Geek: How to Pimp your Windows 7 Desktop

So, you've got yourself the Windows 7 operating system and a little bit of know-how around its user interface, and you're not quite satisfied with the way your desktop looks. Maybe it still even looks like this (see right). Boring. Granted, Microsoft has come a long way in terms of aesthetics, but honestly, there is so much more potential then what the average Windows user does to "Personalize" their PC. I'll be explaining some simple and easy ways that can really change the looks of your PC.

First, everyone should have their own "Really cool, totally awesome, desktop wallpaper" folder. So go into your 'Pictures' Library and create a new folder 'Wallpapers'. Then, the easiest way to find cool looking pictures is honestly, Google Images. Type basically anything into the search, but make sure to set the search criteria on the left pane.  Select Large size images and you can even select what the color scheme of the image is. For instance, when I am searching for a cool new wallpaper, I'll type in "cool desktop wallpaper" (I know, very creative). Then I'll select 'Large' size, and a black and white/grey scale color scheme. My wallpapers range from Mountainous Landscapes to Robots and Moon-walking Storm Troopers. You can try searching topically by a style you like, for instance: Fantasy, Abstract, Space, Nature, etc. Just make sure to put words like "desktop","wallpaper", or "background" into your search and you'll get tons of hits. To change your wallpaper simply right click your desktop and select 'Personalize'. From here you can change themes, sounds, backgrounds, and screen savers, etc.

Another cool, but simple way to change the way your desktop looks is to move the taskbar. This is that bar that goes across the bottom of your screen and features the Start Button, Clock, and Windows. To do this, right click the taskbar and uncheck 'Lock the the taskbar'. Then simple click and drag it to any side of the screen you want. I personally have it at the top of my screen. You can also change the size of the taskbar by right clicking it and selecting 'Properties'. The check the box labelled 'Use small icons'.

Up until this point, I've kept it pretty simple. However, it's about to get a little rough. If you aren't very familiar with Windows, you may need to just stop here, but if that's not the case, then please, continue reading.

Although not completely integrated into the user interface, Windows 7 does come with a much easier way to custom skin your computer. The methods I use are the simplest I have found, and are not taxiing on your system. The first thing you'll need is a Theme Patcher. The point of this patcher is to replace the files on your computer that prohibit you from using custom themes. There are several programs that can do this, personally I used Universal Theme Patcher. 

Once you've done that, it's time to move on to finding your theme. The best way to do this is to go to Deviant Art and find some pre-made themes. Once there, navigate to Customization > Skins and Themes > Windows 7 Utilities and Search for "Visual Styles". There's other ways to find them, but this is the way that has worked best for me. When you find one you like, download it and then move it into the following directory: C:/Windows/Resources/Themes. The package you downloaded should have a readme with specific instructions and you should always read this. Once the file is in the correct directory, you can change to that theme by heading over to the 'Personalize' and selecting the theme from there.

Another awesome way to customize your PCs looks is to change the Start Button. The easiest way to do this is by first, killing your Start Button, and then pinning a new button to the taskbar. To kill it, get Start Killer. This program has the option to run at startup, and it deletes your Start Button as long as the program is running. If you want your Start Button back, just close the program (it's hiding in your taskbar). Next you'll want to download a Start Menu program to pin to your taskbar. These can also be found on Deviant Art.

So there you have it, a few simple ways to really change how your PC looks. After doing this, I've gotten tons of compliments from people asking "How'd you do that" or "Wow, you really skinned that desktop. Looks cool" and even "Sheesh that must have taken you hours to do". But you know as well as I do, that making your computer look totally pimp is pretty simple and can be done in a matter of minutes.

Here's a shot of my desktop for inspiration:

 

Themes: Dark Knight background, Appows for Win7 Theme.

Programs: Start Killer, Rainmeter, Rocketdock, Dexpot, Switcher

You may notice some other features about my desktop that I didn't mention in this article. Those are all programs that I've found which enhance productivity and are not really a part of look customization. But do not fear, the next article in this series will explain these programs, where to get them, and how to customize them.

Geek: PC vs. Mac - Hardware

Perhaps one of the biggest controversies between computer market consumers is the fight over which is better: PC or Mac?

What's all the fuss about? Well, quite frankly, you would probably need a whole entire team of psychologists and expert computer technicians to really answer that question in it's entirety, however, I will attempt to flesh it out as best I can.

