The Biggest Problem with Windows 10

Windows over the years, always had several themes. Windows 7 and Vista, had Aero Glass, Aero Basic and Windows Classic themes. Windows XP had the Luna and Classic style themes as well. Windows 8 even had a (deprecated) theme, called Aero Lite, which was a variant of the main theme.

Now, with Windows 10, there is only 1 theme. That is the, flattened remnant of what was formally Aero Glass, from Vista and 7. While it is just ok. It is not very eye pleasing, like how Aero Glass was.

Microsoft needs to allow, or bring back themes! Either Microsoft, should have a theme section in the Microsoft App Store. Or, Microsoft should freely allow users to install, any 3rd party, custom theme they desire. For instance, if a user want’s Windows 10 to look like Windows 98 or even Vista. They could simply download and install this theme from official Microsoft App store.

What do you think? Should Microsoft bring more themes to Windows 10?

Conversation 10 comments

  • illuminated

    16 January, 2020 - 2:15 pm

    <p>If the lack of themes is the biggest problem in windows 10 then we are in a pretty good shape.</p><p><br></p>

    • Paul Thurrott

      Premium Member
      17 January, 2020 - 8:06 am

      It’s not. Not even close.

  • yaddamaster

    16 January, 2020 - 2:22 pm

    <p>I honestly thought I'd need to drop my work on solving world hunger to address this critical, new, and biggest problem.</p><p><br></p><p>THIS is the biggest problem with Windows 10? Seriously??</p><p><br></p><p>There are a ton of themedesktop managers out there you can download and install.</p>

  • rob_segal

    Premium Member
    16 January, 2020 - 4:34 pm

    <p>Microsoft hasn't been able to implement a single, consistent theme in Windows 10 yet. I don't think it's a good idea to want them to build more.</p>

  • polloloco51

    17 January, 2020 - 3:20 pm

    <p>Quick Note</p><p>The title of this, was merely an exaggeration. Of course, theming in Windows 10, is not the biggest problem! There are other problems, like quality of updates, consistency of control panel/system settings elements, and other. It would be nice, to have more personalization! <img draggable="false" role="img" class="emoji" alt="?" src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/12.0.0-1/svg/1f642.svg"></p&gt;

  • F4IL

    17 January, 2020 - 3:51 pm

    <p>TBH, over the years, I've become immune to visual style changes and expect very little when it comes to aesthetics and consistency. Back in the nineties, you could freely navigate and experience the same look and feel throughout the entire system. Over time, new styles were introduced, certain manifests were updated while others were forgotten and reflect the old(er) styles. Today, navigating Windows gives you a tour of the old styles with the square widgets, the newer (Vista – Win7 era) rounded ones and the newest tablet / webpage looking ModernUI.</p>

  • wright_is

    Premium Member
    18 January, 2020 - 3:15 am

    <p>I like the flat theme of Windows 10, it does what it should do. It doesn't get in the way, it doesn't distract the eye from what you are currently doing. That is what the OS is supposed to do, it is supposed to work invisibly in the background to help you complete your tasks.</p><p>Obviously there are some parts that have to be visible in order for you to interact with it, when switching tasks, moving files around etc. But it should be as unobtrusive as possible. That is why I like the Windows 10 look-and-feel, it is the least eye catching, it is just there when you need it.</p>

    • Paul Thurrott

      Premium Member
      18 January, 2020 - 11:02 am

      So, one liking the Windows 10 theme or not is sort of besides the point. Everyone likes different things. It seems like a theme’s job is to provide customization capabilities so that you can arrive at a look and feel you like, no matter your preferences. And the Windows 10 theme fails at that.

  • oasis

    Premium Member
    18 January, 2020 - 12:41 pm

    <p> The Flat theme of Windows 10 reminds me of Linux and I am in no hurry to embrace it. I have Windows 8.1 and while I should be taking the rest of my computers(3) to Windows 10 just for safeties sake I am not in a rush to do so.</p>

  • jimchamplin

    Premium Member
    18 January, 2020 - 1:46 pm

    <p>Well…</p><p><br></p><p>As much as I agree it's not as simple as that. The theming engine used in Windows – UXTheme.dll – was developed almost 20 years ago, before the concept of a "second UI" existed. It's still in there, it's responsible for rendering all of the parts of Windows that we think of as being "Win32."</p><p><br></p><p>This theme engine <em>will never effect</em> UWP software, therefore it makes the question of desktop theming more difficult, as Microsoft would have to then develop a theming system for all of the Modern UI graphics. Sadly the days of Windows themes is long over, and Microsoft is totally okay with that. It lives on for enthusiasts, but officially it never actually took off.</p><p><br></p><p>XP was originally intended to come with different default themes. Luna for Home, Watercolor for Professional, but it seems they very quickly abandoned that idea and went with Luna for everyone. </p><p><br></p><p>Pour one out for Watercolor, BTW.</p><p><br></p><p>Aero was made available though the same theming engine, but by Windows 8 the decision was made – Probably by Sinofsky the Mad King – to just rip the Classic theme out. Nowadays if you disable the Themes service, it doesn't really make any difference. </p><p><br></p><p>Themes are dead for better or worse.</p>

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