3D Desktop for Windows XP

Martin Brinkmann
Mar 5, 2007
Updated • Feb 23, 2014
Software
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35

Most versions of Windows Vista ship with Windows Aero, a set of interface features for Windows. It offers, among other things, a new feature called Flip 3D to Windows Vista users that enables them to organize windows in a 3D environment.

The main advantage of this method is that it is possible to display more content on the same amount of desktop space, as you can rotate windows into three dimensional space (virtual but nerveless) to do so.

The program that offers a similar functionality for older Windows versions is called Madotate. It adds another icon to every window next to the icons on the top right corner. If the new icon is clicked on the window will be changed from 2d into 3d mode which moves the window into the third dimension so to speak so that it uses less space on the desktop. While this impacts the visibility a bit, it lets you keep more windows open on the desktop at the same time.

Every window has a short tab that displays the title of the window. Left-clicking a 3D window changes it again from 3d into 2D mode, you can move it around by keeping the left mouse button pressed. A right-click on a window provides you with controls to change the point of view of it. You can move the point of view sideways or upwards and downwards so that it uses less or more space on the desktop.

The most important aspect of the application is that it uses only a few megabytes of system memory will the feature in Windows Vista requires a lot.

Update: I have just tried the program on a 64-bit version of Windows 7 Professional and it worked just like it did under Windows XP. That's remarkable for a program that has not been updated since 2004. To use the portable program simply run it after you have downloaded and unpacked it on your system. You will notice the new icon next to the minimize, maximize and close buttons on each window which enables you to use the program's functionality on any window on your system.

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Comments

  1. soulfly said on May 12, 2009 at 5:51 am
    Reply

    with all the talk about linux, I cant resist. I personally like sidux which is a rolling distro based on debian sid. By rolling I mean you never have to reinstall a new version, only upgrade forever. The sid repository is considered unstable but has all of the newest software drivers ect. and in my experience over the last 3 yrs of using linux this is the most stable. ‘ironic’ I’ve tried many linux distros, mepis ubuntu fedora suse mandriva wolvix there is one for everybody. As far as drivers, linux does pretty good and sometimes better than windows. I’ve spent hours setting up printers in windows….. sidux installs it for me. Really the only thing I cant do in linux that I can do in windows is reboot every time I install something. All you windows users that mock linux have probably never seen it. google any of these versions and burn the iso. you will get a live cd of that distro. pop it in your cd/dvd player and check it out. It is weird at first but its free and doesnt break down. Its very customizable. I tried to customize windows and succeeded, but it starts to bcome buggy and slow. Linux is faster and doesnt require resource intensive spyware and anti virus programs. There is an av program for linux called clam av, if it makes you feel better. Just google, you will see. Gaming is definitely better in windows, but most people that game to that extent, have a pc built just for that purpose. There is even a linux version that is just a firewall. Everything about linux is free! all you guys that paid $150 for xp, then bought vista and found out how useless it was and had to repurchase xp, well, you have all bumped your head. Windows will always be around because it keeps us employed, its designed that way. I.ve put linux on friends computers who dont even know where the srart button is, and it makes no difference to them because all they know is turn it on and go online. If you do know your way around windows a little, it is hard to use something unfamiliar, but you do it every 3-5 yrs when a new widows release comes out. VISTA! So, if you like an OS that runs slow, and is vulnerable to spyware, then windows is for you. If you end up with a virus on your computer, you gave it to yourself. Viruses cannot be executed by anyone but an admin. 90% of windows home users run as admin. Set up a limited user account and quit crying. Spyware is inevitable in windows, you will get. Avast, spybot, spyware blaster, and malware byte are all you need to control it… at least for now. And there free.Linux communities are a great way to learn how your computer works, and are always willing to help. I still have winxp on another hdd, and boot into it occasionally to play around, but sidux is alot more usable to me. As for wobbly windows….its cool but you dont really need it. If you dont have a decent video card, then forget it. The new kde4 for linux has desktop effects built in, and they did a good job of picking the effects that are actually usable. KDE is a desktop environment for linux, there are many to choose from, but kde has the best eye candy. I urge all of you that mock linux and have never seen it, to at least check it out. The live cd will not harm your windows install. It runs off of your cd/dvd drive and uses virtual memory, so you can install software, drivers and such and it is not permanent. It will run a bit slower from a live cd. Most distributions come with an installer and disk partition if you decide to take the plunge.

