- Quick specs
- Price: Free to try (30-day trial); $39.90 to buy
- Operating system: Windows Vista, Windows 95, Windows Me, Windows NT, Windows 7, Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows 98
- Date added: June 01, 2009
- Total Downloads: 55,163
- Downloads last week: 2,201
- See full specifications
- CNET editors' rating: stars
- Average user rating: stars out of 16 votes
See all user reviews
CNET editors' review
Reviewed by: CNET Staff
What does Winstep Xtreme do? More like, what doesn't Winstep extreme do? This powerful desktop customization allows users to tweak their computer's appearance in innumerable ways.
Users who are a fan of the Apple dock and widgets will find a functional Windows version of these features in Winstep, but this program is way more than an Apple rip-off. There are themes. There are mouse-over previews of open windows. There's e-mail checking and weather forecasts and a fortune-telling fish called Wanda. The program is jam-packed with features and options. A program this rich in options demands two things: an easily navigated interface, and a well-written, organized Help file. This is where Winstep Xtreme starts to lose us. The program has two components: NEXTStart, the Start menu modification, and WorkShelf, a dock-like workspace manager. Each of these has its own lengthy Help file. Although the Help files are thorough, they're not necessarily easy to access, and beginning users may not be sure which feature goes with which component. The settings for each component are so numerous that it would be almost impossible to find an easy way to organize. It takes a lot of clicking around to find the right menu, and then a lot of fiddling to make adjustments. That said, users who are into hardcore customization should appreciate the myriad functions, even if they're hard to access.
Winstep Extreme has a 30-day trial period. It comes as a ZIP file and installs desktop icons without asking, but it does uninstall cleanly. We recommend this program to intermediate and advanced users, as well as ambitious beginners.
Publisher's description
From Winstep Software Technologies :Winstep Xtreme is a suite of Windows user interface replacement applications that merge incredible usability and performance with breathtaking eye candy. Winstep Xtreme includes NeXuS, the dock system with live icon reflections, WorkShelf, a tabbed dock, NextStart, the menu system that also takes care of all your task management needs with Windows 7 "Superbar" capabilities, Winstep Start Menu Organizer, which helps you organize and clean your Windows Start Menu, Fontbrowser, a simple font browser with an easy to use interface, and desktop widgets such as a speaking atomic clock, e-mail checker, weather monitor, recycler, fortune cookie reader, CPU, Net, and RAM meters.
Version 9.5 brings the Windows 7 "Superbar" functionality to Vista and XP.What's new in this version:
Version 9.5 brings the Windows 7 "Superbar" functionality to Vista and XP.
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User reviews
- Average user rating: 4.6 stars out of 16 votes
- My rating: 0 stars Write review
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Showing 5 of 14 user reviewsSee all 14 user reviews
This software version | All versions -
Version: Winstep Xtreme 9.5
Pros: I saw the mac lappy n i jus had to get this, more themes r ava,if you have seen rocket dock then you'll know what i mean, if you haven't then you must have seen apple mac ,they have a dock on desktop.iwanted these feature's but on windows.
Cons: start button dissapears on laptop if nexus dock stops working, i then have to shutdown and restart, that happens if for any reason nexus dock stops working,i'm trying to find a way round this.
Summary: i love this and recommend this to everyone.
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Version: Winstep Xtreme 9.5
Pros: The amount of stuff you can configure is amazing. Lots of skins out there for the product. Great support community (the author is friendly and responds to questions and requests). Stable, has not crashed on me. Extremely light on resources.
Cons: There are so many things you can configure that for a new user it can be confusing. The options arent self-explanatory; I didn't know what "Respect Reserved Screen Space" meant until I enabled it and poked around to see what was different.
Summary: I like this product because it has enabled me to do exactly what I wanted. I recently gave Ubuntu (GNU/Linux) a spin and I loved the hell out of the Gnome desktop, but unfortunately Wine didn't play nice with all the Windows apps I need to use, and ... read more >>
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Version: Winstep Xtreme 9.5
"great upgrade to d standard windows taskbar"
Pros: i can see all of my many programs in windows that opens separately.
nice alpha channel lets you see through the task bar.
great corner bump feature brings forth the hidden task bar.
the start menu has a lot more features than d standard windows menu.Cons: could be my lack of understanding but open web pages dont go all the way down the screen,even with the task bar hidden.
it s a resource hog on my pc.Summary: i like.i like.all programs on my std. pc does not show all of my programs,even with a high screen resolution.its great for someone who has a lot.great visuals make my desktop the envy of friends.a wonderful app to enhance your day to day windows xp ... read more >>
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Version: Winstep Xtreme 9.5
"Best app ever! Forget the cluttered desktop."
Pros: make your computer really stand out from the pack
Cons: no complaints at all.
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Version: Winstep Xtreme 9.5
"Nothing comes close to Winstep Xtreme, not even Windows"
Pros: 1) It's chock full of the kinds of tools Windows should have had 14 years ago
2) It's completely and totally configurable, but ony if you want to.
3) It looks the same way on EVERY version of windows. Unlike windows.
4) The support is world classCons: There are just so many configuration options, it can be intimidating to the novice user.
BUT : you don't have to dig into menu endcaps or aero windows thumbnails or transparency unless you really, really, want to!Summary: There aren't many tools out there that help you interact with your computer the way you like to. And there are precious few that make it so much fun. Winstep Xtreme is both.
If you're really lucky, you'll find a totally configurable men... read more >> - See all 14 user reviews Write review
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