Bluecurve

I use what is basically Bluecurve, the icons are so simple and all match, the controls, despite their sqaureness actually work. A lot of the themes I've tried with curved buttons just don't look right. I don't use the Bluecurve metacity theme though because it looks a little pixelated on the curved edges. Do you have a screenshot David?

[David]

Unfortunately not. My PC is away in storage right now and it looks like the Gallery's been given a bit of a spring clean. It used to be in there.

Basically I swapped the large Bluecurve panel for two smaller ones. The first of these sits permanently at the bottom of the screen, taking up the full width, and houses the most used commands. For me this includes (from right to left) Show Desktop, Launch Firefox, Launch CLI, Switch Desktop (just 2 because this is all I ever need), Taskbar, Clock. Everything else, including the start menu, commonly used programs and system info goes in a narrower second panel that folds away when I don't need it.

I really like the customisability of the Gnome and KDE UIs actually. It's worth spending a bit of time experimenting with different layouts to improve ease-of-use in the long run. And I guess it makes sense cos everybody would probably use their system in a slightly different way given the choice. (One only has to read the CLI versus GUI debates to see that!)

I too prefer the Bluecurve theme to the icy look of the OS X theme. Initially I was really taken by it but actually Bluecurve and metacity are really kind on the eyes whereas OS X gets a bit tiring. And yeah, anything's an improvement on Windows XP.

Btw, the Bluecurve XMMS skin is also available for Winamp for those who care. Heh, if only Bluecurve were available for Windows.

[kosmosik]

I use Ximian Industrial theme for my (crippled) GNOME desktop. I don't really care much about themes unless they are incomplete - and I have found Bluecurve still lacking while Industrial is consistent (as Jimmac (BIG RESPECT) does artwork for most GNOME/GTK projects)... basically I use his icons for everything... check out his site:

http://jimmac.musichall.cz/

also Bluecurve is not only icons but also splash screens, curosors, menu layout...
* I h8 splash screens so I don't have them
* I use JaguarX cursor theme
* I use my custom menu layout hacking XML/FreeDesktop menu descriptions is quite fun )

[jellywerker]

I agree with blahrus that too many people seem to like osx themes, but like prometheus, it is better than win xp'spreschool theme, which is barely even customisable.