    ‘Learn as if you are going to live forever, live as if you are going to die tomorrow’.

  2. moth said on April 16, 2009 at 7:52 pm
    Reply

    To al you who say that linux requires knowledge of command strings and whatcha ma call-its. i have been using ubuntu for about a year now and only once have HAD to open up terminal. The ui and desktop environment has more stuff that i can use right out of the box than xp. and i have seen my friend running wow on his ubuntu laptop a %100 speed.

  3. magixmason said on April 6, 2009 at 4:48 pm
    Reply

    lol at

    David says:

    “Because regular people want an OS that just works”

    Ubuntu “just works” far better than Vista on my brand new, top-of-the-line Vaio laptop. Sony have even started to offer XP downgrade CDs.

    “Oh, and did I mention compatibility?”

    Linux supports more hardware than windows these days.

    “And games?”

    A lot can be played on Wine, though you should check before purchase.

    “And Photoshop?”

    Known to work well under wine. GIMP is a free alternative but not your only choice on Linux.

    “And the latest drivers?”

    For what? nVidia release Linux drivers and ATI have released their card specs so the community can do it. most other things don’t seem to require driver updates on such a regular basis.

    “And the latest everything?”

    Such as? I thought we’d covered most things. Linux is way ahead of Windows in a lot of ways because there’s no multi-year wait for the release cycle. Media players and encoders, for instance, tend to be much better in the open source world.

    “(except wobbly windows – but I can live without that.”

    I can’t live without multiple desktops, and the rotating cube really helps that metaphor.

    definetly not true and incorrect in many way’s rofl.
    most people know that windows has better support than linux all around and linux does not have defined support from the dev’s it’s normally user defined like forum’s e.t.c stated above.
    unlike most window’s OS’ which normally have the info you need stored on the OS already if not they go straight to MS for the appropriote information.
    it does no way near have as good game support in any way and is more complicated running games in all way’s compared to a normal install and click to play !
    And for driver’s linux does have nearly all of them covered but not many OS of linux distro come with these installed and for the novice it’s hard to patch/alter download + install appropriote driver’s for their hardware.
    ( always reccomend downloading a OS with pre patches driver’s of that including graphic’s/wireless cards & chipset’s,audio/video e.t.c )
    and media is a lot more complicated and for some novice getting the basic of function’s like watching .avi or listening to mp3 can become very difficult.

    linux is not for the weak hearted in computer’s and requires a large amount of user input and a large amount of learning.
    it’s not simple ( only exp linux user’s will say this and still they know to a noob it’s far from simple)

    also bear in mind some people are not as technically/openly minded as other’s and find thing’s hard to understand and when coming to the terminal/cmd it can be very confusing and frustrating for them.

    linux does have some severe advantages tho to the person who adapt’s it’s highly reccomended.
    it’s entirely open source and for everything that can be run on linux distro OS’ you can gain it’s source. making it viable that there is no spyware/adware/malware & viruses existing to the OS because you could just check anyway so there is no point. ( noting that there is no needed protection of anti-virus e.t.c and they do not work on linux files anyway)

    you either like compilation or hate it i think, if you do enjoy it it’s extremely interesting to see how programs work and function in developer’s code and see what tweak’s, bug’s & changes you can make to a program. you also know that any copy of linux and software’s is genuine and you have the right’s to use/change it in any way.
    it’s basic performance of an OS is definetly user defined , without the input of the indivdual the sytem is useless on it’s own and a raw install of linux with no app’s is useless without knowledge of it, but primarily once you are used to it it will become the best Os to you ever and you will become fluent with using it and it’s surrounding + finding the info + help you need in short time that is if you need any. it runs on very low spec’s optimizing any computer in all way’s and making for smooth fluent use of the PC. :D

    and about the thread in general this is nice to windows user’s but there is more secure acting software available with more option’s and function’s.

  4. John said on March 8, 2009 at 8:12 pm
    Reply

    linux is always the best.
    but this is cool for windows.

  5. notime said on January 7, 2009 at 7:11 pm
    Reply

    Linux was ok way back when you need to type out command strings to do anything.