First, let's start with some common misconceptions. The term "PC" means "personal computer". The term actually has no literal affiliation with the Windows OS (operating system). A PC literally means an end-user computer device that can come in the form of a Desktop, Laptop, or even Handheld. Due to Apple marketing strategies, the term "PC" has been used to separate itself from a Mac to the basic knowledge consumer. However, the differences between a PC and a Mac are quite complicated and can be divided into two main categories: Hardware and Software.

The Hardware is pretty easy to understand. Basically, Macs and PCs are both made of the same stuff. That is, the same sort of technology runs each of them. Sure, currently, Mac has been the wielder of the leading edge in terms of advancements in technology, but it is never long before the PC quickly catches up. There is one big difference between PCs and Macs and the way they are manufactured and marketed. First, it is horribly vague to blame PCs for being "worse" than Macs manufacturing-wise. PCs tend to be consumer option oriented and when it comes to machinery, this is most certainly true. Although PCs all run the Microsoft OS, Windows, they are not all made by the same companies. To name a few: Acer, Asus, Dell, Gateway, HP, Samsung, Toshiba and Vaio are a handful of current popular PC manufacturing companies, each one having its own distinct differences in demographic appeal. Apple's Mac, however, is only manufactured by one company, and that is Apple.

This is the basic fundamental answer to all other hardware questions one might have about PCs and Macs. Why are PCs traditionally cheaper than Macs? Well, the Mac operating system has literally no competition when it comes to a machine to run it on, so Apple can charge whatever they want for it. Granted, their operating system competes with Windows, but the machine itself can be priced however they want. PC manufacturers have dozens of competing companies which causes them to have a variety of options and are able to reach a wide spread of consumers. This can actually properly place the PC as a "personal computer". If you look at the Mac users, all of their computers look exactly the same. Even from generation to generation, there are only a few minor changes to the outward appearance of a Mac. When you buy a PC, it can become an extension of a pre-existent identity, not a definition of who you should be (i.e. Jason Long).

A common misconception about PCs are that they are not as well made and lack the integrity of a Mac. This is simply not true. Since there are so many companies that make PC computers, different consumer market groups can be reached. People that can only afford a low-budget machine will find that the PC is definitely the right choice for them. However, you pay the price on hardware integrity. Because a Laptop is only $500, one can definitely expect to get what they paid for, a $500 machine. I assure you, if Apple ever decided to make a $500 Mac, it would certainly have all the same hardware integrity issues as a PC. This does not discredit the integrity of the OS.

If, however, you can afford to spend a little bit more money on a Laptop, let's say $1,200 (which is the approximate going rate of a MacBook Pro), the situation would be a little bit different. The PC market directs itself towards this crowd as well. For example, many product lines from Vaio, Samsung, and HP feature higher-end performance laptops. These machines feature longer battery life, increased processor speeds, higher devoted graphical memory, and larger hard drive space. In fact, many of these computers have the same specs as the MacBook pro, the only difference is: the price. Because PCs still have a considerable amount of competition over their operating system, the price of the computer goes down (even though it contains the same parts as a Mac). Macs can safely charge more for their computer if the user desires to use their operating system. Case in point: if you want to save money buy a PC, but do your research first. If you don't want to have to spend the time researching and can afford to spend a few extra hundred bucks, buy a Mac. They are excellently made machines featuring cutting edge technology and an efficient OS to boot (pun intended).

Another misconception about PCs to Macs is that PCs are for fat businessmen and Macs are for young edgy artsy people. This is plainly not true. Generalized: Windows is best for Gaming, Macs are best for productivity tools, and Linux... well let's not go there ;). This isn't to say that only Gamers should use Macs. A lot of main stream games have been ported to Mac systems, but Windows still holds the trophy when it comes to having a custom built pimped out machine that can play anything you put in its disc drive. Mac systems tend to just spin the disc, that's fun... right? Additionally, Mac is not the only place to go if your into "artsy" things. Macs are better built for those types of things, and most of their programs are oriented around productivity, however Windows sports some excellent production programs as well. They just might not be out-of-the-box like Garage Band.

Personally, I'm a PC due to my liking of the Windows OS and my familiarity with it. I also enjoy not spending money I don't have to and am an avid gamer. I'd love to hear what you have to say about PC vs Mac. Next in this series will be a deeper look into the software differences between Windows and Mac OSX.