Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Vim Awesome VS Classic Shell

Compare Vim Awesome VS Classic Shell and see what are their differences

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Vim Awesome logo Vim Awesome

Awesome Vim plugins from across the universe

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.
  • Vim Awesome Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-05-18
  • Classic Shell Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-09-30

Vim Awesome features and specs

  • Comprehensive Plugin Collection
    Vim Awesome provides a wide-ranging collection of plugins, making it a centralized platform to discover and download plugins for enhancing Vimโ€™s functionality.
  • Community-Driven Recommendations
    The platform shows ratings and popular recommendations, helping users choose plugins that are widely accepted and actively maintained.
  • Up-to-date Listings
    Vim Awesome regularly updates its listings, allowing users access to the latest plugins and updates, ensuring compatibility with the latest version of Vim.
  • Search Functionality
    The platform includes robust search capabilities, making it easy for users to find plugins based on keywords, functionality, or popularity.
  • Use of GitHub Metadata
    By leveraging GitHub metadata, Vim Awesome provides insights into a pluginโ€™s activity, such as the number of stars and recent commits, indicating its level of community support.

Possible disadvantages of Vim Awesome

  • Overwhelming for Beginners
    The extensive list of plugins can be overwhelming for new users who may find it difficult to choose the right plugins without prior knowledge.
  • Lack of Detailed Reviews
    Vim Awesome lacks in-depth reviews and user comments on plugins, which could help users better understand the nuances and potential issues of each plugin.
  • Dependence on GitHub
    Relying heavily on GitHub for plugin data might limit access to some plugins that aren't hosted there, potentially overlooking some viable alternatives.
  • Minimal Curation
    There is minimal manual curation by experts, which means the quality and reliability of plugins may vary significantly without verified assurances of maintenance or support.
  • Interface Simplicity
    The siteโ€™s navigation and design are simplistic, which might not provide the most engaging or user-friendly experience for exploring plugins.

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 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.

Vim Awesome videos

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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 Vim Awesome and Classic Shell)
Text Editors
100 100%
0% 0
Note Taking
0 0%
100% 100
Productivity
100 100%
0% 0
LMS
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Vim Awesome should be more popular than Classic Shell. It has been mentiond 36 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.

Vim Awesome mentions (36)

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Classic Shell mentions (18)

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What are some alternatives?

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

Vim-Plug - :hibiscus: Minimalist Vim Plugin Manager. Contribute to junegunn/vim-plug development by creating an account on GitHub.

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.

Vim Adventures - Learning Vim while playing a game

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.

ale - Asynchronous Lint Engine

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!