Classic Theme - works completely?

[Guvnor]

Hello,

I'm still using XP and I always use the classic style.
Recently, I've been thinking about switching to Vista 64 someday, but I've got a question about the classic theme:

I know that the theme is available, but does it give me complete access to all the functions available? I think I heard somewhere that some things won't work properly because Vista's GUI just differs very much from the older ones, and so there are functions that are not accessible anymore.

Is that true? Can the use of the classic theme really narrow my set of functionalities?

Thanks for your answers!

 

[roy69]

What funtions are you going to try and access?
I have found vista has more functionality than XP.
It is just looking in the right place.

 

[Guvnor]

Of course, all the functions

My question is just: are there any functions that are NOT accessible with Windows Classic Theme?

Because, you know, the explorer and similar applications look very different from XP and older versions of Windows, and they have lots of new functionality. And as I mentioned, I read somewhere that some of those functions can't be displayed and used correctly when using the classic theme, which I'd prefer.

 

[OldBloke]

My question is just: are there any functions that are NOT accessible with Windows Classic Theme?

I've used both the Classic theme in Vista and also the Aero theme. Now I'm using the Clearlooks visual style, which uses the Aero mechanism but different bitmaps and no transparency (you can have Aero with or without transparency).

In Classic, you are not missing any important features, only pretty stuff such as the 3D task switcher gimmick.

One advantage of using my modified Aero style (which looks like Ubuntu, more like Classic than Aero I guess) is that it's actually more efficient, if you have a decent graphics card.
In the Classic and Basic themes, more of the work of drawing the windows and task bar etc is done by the CPU. In Aero, there's more painting work to be done but most of it is done by the graphics processor, using less CPU work, because Aero uses Vista's new DWM routines (stands for Desktop Window Management ?).

Personally I don't like having a black taskbar. I imagined Aero can only have a black task bar, so I would have to use Classic -- until I discovered this great sub-culture of skinners who have learned to tweak the standard Aero theme. Personally I prefer that method, rather than Stardocks stuff such as WindowBlinds.

Anyway, once you have switched to Vista you will discover there are several choices, not just Aero or Classic, and you can have the best of both if you wish, a fairly classic looking Aero.

You can find Aero compatible visual styles at
Browsing Visual Styles on deviantART
and Neowin Forums -> Completed Visual Styles
the Clearlooks style is compatible with 64bit Vista

 

[Guvnor]

Thanks for your answer!

Well, ClearLooks definitely looks better than Aero (to my eyes), but somehow I'm so used to the classic style. But I also thought about that graphics card issue. Wouldn't it be possible for Microsoft to implement the classic style with hardware acceleration as well?

Or will I have to wait until someone creates a style that looks like classic

Btw, is it difficult to build your own styles (assumed that you're not a graphics noob)?

 

[OldBloke]

Or will I have to wait until someone creates a style that looks like classic

There is one, I can't remember its exact name, maybe Aero Classic or Classic Aero, by a guy called UK Intel. Sorry no link. I think it's still a bit "beta" and I'm not sure whether it's 64 bit compatible.

Btw, is it difficult to build your own styles (assumed that you're not a graphics noob)?

Quite difficult at the moment. Lots to learn, but it's possible. There are tutorials on those two forums I linked to.

I'm waiting for this program to be released:
Ave's Vista Style Builder

Currently you have to buy a very expensive resource modifying program, to change the images etc inside the standard Aero dlls, because the old freeware Resource Hacker program is not compatible with 64 bit dlls.

VistaStyleBuilder will be a specialised resource changer tailored for Aero, which tells you which of the bitmaps etc are applied to which desktop thing, such as the top right corner of a standard window etc.
I can't wait.

 

[Guvnor]

Ahh that sounds / looks great
The only problem are those small _ [] X buttons, but maybe he'll improve that soon

 

[OldBloke]

Ahh that sounds / looks great
The only problem are those small _ [] X buttons, but maybe he'll improve that soon

Are you referring to this:
Vista Classic - BETA 2.6 by ~UkIntel on deviantART
which is UK.Intel's DWM enabled "Vista Classic" theme.
Looks like he's stopped working on it since July 2007 so it will remain beta forever.

What small X buttons? They look just like the standard Close buttons in
ye olde classic design, which is what you're after, isn't it Guv?.
Or maybe we're referring to different things?

Alternatively, there's ~Abkend's Vista AeroClassic Final v.1.0
Vista AeroClassic Final v.1.0 by ~Abkend on deviantART

Just as a personal preference, I wouldn't want an exact repro of the old Windows 98 classic look, but maybe you're older than me and stuck in your ways.
Just kidding

Cheers,
Alan

 

[Guvnor]

Well the original button size and shape is like in that picture:
http://glast-ground.slac.stanford.edu/workbook/pages/images/windowsSystemProperties.JPG

In UkIntel's version, they are very slim and the close button is a bit bigger than the rest. And they are further attachted to the top of the window. I think that it's maybe not possible to change that in Vista, because the default Vista buttons are also very wide and have a bigger close button, and they're also stuck at the top

Well but it's better than nothing, I think I'll try it as soon as I have Vista.