    But today it’s been left in the dust, and command strings needed have just gotten longer…

    Ease of use, is just not an option with Linux for the average user.

    Learning command strings and switch variations, are not something most humans today can handle…

    They all got DUMB somewhere along the lines. Maybe watching those stupid Mac commercials.

    I was starting to tell people Windows 7 is the now the top dog, but the latest remark from MS Ballmtwerp has me so P.O.ed I say it’s about time Linux communities started to redesign with the DUMB humans in mind, make it clickable instead of command stringable.

    Ballmtwerpjerk has decided to FIRE 9,000 emplayees for better profit margins, even though their margins are far better than any other industry already except oil price scamming.

    Ballmtwerpjerk has even gone as far as to tell an entire group to move to India or find a job with some other company….

    SO… UP-YOURS BALLMER, get the @#$% out of our country, and your history in programming….

  6. Anthony Tietjen said on September 10, 2008 at 8:03 pm
    Reply

    See a list of 3D Cubed Desktop Managers at TechTipStation.

  7. Levan said on August 30, 2008 at 11:07 am
    Reply

    “Try playing LOTRO or WoW. Even if you manage to get anything running, godawfully slow of course” actually, i think WoW is supported… dont know about LOTRO as i dont know what it stands for but yeah. Im pretty certain WoW works on linux.

  8. Raven Lee said on August 27, 2008 at 8:03 am
    Reply

    “Linux supports more hardware than windows these days.”

    lol Maybe Ubuntu has better driver support than Windows Vista. Definitely, crap support compared to Windows XP.

    “A lot can be played on Wine, though you should check before purchase.”

    Again lol. If you want to play older games like Diablo 2 Lord of Destruction or Linux only games like TuxRacer. Sure. Try playing LOTRO or WoW. Even if you manage to get anything running, godawfully slow of course, the next monthly or weekly update will have you scrambling to fix things.

    Not something an average computer user will be capable of setting up or fixing.

    And I do tech support, have debian/redhat/xubuntu/slack linux experience, windows and Mac OS and Mac OS X expertise. I deal with most windows users who barely know what a browser is, where to find Tools –> Internet Options, doesn’t know when to use a right mouse click or a left mouse click, etc. And you are trying to tell me Linux is easy and newer Windows games will just automagically run? Btw, I am the maintainer for Wine AppDB’s Goldmine 5 CRM applist.

    http://appdb.winehq.org/objectManager.php?sClass=version&iId=8332&iTestingId=13126

  9. Stupid said on August 8, 2008 at 2:47 am
    Reply

    It doesn’t update any of the windows while they’re 3d-ed so it’s worthless.

  10. Paul said on July 22, 2008 at 6:14 am
    Reply

    Cool That Is Amazing It Is Better In Ubuntu 8

  11. David said on April 28, 2008 at 5:35 pm
    Reply

    “Because regular people want an OS that just works”

    Ubuntu “just works” far better than Vista on my brand new, top-of-the-line Vaio laptop. Sony have even started to offer XP downgrade CDs.

    “Oh, and did I mention compatibility?”

    Linux supports more hardware than windows these days.

    “And games?”

    A lot can be played on Wine, though you should check before purchase.

    “And Photoshop?”

    Known to work well under wine. GIMP is a free alternative but not your only choice on Linux.

    “And the latest drivers?”

    For what? nVidia release Linux drivers and ATI have released their card specs so the community can do it. most other things don’t seem to require driver updates on such a regular basis.

    “And the latest everything?”

    Such as? I thought we’d covered most things. Linux is way ahead of Windows in a lot of ways because there’s no multi-year wait for the release cycle. Media players and encoders, for instance, tend to be much better in the open source world.

    “(except wobbly windows – but I can live without that.”

    I can’t live without multiple desktops, and the rotating cube really helps that metaphor.

  12. jomama said on April 17, 2008 at 4:54 am
    Reply

    “Not bad for a free OS. Why pay big $$ for Vista when you can have it for free?”

    “Debian, Powerful and safe running compiz-fusion
    who needs windows and its aero. aero does not even come close to the linux 3d effects”

    Because regular people want an OS that just works, and not have to search forums for answers. Oh, and did I mention compatibility? And games? And Photoshop? And the latest drivers? And the latest everything? (except wobbly windows – but I can live without that.

