2.1 Hacks #8-20
The Windows XP makeover was the
biggest change Microsoft made to the Windows interface since it moved
from Windows 3.1 to Windows 95. Rounded-edge windows, large,
cartoon-like icons, and a completely redesigned Control Panel are
just a few of the most obvious changes. It's not
merely the way XP looks that has been changed, but how it works as
well. It's based on a more stable kernel and finally
gets rid of its DOS-based heritage.
But let's face it: XP's interface
isn't perfect. As shipped, its cartoonish
user-friendliness may help newbies, but it can frustrate power users.
XP's
graphical
user interface (GUI) need not be one-size-fits-all, though. Under the
hood, there are countless changes you can make to the way it looks
and functions. In this chapter, you'll learn how to
hack your way to a better GUI—one that reflects your own
preferences, not the market-driven designs of Microsoft engineers.
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