Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

RAWGraphs VS Classic Shell

Compare RAWGraphs VS Classic Shell and see what are their differences

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RAWGraphs logo RAWGraphs

RAWGraphs is an open source app built with the goal of making the visualization of complex data...

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.
  • RAWGraphs Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-06-16
  • Classic Shell Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-09-30

RAWGraphs features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    RAWGraphs provides an intuitive drag and drop interface, making it accessible for users with various technical skills.
  • Open Source
    Being open source, RAWGraphs allows for customization and community contributions, promoting transparency and flexibility.
  • Supports Multiple Data Formats
    RAWGraphs supports a variety of input formats like CSV, TSV, JSON, etc., enhancing its adaptability to different data sources.
  • Extensive Visualization Types
    Offers a wide range of visualization types such as bar graphs, scatter plots, and network graphs, catering to diverse analytical needs.
  • No Installation Required
    As a web-based tool, it does not require any installation, making it easy to access and use anywhere with an internet connection.
  • Export Options
    Allows exporting visualizations in vector (SVG) and raster (PNG) formats, which is valuable for high-quality reporting and presentations.

Possible disadvantages of RAWGraphs

  • Limited Interactivity
    Visualizations created with RAWGraphs are generally static, lacking advanced interactive features found in other tools.
  • Performance with Large Datasets
    May struggle with performance issues when handling very large datasets, which can limit its use for extensive data analytics.
  • Learning Curve for Advanced Features
    While basic functionalities are user-friendly, leveraging advanced features and customizations may require a steeper learning curve.
  • Dependency on Internet
    As a web-based application, it requires an internet connection to function, which can be a limitation in restricted or offline environments.
  • Limited Data Manipulation
    Provides basic data manipulation features, but lacks the depth and complexity available in specialized data processing tools.
  • Support and Documentation
    As an open-source project, it may not have the extensive support and documentation available with commercial visualization tools.

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.

Analysis of RAWGraphs

Overall verdict

  • Yes, RAWGraphs is a good tool for creating data visualizations due to its ease of use, versatility, and robust support for different data types and outputs.

Why this product is good

  • RAWGraphs is considered a good data visualization tool because it is open-source, versatile, and easy to use. It allows users to create a wide variety of charts and visualizations without needing extensive coding knowledge. Its interface is intuitive and facilitates the quick transformation of data sets into visually compelling graphics. Furthermore, it supports multiple formats for data input and export, making it flexible for various project needs.

Recommended for

  • data analysts
  • journalists
  • researchers
  • educators
  • students
  • designers who need to create visualizations without in-depth coding skills.

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.

RAWGraphs videos

RawGraphs Walkthrough

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

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to RAWGraphs and Classic Shell)
Data Visualization
100 100%
0% 0
Note Taking
0 0%
100% 100
Charting Libraries
100 100%
0% 0
LMS
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare RAWGraphs and Classic Shell

RAWGraphs Reviews

Top 10 Tableau Open Source Alternatives: A Comprehensive List
RAWGraphs is an open-source Data Visualization tool designed to make visualizing complex data simple for everyone. The primary goal of RAWGraphs is to provide a tool that allows people who do not have the technical/coding expertise to create visualizations on their own. Originally designed to help graphic designers complete a set of tasks that were not available in other...
Source: hevodata.com

Classic Shell Reviews

We have no reviews of Classic Shell yet.
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Classic Shell should be more popular than RAWGraphs. 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.

RAWGraphs mentions (5)

  • Interview synthesis tools?
    Go back through a second time Code themes / pull insights/ double check for keywords tag accuracy Use Dovetailโ€™s โ€œchartsโ€ to review various tags (it will show you how many tags per word in various chart options, none are great.) Export desired csvโ€™s from Dovetail Charts to free online data viz software like https://rawgraphs.io Boom. Iโ€™m sure there are better ways but thatโ€™s what I got! Source: over 4 years ago
  • What type/style of chart is this?
    Sankey is probably the most common name (after Captain Matthew Henry Phineas Riall Sankey who apparently made them to study energy flows in steam engines). But I've also heard it referred to as an alluvial diagram, for example in https://rawgraphs.io/. Source: over 4 years ago
  • Show HN: I made a data visualization desktop app
    This seems quite similar to RawGraphs: https://rawgraphs.io/ Both seem to provide a similar interface for dragging in a CSV file and constructing a chart, but RawGraphs is open-source, and can be used in the browser without installing anything (or the code can be downloaded and served locally). The main advantage of Daigo over RawGraphs seems to be that it supports publishing multiple charts as a dashboard.... - Source: Hacker News / over 4 years ago
  • [OC] Latin Americaโ€™s biggest airports had been growing steadily. With Covid, it all changed.
    Tools: Excel, Rawgraphs, Affinity Designer. Source: over 4 years ago
  • Self-hosted solution for easy data visualization?
    Take a look at https://rawgraphs.io/. Source: about 5 years ago

Classic Shell mentions (18)

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What are some alternatives?

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

Plotly - Low-Code Data Apps

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.

D3.js - D3.js is a JavaScript library for manipulating documents based on data. D3 helps you bring data to life using HTML, SVG, and CSS.

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.

Tableau - Tableau can help anyone see and understand their data. Connect to almost any database, drag and drop to create visualizations, and share with a click.

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!