Just because Microsoft wants to abandon XP users, dosent mean 3rd parties will.
No not really Flip 3D, but rather the product TopDesk developed by Otaku Software.
It seems to me that Microsoft is so bent on enticing people into the next generation of Windows, Windows Vista, that they may have forgot all of us faithful Windows XP users.
So much of the newer features and products, such as Flip 3D, are being packaged strictly for Vista but not Windows XP.
This really bugs the crap out of me. I have been using Microsoft products on my desktop for over a decade, and have been mostly very satisfied. But now it seems as Microsoft is forgetting how many of us use XP, and don't really want to make the big move to Vista just yet. Why should we? Certainly 3rd party developers can give us products containing many of the features exclusive only to Vista via Microsoft, to us Windows XP enthusiasts.
Why should I really care about the Aero interface? Have a look at all the Vista clones created for window blinds.
Search features in different places that do virtually the same as they always have. A few tweaks in the GUI here and there; nothing companies like Stardock and Otaku can't offer us for a fraction of the price.
TopDesk by Otaku Software is one such product. This is an amazing software, that IMHO might even be a tad better than Flip 3D Microsoft has chosen exclusively for Vista.
TopDesk is a completely configurable 2D/3D window management system supported under Windows XP. When in tiled mode, it will display the title of the currently selected window or the titles of all tiled windows. It will also shows thumbs of all the windows belonging to the current application, or hide all the windows for quick access to your desktop.
And my favorite, in 3D mode, it will display thumbs of all open apps, including minimized applications, just as TopDesk does in 2D mode.
Additionally, with TopDesk, I can change the orientation of the thumbs to appear at various pitches and angles on my desktop, and all of this can happen by hotkey, hotspots, or several floating buttons on the desktop.
I purchased TopDesk by download for the mere price of $14.95, which took me less than 5 minutes.
Have a look at TopDesk in 3D mode, under it's standard setting on my notebook:
Well, if you have used Flip 3D under the Vista Beta, I'm certain you will recognize what you see above. If you prefer the 2D mode, I suggest you click the link at the bottom of this article and look at more screenshots from the Otaku website.
If you're like me, and feel like Microsoft might be abandoning us Windows XP users to market their new flagship Vista by omitting new features from Windows XP, then I highly recommend you having a look at TopDesk to use in place of Flip 3D on your Windows XP PC.
TopDesk, as well as many 3rd party software developers such as Stardock, will be providing die-hard Windows XP users with current features foe a while to come - or so I hope.
I love you Microsoft, but please don't blow me a kiss and wave good-bye.