Several of the readers have recommended a software program called Vista Transformation Pack, which changes the look of Windows XP to resemble Vista. And of those readers recommending VTP, they have also recommended other software as well, to make the transformation complete including the sidebar.

Interesting. So how well does VTP work?

Over to Softpedia to download a copy. There are some 1900 + reviews of the software with a average rating of 4.3 out of 5, which is very good for any software product. Download is 30.2 MB in size. If you are still on dial-up, be patient. Of course I didn’t need to tell you that.

I installed VTP on top of Windows XP Professional, SP2, and IE7, using the standard Free software for protection, I have recommended so many times before. And since I also have Vista installed on the same system, different hard disk, it was easy to compare XP after VTP to the original Vista.

Yeap, it looks like Vista. Very,very close indeed. If I had sat down to the system without using a magnifying class, and not knowing VTP was installed, I would of said this was in fact Vista. I didn’t get a chance to play with the sidebar feature nor the 3D flip feature listed below, since I needed the machine to test two other products, which I will be reporting on shortly.

Side note: For those interested in virtualization , a Freebie is available. I’m going to try it today. Review coming soon.
Thanks to those readers who recommended VTP to me. This is so much better than the other products I have reported on.
Download Vista Transformation Pack from here. This is version 6 and the final release. Changes XP to Vista.
And you can download the sidebar alone from here. Adds the Vista sidebar.
And a download of top-desk which is a 30 day trial only, $14.95 if you wish to keep it from here. Adds 3D flip.

[tags]microsoft, vista,software, free, xp, transform, recommended, [/tags]