For me, the Win 95/98 look is still the best I'm so used to it and I like it in its simplicity. Nothing is too big and too fancy, it's just perfect for working. With most modern styles, I don't like all those rounded corners and glossy mirror effects and so on, I just want it to be plain and grey and functional
Btw I'm only 24 years old and many people in my age don't understand my taste but I just prefer the older stuff. I actually like the look of CDE as well



EDIT: I actually like the _ [] X buttons in the very first screenshot. They all have the same size and they are placed centered, vertically. They're still not like the originals, but if they would be always like this, I'd love it. Sadly, in the other screenshots, they look different.

 

[SWAT]

Why would you get Vista for classic?
Wouldn't 1 reason to switch is for the areo features?

 

[Guvnor]

Aero would probably be the last reason for me to switch to Vista, seriously.

At the moment, I'm very comfortable with XP, and I don't have that many reasons to switch. But I simply want to get a bit familiar with it, and it would be good for testing my own software on Vista, to see if it's compatible. Another reason is that a friend of mine said that Vista 64 is really damn fast. So far, I only saw Vista 32 and thought it was quite slow. But since I've got a 64bit CPU, I think I'll give Vista 64 a try. But if I'd want to use it more often, I'd definitely want to use the classic look, or at least a skin that simulates classic look, like the one OldBloke mentioned.

 

[OldBloke]

Why would you get Vista for classic?
Wouldn't 1 reason to switch is for the areo features?

Different people get Vista for different reasons.

If you read the thread, it's clear that Guvnor doesn't like the standard Aero design, but he wants to use Vista for other reasons. He is also hoping to get some of the practical advantages of Aero's DWM engine while making it look like Classic. Makes sense to me.

 

[Fumz]

Can the use of the classic theme really narrow my set of functionalities?

Technically, using Classic doesn't remove any features; you can still get to them all, it's just more complicated. Imo, the main feature you deny yourself running Classic is Search. Instead of mousing through a sequence of clicks to get to whatever program you want, hitting the logo key and immediately typing the name of your program pops it up right away. You often don't even have to type the complete name. It's much faster than the way we're used to with XP.

 

[Guvnor]

Do you mean the search inside the start menu?

From what I've seen on screenshots so far, it's still available in classic mode:
http://www.winsupersite.com/images/showcase/vista_classic_25.jpg

Or were you talking about something else?

 

[Carbonite]

Vista is more intuitive than the previos OS's out of Microsoft. I think if you just gave it a couple weeks you wouldnt want to go back to the old look and style.

I am saying that but I was one of the ones that used the old style with xp for the longest time and decided one day to give a month and I could never go back. Since then I have just embraced the changes and changed little things here and there that I liked the old way. Like the control panel for instance.

 

[Fumz]

Ahh, that's odd. Yes, that's what I was talking about. I was curious about this so I asked my Prof about it in class this morning. He switched to Classic and there was no search... there was also no User folder, networking, etc etc... there were other minor differences, but nothing major.

 

[Guvnor]

Vista is more intuitive than the previos OS's out of Microsoft. I think if you just gave it a couple weeks you wouldnt want to go back to the old look and style.

Well, I could at least imagine using another style that's not exactly like the classic style, but at least looking plain and good. I just hate all those glossy, mirror, gradient stuff buttons, and I don't like all those animations. Also, I don't like that everything has rounded corners, since that just wastes space (and I absolutely hate wasting space). And I don't think that those details improve the intuitiveness. Maybe they improve the looks for some people, but as long as all the functionality is possible without it, I don't think it's more intuitive.

If there's a different style somewhere, that at least doesn't contain all that flashy stuff, then I'd possibly use it it's just that I don't like the look of all this over-the-top stuff. I simply want a plain, edgy GUI. I'm also using a ThinkPad, in part for the same reasons :D

Well, if anyone here knows a good alternative, please let me know!

 

[OldBloke]

Ahh, that's odd. Yes, that's what I was talking about. I was curious about this so I asked my Prof about it in class this morning. He switched to Classic and there was no search... there was also no User folder, networking, etc etc... there were other minor differences, but nothing major.

Here in Vista Home Premium SP1, I just switched from ClearLooks (an Aero style) to Windows Classic theme via the Personalize > Themes dialog.

I pressed the Win key and got the Vista type of Start Menu with my cursor already in the search line at bottom left. It still had the User folders, networking, etc, in the right half of the Start Menu, just like in Aero. It looks like the image Guvnor linked to.
http://www.winsupersite.com/images/showcase/vista_classic_25.jpg

In either theme, one can choose the new Vista Start Menu or the old Classic Start Menu (right click TaskBar > Properties). That's the choice which affects how the menu actually functions.

 

[Fumz]

That is odd. While I certainly can't argue with your screens and don't question what you're saying, my Prof was insistent there are some features not displayed when using Classic. Since he also teaches ethical hacking, I have to believe he's familiar with the OS and knows what he's talking about? So Tuesday I'll ask him again what he meant by that?

 

[Barman58]

I think the basic confusion here is that there is a classic theme which uses the old style screen graphics overlaid on the normal Vista interface and the Start Menu option which reverts the start menu to the old style with cascading menus, no instant search and user etc links on the right pane of the menu. The classic menu can even be used with aero if you want! :D after all it's a user interface let the user decide