A theme is like a matching outfit for your computer's desktop. In addition to wallpaper, you get icons and cursors, and your windows and menus receive a makeover as well. Many desktop themes also come with screen savers. Themes can lighten up a humdrum workday and add a dash of personality to your workspace.
Initially, this article seemed like an easy assignment: Find 15 entertaining desktop themes that work with Windows XP, make sure they're not loaded with malware, and review them for our Downloads library. For most folks, dressing up a desktop isn't mission critical, so these themes had to be simple to install and either free or very inexpensive.
It sounded pretty simple. But au contraire, mes amies. After weeks of scouring the Web and trying dozens of themes, I've learned a few things the hard way:
Since most theme designers offer their wares for free, they can't spend a lot of money on hosting services. Many of them depend on free services--and these sites often bundle the files with adware. Be sure to read any pop-up messages if you choose to install themes from sites like these; you will usually be given a chance to cancel the installation if you don't wish to accept the extra software. I didn't want to hassle with adware, so I didn't download themes from these sites.
Almost all of the theme designers that I encountered insist that a theme management program such as Desktop Architect or (a very old version of) Microsoft Plus is necessary to run their programs. The reality is that Windows XP has a theme manager built in--the trusty Display Properties dialog box--so in many cases you'd need a third-party program only if you're running Windows 2000 or earlier.
Many attractive themes (particularly those that are designed for Windows XP and called "styles") are hosted on sites that offer free downloads but require you to purchase a proprietary theme manager from the developer or to use other third-party software. I stuck with simple themes that didn't require loading extra software.
Although the themes I review here do run well under Windows XP, the OS does not allow certain elements to run. For example, many themes include startup and shutdown screens (also called logo screens) that are not compatible with XP.
All of those caveats aside, a variety of entertaining, high-quality desktop themes are out there--and despite what their developers say, you don't need special software to run them.
Note: I discovered many of these themes on Steve Balogh's ThemeWorld, and I am grateful to him for giving us permission to use them.
Movies and Cartoons
Are you a movie fan? You'll probably enjoy desktop themes based on The Lord of the Rings, The Matrix, Pirates of the Caribbean, The Producers, or Superman Returns. Fond of animated features? How about a desktop theme based on Cars or Wallace & Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit? What about a blast from the past? I found a fun Scooby-Doo theme package that includes nine different scenes from the original series and the cartoon's theme song. All of the themes here are free.
Cars
Fans of Disney/Pixar's animated movie Cars will like this theme. You can select from two wallpapers: a red background with a big Cars logo, or the movie poster. The icons are tiny pics of the cars, and the cursors are equally eye-catching--a forklift, a small red and white arrow, and an odometer. The sounds are snippets of dialogue or a revving motor. The screen saver plays a snappy rendition of "Route 66" while showing pictures of the characters.
Wallace & Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit
Wallace and Gromit fans, take notice: This desktop theme could make computing so much fun it might cause you to miss a few deadlines. The wallpaper is a terrific photo of the dynamic duo at home. The icons are pictures of the main characters, and for cursors you get a carrot and a garden gnome. The screen saver provides a slide-show overview of Wallace and Gromit's life together, presented with the Wallace and Gromit theme music.
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
This package includes seven wallpapers, each featuring a different character from the movie. Your pointer is a sword that turns into the One Ring when the computer is busy. Icons are small pictures of the main characters. There are very few sounds, mainly clashing swords--but in a nice touch, error alerts are a chilling Nazgul cry. The screen saver displays movie-poster images on a black background.
Matrix Theme Bundle
Growing tired of Matrix knock-offs that merely fill your screen with green code? Give this package a try. These nine original wallpapers are based on characters and scenes from the Matrix movies. Your windows and menus get different color schemes to complement each wallpaper. The sounds--odd electronic effects--are used sparingly. For cursors and icons, the program includes various futuristic-looking gadgets. The screen saver features squidlike robots flying through Matrix space.
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
Get in touch with your inner pirate. This package includes three wallpapers based on Pirates of the Caribbean, plus coordinating sounds, cursors, icons, and a screen saver. The screen saver is the most entertaining part of the bundle: Against a backdrop of ships being attacked by a giant octopus, a pirate chest floats around the screen, opening to show movie stills while the theme music plays in the background.
The Producers
Mel Brooks lovers will enjoy this theme based on his 2005 musical. The wallpaper shows Matthew Broderick, Uma Thurman, and Nathan Lane posed against a backdrop of old Broadway. The cursors--a hand holding a drink, a marquee arrow, and an old-time camera with a flashing bulb--are clever. Unfortunately, the screen saver is uninspiring: Against a brick-wall image, four small screens flash movie stills.
Scooby-Doo
This theme pack is based on the original Scooby-Doo series of the sixties. The bundle contains nine wallpapers depicting Scoob and the gang encountering various ghouls. The icons feature all your old pals. The sounds include catchphrases like Velma's "Jinkies!" and Scooby's "Rooby-doobie-doo!"
Superman Returns--Man of Steel
This theme pack offers lots of eye candy based on the latest Superman movie. You get three wallpapers: Superman in flight, Superman looking down on Earth, and the Superman logo. I found the sounds--a swelling chorus, plus random swooshing noises--a little annoying. Also included is a screen saver called "Flying Through Space" that shows what you'd see if you were, well, flying through space.
The Great Outdoors
Perhaps you want to bring a bit of the outdoors into your office. Autumn Brook and Sea Dance are beautifully designed themes that add serenity to your working environment; Golden Gate is a quirky little theme that features San Francisco's famous landmark and soothing ocean sounds. What about something way outdoors, like outer space? Worlds Upon Worlds presents an artist's view of our solar system.
