Improving the Windows XP User Interface?

Pimpin' Up Windows asks: "Many of us are forced to live with Windows XP for our day-to-day computing needs - at work, home or school - and longingly look to the not only beautiful, but functional and efficient, Mac OS X 'Aqua' user interface. Apart from just themes, what would be Slashdot reader's suggestions for improving the user interface of XP? What changes, add-ons and other improvements could further enhance its usability?"

Comments

Start button doesn't stay in the bottom left

[robolemon]

One of my biggest pet peeves is that if I make the Windows XP taskbar 2 rows tall instead of one, the start button only takes up the top row instead of spanning both or taking up the bottom row.

This results in a spot underneath the start button that has no use. This also breaks the shortcut of clicking on the bottom left corner of the screen to access the start menu.

Useability?

[billh]

Switch to classic mode
Turn off menu delays
Turn off every other stupid effect
Install unix command line tools
Never use IE or Outlook
Install some decent fonts

It might not be as pretty, but it is more functional.

Want improvement in XP? Go back to Windows 2000

[LazloToth]

Truly, if you're into function over form, the Win2K interface is far more refined than the prettier, but painfully illogical backwards step that became XP. I am amazed, yet not surprised, at the number of people who are barely competent enough to create a desktop icon, but manage to figure out how to return to the "classic" style. I hope the next Windows interface will be a return to crisp function and logical work flow.

Re:I've got an idea!

[NanoGator]

"Make it NOT look like froofy pastel crap that makes people violently ill!"

Err okay. The XP default scheme, though quite bold, is not pastel. (It's more like Fisher Price. :P)

In all seriousness, it's not all that bad. I discovered that my biggest beef with that color scheme wasn't the colors used, but the wallpaper. I turned that black, and suddenly XP's interface isn't so bad. What's nice about it is that it's rather easy to tell which window is active or blinking. The difference between orange and blue is quite striking. Green is a nice highlight color as it has a decent contrast against blue.

I can understand the screenshots not looking so appealing, but having used it for a while now, I actually kind of like it. (Especially after getting rid of that damn wallpaper.) I wish by default the titlebars were smaller, but their color choice is fine.

Re:What a wonderful troll of a subject.

[zero_offset]

Despite which OS you've decided you like to use you really can't say that OS X isn't easier for a computer novice to use.

Yeah, actually I can. I know two formerly-computer-averse "regular people" who couldn't manage to get much useful done under OS X on their shiny new Macs, but who rather quickly "got it" when I brought an XP laptop to them. Both have since ditched their Macs. As a bonus, they're much happier that their PC's are so relatively inexpensive.

I'm not saying "TEH MAC SUX" or anything extreme like that, but the assumption of UI superiority has, in my opinion, never been proven with any especially compelling authority. It is my opinion that the Mac superiority thing is primarily a result of very careful MARKETING efforts.

The Mac isn't bad, but it isn't a miraculous plateau of UI wisdom, either.