Microsoft had spend many hours trying to build the best and most easy to use shell for Windows. When Windows Vista was released users could clearly see a difference between the previews shells of windows and the new shell. A shells isn’t just about the design, but it is also about the usability of it. Linux users love how there are many shells available for Linux. Here I must mention KDE (I like it the most) and Ubuntu shell. For windows on the other hand you are stuck with the default one. Well not any more!

A different shell for windows isn’t a new idea. There are commercial shells available since the launch of Windows XP. But these don’t really change that much in the system. They only change the menu by adding a few new things and you can ad some widgets on the desktop. The design can be changed really easy with the usage of themes, but that’s about all. So a shell that ads more useful controls, changes the usability of the shell dramatically but keeping it simple to use is really a hard task.

What would you say if I will tell you that this exists? And what if it was also free? Well it is true. It is called Cairo and it is the new shell that will be available for Windows. Cairo won’t just change the look of your OS, but it will also ad some really useful and good functions that will make your life a lot more easy. You will be able to acces programs with just a mouse click. I am not saying that the Windows start bar is bad or hard to use, but the Cairo bar will let you access your tools a lot more easy. This is very useful if you are a designer or a programmer and work with some tools daily.

At the Cairo website you can find some interesting screenshot and a few downloads with wallpapers. Cairo isn’t released yet and there isn’t a release date posted on the site. People on the forum said that Milestone 1 (the first alpha) is ready for distribution, but before they can release it they have to resolve some legal things first.

I can’t wait for the first release to be launched. The First alpha was delayed once, but let’s not taking it as a bad thing. Installing a new shell will replace some important aspects of your OS, and if the shell is not stable it can really mess your computer and you can lose important files. Even when the first tests will be released to the public I don’t encourage you to install it if you have important files on your hard drive. Install it on a new and fresh system that you will only use it for tests.

I will give you more info when the first public release will be launched. Until then check the Cairo website and read more new about it on my blog. Also come back again because the next post will be about some commercial (and available) shells for windows.