all images are screen shots from my desktop

Stardock Objectdock

The first Vista idea that I will address is the desktop dock. This dock allows Vista users to organize there desktop icons into multiple docks that can be customized and added with special effects, color schemes, and many different themes and shapes. Also, the Objectdock has cool gadgets like the weather icon, and it has a library of different icons for different programs to customize your dock! The Stardock Object dock does all this and is a download able program that works for XP. The free version allows only one dock and not as many customization options as the plus version, but it is still really awesome. After a while though the 20 dollar deal wasn't sounding so bad so I upgraded to the plus version which allows tab docks with different tabs to click on to organize your icons and it allows unlimited docks. The plus version also allows more customizable features. The Stardock Objectdock is a great Vista imitation program and you should try out the free version, and if you love that, then definitely go for the plus version. This program can be downloaded from http://www.stardock.com/products/objectdock/downloads.asp#download

Vi-Start/Orb/Splore

Thanks to lee-soft.com there is a free download able Vista looking start button, start menu, and glass browser. The Viorb as seen in lower left corner of pictures is what the Vista start button looks like. The Vistart(see picture directly above) changes what the start menu looks like from clicking on the start button. Then Visplore (see picture below) changes how you look for files while exploring in My Documents or My Computer. All these programs can be found from lee-soft.com and they can all be downloaded and installed in less than 2 minutes. If you don't like them then a kill me can be found in the program file or you can just delete them. Also you can choose whether or not you want them to load at start up.

Thoosje Sidebar

This is a sidebar for XP that can be downloaded at http://www.thoosje.com/sidebar.html This sidebar I just use to show my system information like internet traffic and CPU usage. It comes with lots of cool gadgets and some of these gadgets can be customized like my Rolex Clock.(image below) Thoosje sidebar is free and is great for all sorts of things.

Other Programs

There are many other XP-Vista imitation programs and downloads so don't just stop your search here. These are just what I use and prefer but there are many different opinions. For example, there is the Dell Dock which resembles the Stardock Object and there is the Rocket Dock which also resembles it. Also if you don't like all the downloading and installing, you can just get the Vista Transformation Pack which will transform your PC with a few clicks.

Hope you enjoyed this article and hope you find the perfect customization.

Ok lets start by pressing the PRGM button and scrolling over till the NEW button is highlighted, then press 1 or ENTER. Call it what you want but in this example i will call mine "FIBONY".

Next press PRGM then scroll over till I/O is highlighted and press 8 over scroll down and press ENTER while ClrHome is highlighted. Then after that press enter and then type 1->X (The -> is the button STO-> under LN and above ON), press ENTER and type 1->Y.

Heres what it should look like:

|:ClrHome |:1->X |:1->Y

Then press ENTER and press PRGM adn scroll over to I/O and press 3 or scroll down to Disp. Now after Disp type (with "") "MAX COUNT". It should look like this "|:Disp"MAX COUNT"|". Hopefully you remember how to get to the I/O screen. Press ENTER and go to the I/O screen and press 1 or highlight Input and press ENTER. After Input put B. It should look like this "|:Input B|". Now press ENTER and put a ClrHome on this line (refer back to see how). Press ENTER and type X+Y->A, and press ENTER. Now put Disp on three lines, the first put X after Disp, second put Y after the Disp, and third Disp put an A after that.

Ok now lets recap: (should look exactly like that)

|:ClrHome | |:1->X | |:1->Y | |:Disp "MAX COUNT| |" | |:Input B | |:ClrHome | |:X+Y->A | |:Disp X | |:Disp Y | |:Disp A |

Now for the FOR loop pretty easy to use, harder to understand. On the next line press PRGM and press 4 or scroll down till For( is highlighted and press ENTER. After that type Z, 4, B, 1) after the For(, so it should look like this, "|:For(Z, 4, B, 1) |". After that press ENTER and type A->X, then ENTER and type X+Y->A, next press ENTER and go to the I/O screen and press 3. After Disp type A (so like this "|:Disp A |").Next press ENTER and type X->Y and last press ENTER and press PRGM and press 7 or scroll down until End is highlighted and press ENTER, and your done.

Here is the finished product: (EXACTLY)

|:ClrHome | |:1->X | |:1->Y | |:Disp "MAX COUNT| |" | |:Input B | |:ClrHome | |:X+Y->A | |:Disp X | |:Disp Y | |:Disp A | |:For(Z,4,B,A) | |:A->X | |:X+Y->A | |:Disp A | |:X->Y | |:End |

Now to test your program press 2nd , MODE. Then press PRGM and look for whatever you named it, for example mine was named FIBONY, and press ENTER twice. It comes up with "MAX COUNT", ?. Then type a number next to the ?, like 3-200 because I think after 200 it might cause an overflow. Have fun.