  13. Hiko said on March 8, 2008 at 10:46 pm
    Reply

    Debian, Powerful and safe running compiz-fusion
    who needs windows and its aero. aero does not even come close to the linux 3d effects

  14. Wrathchilde said on February 8, 2008 at 9:31 pm
    Reply

    Dudes…what a jerk madotate…who need to flip the windows……!!!!tak bagus la ini macam kan brader…just kick bill gates OS…start your new machine with LINUX ubuntu Beryl….its nice and powerful

  15. akamaru said on September 6, 2007 at 6:27 am
    Reply

    yeah, i want that too!!!wobbling window, wave, water, kiba look-like, and all other effect that linux has!!!

  16. mikey123 said on August 21, 2007 at 2:55 am
    Reply

    is there any way for me to get all the wobbling windows and blur effects that linux has to offer on a windows xp computer

  17. g said on June 22, 2007 at 6:33 pm
    Reply

    yodm 3d

  18. gkgjayasooriya said on May 20, 2007 at 11:10 pm
    Reply

    this is the best 3d desktop application

  19. Super_Sonic said on April 6, 2007 at 4:06 pm
    Reply

    I used this program twice, and my computer crashed… twice. Got an alternate program like this that is freeware?

  20. mauri said on April 4, 2007 at 2:32 am
    Reply

    wow, but we could already do that wit linux, Is Micro$oft stealing ideas from all linux distros????

  21. geo said on April 3, 2007 at 2:48 pm
    Reply

    ge

  22. iamforgiven said on March 24, 2007 at 11:54 pm
    Reply

    The easiest and best way to get a 3D window manager with virtual desktops is to run Beryl on Linux. It is beautiful, elegant, it works and … it is free!

    I run Beryl on Ubuntu Linux 7.04 with either KDE or Gnome window managers (I have a choice) and it works great with my GEForce 6600 video card on a AMD64 HP computer.

    I get as many desktops as I want on a rotating cube. If I have Gnome set for 4 virtual desktops I actually get 16 workspaces (4 times 4 because the cube multiplies the number of desktops). If I want I can have the cube turn into an octagon. I get wobbly windows and blur effects. I can have the screen rain or snow with a keypress.

    Not bad for a free OS. Why pay big $$ for Vista when you can have it for free?

    Incidentally, I run Windows XP inside of Linux on a VMWare virtual machine, but I rarely need it. Linux meets all of my needs.

    My computer came with XP MCE pre-installed. At boot up I choose to boot into XP or Linux. I hate going into XP after using Linux. I often go for months without re-booting my computer.

    :)

  23. tash said on March 23, 2007 at 11:43 pm
    Reply

    I think I’ve used those fancy 3d features of Aero once or twice.. They’re cool and all, but I did the same thing in linux with 3ddesktop and compiz and other than showing off something pretty I didn’t have much actual use for them

  24. .NET said on March 19, 2007 at 1:43 am
    Reply

    better than better ;) vista and xp

  25. Suntory said on March 13, 2007 at 8:17 pm
    Reply

    Madotate is an old version of this function.
    There is a more up to date version of Madotate in circulation on the net, and it’s a lot more secure than Madotate.
    Madotate is not stable in Windows 2000 and can cause your computer to crash if you are using that system! Also, Madotate causes background process problems too, and is known to freeze a computer or its functions without warning!

  26. John said on March 7, 2007 at 7:58 pm
    Reply
  27. Khalil said on March 6, 2007 at 7:36 am
    Reply

    This is not quite like Vista. With Vista, the 3D windows are stacked up for a nice taskswitcher preview effect, enabling you to see all of your windows and to choose amongst them.

    Madotate simply is another way to minimize a screen.

  28. Martin said on March 6, 2007 at 7:19 am
    Reply

    I did not experience something like this and use it for a couple of days now.

  29. BioBoi said on March 5, 2007 at 10:44 pm
    Reply

    got a blue screen of death after 2 minutes of trying it out.

    /promptly uninstalling

  30. gnome said on March 5, 2007 at 8:36 pm
    Reply

    Brilliant. Who needs Vista now?

    Oh, DX 10. I see… :)

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