This month’s theme is “I didn’t know you could do that in Linux,” and over the last week we’ve been talking about how to trick out Linux to look like some other well-known operating systems.

We began with MacOS and then Windows XP. We’ll conclude today with Windows Vista.

I joked (well, half-joked) above that you might want to do this to show off a Windows Vista-looking system that actually performs reliably. There are more pragmatic reasons. One is to present users with an environment that is more familiar to them than the default environment provided by a typical Linux distro.

It could be you wish to introduce people to Linux, and there’s no denying that for many folk their first, and possibly only, experience with computing will be through Microsoft Windows.

Or, it may be - as it was for the author of LXP which we discussed last time - you are designing a dedicated computing device, be it a kiosk or other specialised bit of kit - and want the strength and stability of Linux underneath but with a familiar user environment to avoid scaring the rank and file users away.

Or, perhaps you like the new Windows Vista style and just simply wish to replicate it for the general fun of it. Whatever the reason, Linux allows you to do whatever you can conceive. And here’s how to paint a Windows Vista veneer over it.

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