Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Classic Shell VS CentminMod

Compare Classic Shell VS CentminMod and see what are their differences

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Classic Shell logo Classic Shell

Classic Shell was developed for Windows 8 since that was the first version of the popular operating system to forgo the iconic Start menu.

CentminMod logo CentminMod

Centmin Mod is a LEMP stack shell menu based auto installer.
  • Classic Shell Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-09-30
  • CentminMod Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-19

Classic Shell features and specs

  • Customizable Start Menu
    Classic Shell allows users to customize the Start Menu to a significant extent, including changing the style and appearance to resemble earlier versions of Windows (XP, Vista, and 7).
  • Performance Enhancements
    The software is lightweight and generally does not consume significant system resources, making it a performance-efficient alternative to the default Start Menu.
  • Enhanced Usability
    It brings back certain features and functionalities that are familiar and preferred by users, enhancing overall user experience, particularly for those transitioning from older Windows versions.
  • Frequent Updates
    Classic Shell is regularly updated to ensure compatibility with new Windows updates, providing a reliable solution over time.
  • Free of Cost
    Classic Shell is available for free, making it an accessible option for anyone looking to improve their Start Menu without financial investment.

Possible disadvantages of Classic Shell

  • Limited Official Support
    As Classic Shell is developed primarily by volunteers, official support may be limited compared to commercial software.
  • Complexity
    The extensive customization options might be overwhelming for less tech-savvy users, leading to a steeper learning curve.
  • Potential Compatibility Issues
    Although updated frequently, there can be temporary compatibility issues with the latest Windows updates, requiring users to wait for the next release.
  • Lack of Modern Features
    Classic Shell aims to replicate older versions of Windows Start Menus, which might lack some of the modern features available in the default Windows Start Menu.
  • Discontinued Development
    Official development of Classic Shell was discontinued in December 2017. While community forks like Open-Shell continue the project, the lack of official development could be seen as a disadvantage.

CentminMod features and specs

  • Performance Optimization
    CentminMod is highly optimized for performance out of the box with Nginx, MariaDB/MySQL, and PHP-FPM configurations, which helps in serving web applications faster.
  • Easy Installation
    The installation process is straightforward and automated, enabling you to set up a web server stack quickly without dealing with complex configurations.
  • Security Enhancements
    CentminMod includes several security features like custom firewall configuration and security patches aimed at improving the overall security of your server.
  • Built-in Tools
    It includes a variety of built-in tools, such as PhpMyAdmin, CSF firewall, and Let's Encrypt integration, making server management more convenient.
  • Active Community Support
    CentminMod has an active and helpful community along with comprehensive documentation, which can be very useful for troubleshooting and maximizing the use of the script.

Possible disadvantages of CentminMod

  • Limited Platform Compatibility
    CentminMod is only compatible with CentOS, which may not be suitable for users who prefer or are required to use other Linux distributions.
  • Learning Curve
    Despite the easy installation, CentminMod involves a learning curve, especially for users unfamiliar with command-line operations.
  • Resource Consumption
    The optimizations and additional tools included with CentminMod can lead to higher resource consumption compared to a minimal server setup.
  • Custom Configuration Constraints
    While CentminMod is highly optimized, it might restrict users who need a highly customized setup, as deviating from the predefined paths can be challenging.
  • No Official Support
    CentminMod is a community-driven project and does not offer official commercial support, which might be a concern for enterprise users needing guaranteed support services.

Analysis of Classic Shell

Overall verdict

  • Overall, Classic Shell is considered a good tool for those who want to enhance their Windows experience with more customization and a nod to classic Windows aesthetics. It's reliable, widely used, and addresses some of the usability concerns people have with newer Windows versions.

Why this product is good

  • Classic Shell is popular among users who prefer the familiar interface and user experience of older versions of Windows, particularly Windows 7 or even XP. It offers customization options for the Start Menu, Explorer, and other UI elements, allowing a more personalized and comfortable experience for those who are not fond of newer Windows UI changes.

Recommended for

    Classic Shell is recommended for users who miss the classic Windows Start menu and layout, those who find the new Windows designs less intuitive, and individuals who want more control over their interface customization. It's particularly suitable for people transitioning from older Windows versions to newer ones who wish to maintain a certain level of familiarity.

Analysis of CentminMod

Overall verdict

  • CentminMod is generally considered a good option, especially for those who are looking for a highly optimized and customized LEMP stack on CentOS. It offers robust performance and is continually updated to incorporate the latest in web server technologies. However, the script's reliance on command-line operations may present a steep learning curve for users new to server management.

Why this product is good

  • CentminMod is a popular script for setting up and managing LEMP stacks (Linux, Nginx, MariaDB/MySQL, PHP) on CentOS servers. It simplifies the process of configuring web servers by automating many of the complex tasks involved. The script is particularly known for its performance optimizations, security enhancements, and ease of use for those familiar with command-line interfaces. Additionally, CentminMod offers a wide range of customization options and is well supported by an active community.

Recommended for

  • Server administrators with experience using the command line
  • Users looking for a highly customizable LEMP stack
  • Those interested in performance-optimized and secure web server deployments
  • Individuals managing CentOS-based servers

Classic Shell videos

Classic Shell with Windows 10!

More videos:

  • Review - Classic Shell Review | Make Windows 8 Like Windows 7 with Classic Shell
  • Review - Classic Shell 4.0.2 Review

CentminMod videos

No CentminMod videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Classic Shell and CentminMod)
Note Taking
100 100%
0% 0
VPS
0 0%
100% 100
LMS
100 100%
0% 0
Monitoring Tools
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Classic Shell should be more popular than CentminMod. It has been mentiond 18 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Classic Shell mentions (18)

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CentminMod mentions (3)

  • CPanel's Black Week: 3 New Vulnerabilities Patched After Attack on 44k Servers
    We've been running Centminmod on our servers for years. Love the software. There is no fancy web UI but it does have CLI menus, etc... so, definitely not for the novice but it's really good at what it does. I'm not affiliated, just a happy customer: https://centminmod.com/. - Source: Hacker News / 2 months ago
  • Website Hosting Options
    I pay $3 a month for a 2gb (ram) ssd based VPS. I install centmin and reverse proxy my homelab services with a legit domain. (my isp blocks port 80). Source: over 4 years ago
  • Will pages hosted on DO's vps be faster than SiteGround?
    So yeah, it very much depends on your use case, you can always just demo it for one month and see for yourself. If you do, look into centminmod, it's a management tool for hosting websites simply and with great performance. Source: almost 5 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Classic Shell and CentminMod, you can also consider the following products

Fences - Keep your desktop organized with Fences. This is a simple software program that allows you to sort the tabs on your desktop and create files that are easily recognizable to you.

VPSSIM - VPSSIM provides installer enabling users to install LEMP stack on their servers.

Start Menu X - Start Menu X with Start Button. Power users know how inconvenient and time-consuming it is to launch programs from the system menu.

GNU Bourne Again SHell - Bash is the shell, or command language interpreter, that will appear in the GNU operating system.

Start Menu Reviver - Free Download! Recover and update your computer with Driver Reviver and Registry Reviver. Easily update software, unlock new functionality and remove hardware device errors and clean, repair and optimize your registry in a few simple mouse clicks!

PowerShell Plus - Learn how to learn and master PowerShell fast with an interactive learning center, a powerful IDE, pre-loaded scripts, and a PowerShell Editorโ€ฆ all for free.