5 FREE Programs to make your computer (slightly) easier to use and look cool(ish)

The first of these programs that I am putting in this instructible is Bumptop. You could use Real desktop which is similar, but I prefer Bumptop. They are both cool and revolutionise your desktop. The paid for version is slightly better, but I find the free version perfectly adequate. A new version of Bumptop including window 7 and multi-touch compatibility was released on October 21 2009.

You can download Bumptop here.

You can download Real desktop here.

Rocketdock

This is a neat little gizmo that sits on any side of the screen. In its original format, I found it slightly obtrusive (it covered up the tool bars). I used these solutions.

Make it too small to obstruct the toolbars (I did this)

Put it at the left of the screen (the right has the scroll bar)

Set it to 'Pop up on Mousover' in the dock settings. This will mean that it won't pop up unless you scroll over it.

Some other similar programs are:

Objectdock download

Mobydock download

Y'z dock download

Rk launcher download

Xwindows dock download

Orbit dock download

All of these are perfectly good, but again, I prefer Rocketdock.

You can download Rocketdock here.

CursorFX

CursorFX is a program that changes your mouse cursor. Standard windows cursors are boring. FACT. CursorFX has some nice cursors and there are a million other cursors that you can download here. There are other cursor changing programs out there but the ones that you can download for this are really good. There is a paid for version of this which adds trails and effects but it's a big improvement on the default windows cursor without that.

You can download it here.

Bootskin

This is made by Stardock like objectdock, cursorFX and Logonstudio. Bootskin changes the screen that you get when you boot up your computer. Extra bootskins are available here for vista and here for xp/2000. Unfortunately a windows 7 version isn't out yet and I don't think that mac is compatible (I haven't tried it).

You can download bootskin xp/2000 here.

You can download bootskin vista here.

Logonstudio

Tired of the same old logon screen? Logonstudio is another neat application made by Stardock, that changes your logon screen. As with all the other Stardock software, different and exciting skins are available here for xp and here for vista.

You can download Logonstudio for xp here.