cool.

[Gourmand]

I would rather use Vista or Leopard look-a-like theme - both look better than default XP.

[qole]

I just want to say that I'm sorry, Andrew, if you got the impression that this thread is a bunch of pages of people saying that they don't like your theme (http://internettablettalk.com/forums/showpost.php?p=257266&postcount=889)... I think there are a lot of people who like it, and we'd like you to keep going on it. If you have figured out some stuff since you made this theme, you should release a new version; as you can see from downloads, it is popular.

[FRZ]

I am gonna try this one.

[andrewfblack]

I just want to say that I'm sorry, Andrew, if you got the impression that this thread is a bunch of pages of people saying that they don't like your theme (http://internettablettalk.com/forums/showpost.php?p=257266&postcount=889)... I think there are a lot of people who like it, and we'd like you to keep going on it. If you have figured out some stuff since you made this theme, you should release a new version; as you can see from downloads, it is popular.

I may have been a little wrong with what I said on the other post I know there are people who like this theme but there are also people who don't like it. What I was trying to get across was it doesn't bother me if someone says something about this theme. Come to find out that guy really likes it and was calling him self a noob not me lol. Thanks for the support I might revisit this theme after I get done with the MerEcho theme. Which is also for Maemo as well. Thanks again for the support everyone.

[_X_]

i have the first alpha of my new windows xp theme. I noticed that the non working windows vista theme is one of the most downloaded files ever from garage so i decided to do a couple windows based themes starting with a blue windows xp one. The first alpha version is up it works fine but i'm calling it an alpha since it has very little done. Just the top bar is done and the close/minimize buttons. I also have a the standard windows background resized to look nice on the tablets. I will be doing alot more work this weekend and plan on a second release coming out as soon as saturday morning.

Garage page: here (https://garage.maemo.org/projects/windows-theme/)
download: here (https://garage.maemo.org/frs/download.php/4414/wds.deb)

https://garage.maemo.org/frs/download.php/4412/screenshot01.png

https://garage.maemo.org/frs/download.php/4413/screenshot03.png

i have trouble with the installation, it says cant install windows.... What can i do???

[Kroll]

i have trouble with the installation, it says cant install windows.... What can i do???
Believe me u don't want to install n8x0 themes on n900.

[nokiabot]

Is there similar dossy themes for n900??