I hate Windows XP’s appearances. They offer two basic appearances: Windows 2000-like, in any color you want (with many stupid restrictions in how shading is done), or Windows XP-like, in blue, silver or bile.
Today I noticed for the first time an option in XP for downloading themes online. I pretty much know what to expect of this, but click it anyway.
And, actually, Microsoft failed to meet even my modest expectations as my browser displays a 404 error. Oh, sure, it’s a complicated one that disguises its true identity (Microsoft’s gone to great lengths on that front), but it still isn’t what I asked for.
Anyway, a few clicks later and I’m looking at a list of XP themes.
| Title | Release Date | Popularity |
| Nile Theme An Egypt Nile desktop theme with new wallpaper, animated cursors, new icons, new 4 |
6/8/2006 | #118 |
| Microsoft Windows Theme Nunavut Customize your desktop with Microsoft Windows Theme Nunavut |
6/28/2006 | #244 |
| NZ Bliss Desktop Backgrounds for Windows Free uniquely New Zealand desktop backgrounds & wallpaper. |
1/28/2007 | #279 |
| Microsoft Windows Theme Ontario Customize your desktop with Microsoft Windows Theme Ontario |
6/28/2006 | #294 |
| Microsoft Experience Pack for Tablet PC Six fun and useful programs made just for the Tablet PC. |
4/4/2005 | #434 |
| Ree Ree Khao Sarn Decorate your desktop with “Ree Ree Khao Sarn” desktop theme including wallpaper, screensaver, icons. |
1/22/2006 | #669 |
| San Fermín theme Be part of the San Fermín festivity with this hilarious desktop theme for Windows XP |
7/11/2005 | #731 |
| Images of Ireland This is a desktop theme for Windows XP Home and Professional Editions. It includes a desktop wallpaper and a screensaver depicting images from around the island of Ireland. |
3/9/2005 | #768 |
| Microsoft Brazilian Beaches Have the wonderful beach landscape in your computer |
2/7/2006 | #846 |
| ChristmasTheme 2004 A Christmas desktop theme with new wallpaper, animated cursors, new icons, new sounds, and a 3D screensaver. |
12/15/2004 | #1145 |
| XP Theme Support Add In This is the supporting code sample for the article “Creating a Visual Studio .NET Add-In to Provide Windows XP Theme Support” published on MSDN by Duncan Mackenzie. |
7/19/2002 | #1387 |
| Microsoft 4 Patas Do you love dogs? Don’t miss this theme! |
1/3/2006 | #1607 |
| Portuguese Discoveries Theme Windows Theme entirely dedicated to the Portuguese Discoveries, developed specifically for Portugal and the Portuguese speaking communities in the world. |
1/10/2005 | #2592 |
I can only imagine at some point, something like this came up: “Windows looks awesome by default, and is so highly configurable! We should find a few ways to, you know, really show it off!”
I’m trying not to use foul language on this blog, so you’ll have to imagine a storm of profanity here. Instead, I’ll leave you with this thought: this is the best they could come up with. No, seriously, a multi-billion dollar company, and this is the best they could come up with for their then-flagship product.
You all suck! You need to be deported to a country without electricity.