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Publisher's Description
From Lighttek Software:
Talisman Desktop is a desktop manager and shell-replacement for Windows. The program lets users design their own desktops and interfaces or choose from hundreds of downloadable themes, which work either atop or as complete replacements for the default Windows shell. Unlike Windows themes, Talisman Desktop lets you completely customize the Windows interface. Its power extends from adding new toolbars to designing a brand-new desktop with any combination of drop-down menus, buttons and panels. The program allows any number of fixed or free-moving icons, buttons, or other objects that launch programs, Web sites, or internal shell commands; HTML and Flash objects; a customizable taskbar, system tray, calendar, clock; and customizable Start, folder, and task menus, as well as a powerful script language and plugins. Originally created for home users who enjoy to create different desktop interfaces, Talisman has also been adopted as a front-end interface for public and corporate PCs and kiosks. Currently, there are over 1000 customizable themes (interfaces) that can be used for personal PCs, standardized corporate desktops, car PCs, Home Theater and MediaCenter interfaces, touch-screen and tablet computers, protected interfaces for museums, libraries, hospitals, hotels, and other organizations.
What's new in this version: Version 3.4 adds L-Media plug-in and some new options.
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All versions:
3.8 starsout of 24 votes
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Current version:
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My rating:
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"could be better"
Version: Talisman Desktop 3.1 build 3100
Pros
you can pretty much control every aspect of your desktop UI
Cons
way too detailed for the average user...
Summary
not a necessity for users that just want to customize their desktop UI...
not a big fan of this product myself, but if you have the time to figure this one out, and want to replace windows explorer then more power to ya... -
"good but hope for something easier to use"
Version: Talisman Desktop 3.1 build 3100
Pros
nice design, much better looks then my current OS, many choices.
Cons
gets really buggy in Shell mode, has programs on the list that you may not have thus making them useless until you edit it all.
Summary
love the theory, love the quality, hate some execution. this program still has some ways to go but it makes your computer compleatly different. really recommended for advanced users, even I find difficult using this.
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"Excellent Tool"
Version: Talisman Desktop 2.99 build 2990
Pros
Works with Vista!! replacing the boring default vista theme.
Cons
would be awesome if it would support more variety of formats. More adjustment tools needed, and of course more samples would be a wonder.
Summary
This is a very good tool to play with. One could go nuts with it.
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"Most Powerful and easy to use!"
Version: Talisman Desktop 2.99 build 2990
Pros
After trying several GUI type replacements, this is the best. Its the most comprehensive with a myriad of options allowing you to create virtually any visual style you can think of. It's intuitive to customize available themes or to create your own. If you want to truly customize windows, this is the way to do it!
Cons
Limited plugins available.
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"Fast, beatiful, and unintuitive."
Version: Talisman Desktop 2.98
Pros
The program is surprisingly fast; it was responsive and didn't slow down my machine at all from what I could tell. It also has some beautiful themes that come stock and ones that you can download. This includes some themes that make your PC more useable for specific purposes (eg. a UI for a touchscreen PC in your car, or a UI to turn your computer into a media center PC.)
Cons
It was very unintuitive. I honestly didn't give it much of a chance, but I didn't feel it deserved it:
The program hid my already customized desktop items.
When pressing the Start button, clicking on Start button again would have it pop up again instead of closing it. I found this highly irritating for some reason. It might be a me thing, but it was big enough to give me a minor headache.
From within the first 5 minutes of using it, I missed my right-click contextual menu within windows. When right-clicking on the desktop, a completely alien menu pops up with a list of things I can do with my computer including: reaching my computer's control panel; change themes; open folders and other things. Great in theory, but it felt extremely awkward without the copy/paste/etc. actions.
The only things that the theme change are the taskbar, desktop, and icons. Great, but now I have this beautiful new user interface, but the window borders still looking like Windows' good old default blue theme.
I felt I was trying to run windows using seperate software...what's the point?
I tried to go into Talisman's settings to see if I can change these little annoyances. I couldn't find anything. The only settings I found were vague computer programming-like variables and values that I didn't feel like learning.
I quickly gave up to get my computer usable again. Changed shells; uninstalled; time for the Tylenol.
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"Unusable!"
Version: Talisman Desktop 2.98
Cons
I downloaded Talisman yesterday. It took AGES and the interface was BORING. I tried to go to their Theme Wizard and accidentally activated the Protected Mode. This meant I couldn't access ANY of my programs!!! Today, I re-installed Talisman, this time being more careful with what I activate. It worked - as a wallpaper-with-icons over the basic Windows XP interface (so what's the point, if all it changes is the desktop picture?)
Any modifications to the interface inevitably involve zipped folders. And the help section - if you manage to acess it!:) - is the most un-helpful I ever came across! In other words, use Astonshell (see my review). Or just stick with Windows Explorer.
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"Wonderful customization (and I'm not a guy either)"
Version: Talisman Desktop 2.98
Pros
I've been a long time user of talisman desktop and it's a great way to customize windows. Very flexible and if you don't feel like designing your own desktops or plug-ins there are tons out there to use for free. And, no, you don't have to be a guy to appreciate the themes and there are plenty of themes that don't have scantily clad women. Check out deviantart.com or google talisman themes and you'll find all you need for new themes every month or even every week!
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"Outstanding Shell Replacement"
Version: Talisman Desktop 2.98
Pros
A really fully customizable way to make your PC look and act how you want.
Simple but complexe enough for learners to make sence of it and with extensive but simple config options to give creative freedom enough for experianced users to make unique and cool enviroments on the PC.
Cons
This program doesnt deserve any critisism.
Just a caution to switch back to windows shell for any installs or updates involving windows.
a higher number and more interesting selection of plugins couldnt hurt also.
But DONT let that stop YOU!!
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"Simply THE best there is"
Version: Talisman Desktop 2.8
Pros
After trying about everything there is (all of Stardock's programs, StyleXP, Windowsblinds, Aston, etc. etc.) I have found this one, to be the best program to use if you want to replace your explorer shell. At the moment it is running on a mere 8mbs of memory usage, just 8!
Everything is customizable on the desktop, and even some items can be customized on the fly, good for usage as a temporary notepad and such, and the dual screening was a breeze. It has even been able to replace my love for SmartBar XP, which was something I wouldn't let Aston take over.
And it's not just for guys, thought there are two desktops that feature half-naked women (one being Tomb Raider and the other an actual woman), the rest (and there are tons of them) tend to be either nature or abstract.
Cons
The cons, the scripting language may be a bit, daunting, at first. It is really easy to get then hang of it after a while though, especially with so many other themes that you can learn from if you want to create nifty stuff.
Big con though, plugins need to be written in an outside language and compiled with an outside engine. Even then, many good plugins have already been done.
Weird con though, the taskbar icon group seems a bit glitchy still, though it'll probably be fixed. The problem is that when you close an application from there you get a little error. Nothing major as the application still closes and nothign crashes, but you still get it.
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"Great look and very flexible"
Version: Talisman Desktop 2.8
Pros
Generally easy to modify particularly when you find a theme you like (and there are many). There are also many menu, window, pop-up, etc. options along with some scripting. I'll probably pay the 25$ or so and keep using it...
Cons
Changing options seem to take a bit too long to update. Some taskbar items can be buggy (visually)
