CNET Editors' review
Some people's work on the PC immerses them in one or more applications. Other users prefer to think of the desktop as their center of operations. For the latter, this desktop sidebar offers plenty of gadgets to simplify their accessing the tools and info they want.
Thoosje Vista Sidebar installs an unobtrusive icon in the system task bar and a vertical pane along the right side of the monitor. Moving the bar to another spot is simply a matter of dragging it, and changing its skin to suit your fancy is a snap by clicking a button at its top.
This free sidebar performed well during our tests. Although the number of gadgets from which to choose wasn't huge, and the type of gadgets were rather basic, a novice or intermediate user will find them acceptable and appropriate for getting accustomed to the world of desktop gadgets. Many users will probably appreciate the sticky note gadget, which is handy for pasting reminders to the desktop. The clock styles from which to choose varied widely, but the other gadgets had only a single appearance. Again, novices will appreciate this tool far more than experienced users, who will demand more bells and whistles from a competing product, and those novices will probably outgrow this simple sidebar after a few weeks or months.
Publisher's Description
From Thoosje:
Our Vista sidebar for Microsoft Windows XP and Vista has gadgets like media players, Sticky's, calculators, google search, yahoo search, and lots of more search engines. It has also vista sidebar gadgets like weather and system uptime and lots of more useful gadgets. The sidebar uses 50% less RAM and is faster than the original Microsoft Sidebar with more extras and works on Microsoft Windows Vista and XP. Version 2.5 has new gadgets, enhanced script, new skins, better performance, and bugs fixed.
What's new in this version: Version 3.1 fixes the bugs, clock hands didn't save skin and improves weather Gadget interaction with weather.com.
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All versions:
2.7 starsout of 28 votes
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Current version:
1.7 starsout of 3 votes
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My rating:
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Results 1-3 of 3
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"Cannot install gadgets while running XP."
Version: Thoosje Vista Sidebar 3.1
Pros
cool lead in, showing lots of gadgets under title "Toosje Vista XP sidebar"
Cons
But then it warns you. "you cannot install outside gadgets in thoosje", so it is very disappointing, I do not recommend
Summary
if you want the clock or some other super basic sidebar gadget, it will work on xp, but if you want to play tetris or add ANY gadgets to your thoosje toolbar while running XP, forget about it. Find something else.
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"The worst possible substitute for Windows 7 sidebar."
Version: Thoosje Vista Sidebar 3.1
Pros
none. ugly staff
Cons
ugly interface. hard to understand what is the point of this crazy creation.
Summary
very annoying to see this junk in google while looking for good staff.
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"Not bad. Not great, but not bad"
Version: Thoosje Vista Sidebar 3.1
Pros
Easy to use. There appear to be a fair number of skins available. I can't speak to any spyware it may have given me as a bonus, but Symantec Endpoint Protection didn't find any after I installed the sidebar.
Cons
A somewhat klunky GUI; definitely not a slick, finished, paid app. But not hideous, either.
Summary
I run XP Professional at work and Windows 7 at home. I love the Win 7 sidebar and wanted to replicate that experience in XP. This product is okay for the price (free) but somewhat limited in functionality. I uninstalled it after using it for a couple of hours because it wasn't what I wanted. Until my company goes to Windows 7 Professional, I suppose I'll have to live without a sidebar. :-(
Results 1-3 of 3
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