Talisman Desktop for Windows

User Reviews

• could be better

  crazyaaron1984March 14, 2010

  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...

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• good but hope for something easier to use

  DCAivanFebruary 13, 2010

  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

  weirdestfingersAugust 19, 2008

  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!

  absolUtmagnitUdMarch 1, 2008

  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.

  Summary

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• Fast, beatiful, and unintuitive.

  jaromdlMay 26, 2007

  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: <p> <p>The program hid my already customized desktop items. <p> <p>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. <p> <p>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. <p> <p>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. <p> <p>I felt I was trying to run windows using seperate software...what's the point? <p> <p>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. <p> <p>I quickly gave up to get my computer usable again. Changed shells; uninstalled; time for the Tylenol.

  Summary

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• Unusable!

  TatianaMDecember 18, 2006

  Pros

  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?) <p>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.

  Summary

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• Wonderful customization (and I'm not a guy either)

  fucialAugust 29, 2006

  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!

  Cons

  Summary

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• Outstanding Shell Replacement

  SamuraiNZMay 12, 2006

  Pros

  A really fully customizable way to make your PC look and act how you want. <p>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. <p>Just a caution to switch back to windows shell for any installs or updates involving windows. <p>a higher number and more interesting selection of plugins couldnt hurt also. <p>But DONT let that stop YOU!!

  Summary

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• Simply THE best there is

  ShiukJune 11, 2005

  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! <p> <p>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. <p> <p>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. <p> <p>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. <p> <p>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.

  Summary

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• Great look and very flexible

  MalochMay 1, 2005

  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)

  Summary

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