I'm one of those people who loves to customize stuff, including my computer desktop. I used to make it so that it worked best for me, including shell replacments. Programs I used to use: NextStart for the shell, WindowBlinds for window appearance, BeatNik Internet Clock, Sysmeter, and E-Icons '98 and sometimes others like GTRipple or Snow for Windows. I used to just change the wallpaper and icons, but then I found all these other cool skinning programs with free skins. Below are a few of my favorite old layouts :)

The Matrix The background I made myself using images from The Matrix movies and elsewhere. The sysmeter and parts of the wallpaper were made from modifications of graphics from other programs. This is already another of my favorite desktop layouts. Yes, I really like The Matrix movie trilogy and I love the philosophy hidden within it. Trinity is my favorite character.

The Crow The background I made myself using images from The Crow movies and elsewhere, as well as the clock and sysmeter too. The rest however were free downloads. Yes, I really like all of The Crow movies. :)

	Gambit I made the background of this one on my own using scanned in pictures from various comic books, as Gambit is my favorite X-Men character. The rest were free skins I downloaded, except for the system meter.
	Winter Castle I got the background from a friend and liked it so much I turned it into a themed desktop. Snow for Windows made the snow and GTRipple made the water ripple. The rest was more free skins I downloaded.
	Earthtech The background I made by combining several other pictures and used some skin parts to make the top part. The rest was all made from different free downloaded skins for my various programs. This is definitely one of my favorites.
	Riven Forest This one was made from a screenshot I took while playing Cyan's "Riven" computer game, the sequel to "Myst." The icons I had to modify myself to fit the color scheme, but the rest was just free skin downloads.