Autumn Brook
Enjoy the colors of fall with this pleasant and free theme. The wallpaper is a photograph of a mountain stream banked by many-hued trees. The icons and cursors are fall leaves, and the sounds are birdsong. The screen saver is also pretty: The desktop image remains on screen, but the water flows softly, accompanied by piano music and the twittering of birds. Very Zen.
Golden Gate
This unusual desktop theme is worth the $5 fee to register it. The wallpaper is a digitally enhanced photo of San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge, with an odd little sailboat-like vessel floating on the water. This image appears in the screen saver, as well, although there the water is animated. The icons are clever, too: The Recycle Bin is a foghorn, while the pointer is a lighthouse that turns into a rain cloud when the computer is working.
Sea Dance
This soothing desktop theme should help you keep your equilibrium--and it's free. The wallpaper depicts a tranquil beach with mountains in the distance; it appears to be evening, and fog sits on the water. A screen saver is included, but it's rather odd: Against a black background, shapes filled with bits of the wallpaper move around the screen, accompanied by a jazzy piano piece.
Worlds Upon Worlds
Download this free theme and be transported to deep space, where in the inky blackness a ringed planet whirls against a cloud of glowing gas. Your pointer, a little rocket ship, turns into a spinning Earth when the computer is busy. Although this theme runs fine under Windows XP, the sounds didn't work during my testing; the readme file that accompanies this download has a complicated troubleshooting section, but I didn't take the time to follow its recommendations. Silence seems appropriate for deep space, anyway.
The Holidays
Time to decorate for the holidays. I unearthed two terrific Christmas packages: It's Cold Outside is based on a jazzy version of the classic holiday tune, while Holiday Wrapping Papers presents nine themes based on different gift wraps. (Sorry, all of the Thanksgiving themes I came across were, well, turkeys.) And even though Halloween 2006 has passed, it's not too early to think about next year: In the package called This Is Halloween, you get two beautifully rendered spooky scenes. All of these theme packages are free.
It's Cold Outside
Here's a holiday hit inspired by the song "Baby, It's Cold Outside." The wallpaper shows two pairs of shoes by a cabin door that opens onto a winter scene. The included screen saver is particularly clever: The wallpaper remains on screen, but falling snow, bows, and snowflakes slowly appear while you're treated to Vanessa Williams's jazzy rendition of the Christmas classic.
Holiday Wrapping Papers
Open this Christmas package, and you'll find nine high-quality themes for your desktop, all based on different wrapping-paper patterns. Your pointer, a candy cane, turns into a snow globe when your computer is working. Bells ring when you open or close an app. The icons include wrapped gifts, and in place of the Recycle Bin is a trash can with Santa peeking out.
This Is Halloween
This stellar package lets you choose between two wallpapers: a Jack-o-Lantern or two Jack-o-Lanterns in a spooky forest. The unobtrusive cursors include a small orange arrow and a flying witch. Among the icons are a pumpkin for the Recycle Bin and scary eyes for My Documents. The spooky sounds, taken from Danny Elfman's The Nightmare Before Christmas soundtrack, are used sparingly.
Microsoft Plus SuperPack for Windows
Finally, a word about Microsoft Plus. Early in my research I bought a copy of the program, convinced by countless theme authors that I'd need it to take full advantage of their creations. It turned out that the Plus they were referencing went the way of all flesh and no longer exists. The program used to be a theme management package that worked with Windows 9x and was needed back then to manage themes.
Nowadays, the package has morphed into the $20 Microsoft Plus SuperPack for Windows, which includes Plus for Windows XP and Plus Digital Media Edition. We reviewed each of these suites on their own years ago, and the package that I bought for this review contains essentially the same programs. See "XP Plus Rates a Big D-Minus" and "Digital Plus Pack: Fun Stuff" for those reviews.
You'll notice that Plus for Windows XP didn't fare so well in its review back in 2001. Senior Editor Yardena Arar's main objection to the package was its steep price: a whopping $40 just for some games, screen savers, and desktop themes, plus enhancement to Windows Media Player and a CD-label creator. But now the price has been slashed in half, and in addition you get the Digital Media Edition suite, which contains several practical tools such as Photo Story, an easy-to-use video editor.
I found Microsoft Plus SuperPack for Windows XP on Amazon.com for about $17. Is it worth it? If you plan to play the games and use the media tools, I'd say yes. The themes are fun, but I don't think buying the whole package just to pretty up your desktop is worth the cash. Here's a rundown of the themes included in Plus SuperPack; all four theme packages include wallpapers, icons and cursors, a screen saver, and skins for Windows Media Player.
Aquarium: You get to choose between two photorealistic wallpapers: a tide-pool scene with starfish, and an undersea scene with sun shining through deep blue water. The screen saver turns your monitor into a tropical-fish aquarium.
Space: The wallpapers include a view of Earth from space and a meteor shower over a mountain scene. The screen saver is creepy--it's an oddly blocky animation of an astronaut outside of space station.
Nature: The lovely wallpapers show a close-up of a branch with droplets of water and an extreme close-up of water cascading off of a stream. The screen saver is photorealistic animation of fall leaves dropping into a puddle.
da Vinci: You get only one wallpaper image, but it's very artistic--a parchment page with sketches from da Vinci's notebooks. The screen saver shows computer-generated workbooks and animations of da Vinci's machines.