AeroSnap: Maximizing a window on today's large monitors is often a waste of screen space. In Windows 7, a feature called Aero Snap lets you automatically resize a window to fill half of your display when you drag the window to the screen's edge. Kick a space out of the feature's name, and you have AeroSnap, an app that brings the same feature to XP and Vista.
Seven Remix XP: Windows 7's visual appeal definitely sets it apart from its aging sibling Windows XP. But this transformation pack makes XP's buttons, boxes, icons, and Start menu look remarkably like the new OS's versions.
Taskbar Shuffle: The new supercharged Windows 7 taskbar allows you to reorder any of your taskbar items with a drag and drop. XP and Vista users can enjoy the same functionality with this lightweight system-tray utility (also available in a 64-bit version).
Windows 7 Shortcuts: Windows 7 introduces gobs of time-saving keyboard shortcuts for moving windows around your desktop, focusing on specific windows, or taking a quick peek at the desktop. This download installs a tiny system-tray utility that adds them to your XP or Vista machine.
WinShake: Windows 7's Aero Peek feature turns windows transparent, giving you X-ray vision for determining what lies beneath. Its Aero Shake function
Recycle Bin inexplicably missing from your desktop? Thumbnails not working? The easy-to-use utility FixWin repairs, with point-and-click ease, common annoyances related to Windows Explorer, the Internet, Media Player, and other system tools
If you get impatient while waiting for Windows to copy large files from one folder to another, try Teracopy, which can copy files significantly faster than Explorer can. The utility has advanced features that allow you to pause and resume transfers, too.
In the golden days of XP, a small utility called TweakUI was every system tweaker's dream--unfortunately, it doesn't exist for newer Windows releases. But Ultimate Windows Tweaker lets you optimize every little corner of your Windows 7 or Vista installation.
Wizmouse is a small, single-purpose app that makes your mouse's scrollwheel work with whatever window your mouse is hovering over, active or not.
Sign up to use the beta InterfaceLift wallpaper library, which has more than 2000 selections that you can sort by resolution or by the number of monitors. You'll even find mobile-ready images for iPhones and other devices.
Krento (also available in a 64-bit version). It creates a slick, rotating 3D circle of up to 12 of your favorite apps (and it supports multiple circles if you want to categorize them).
-PCWorld Website.
