🖥 XScreenSaver for Windows 🖥

[stardepp]

The software "XScreenSaver for Windows" contains a collection of over 200 screensavers from long ago Windows days as well as classics from Apple and Linux. Among the screensavers are a few real retro treasures, for example "Flyingtoasters". The original screensaver was originally developed for Mac OS Classic, but then gained cult status on Windows 3.1 as well. Other highlights: "Crystal" makes the screen look like you're looking through a kaleidoscope. "Fireworkx", on the other hand, conjures up a brightly colored fireworks display on the monitor. And "Twang" divides the desktop into small squares and makes them shake. "Pong", on the other hand, plays the ancient classic game in an endless loop.

With the screensaver "carusel.scr" you can set your own photos, see pictures:

The screensaver "random.scr" shows all 200 screensavers randomly:

XScreenSaverWin-0.78-Setup.exe available here:

https://mega.nz/file/tbM0kYCT#beceuGkJ_BW11SS-5LE-mCwzKBE_mk8AAwvEtG9hkH4

[Pathduck]

@stardepp XScreenSaver is a classic, I wasn't actually aware there was a Windows port. I remember playing around with it and especially the Matrix screensaver back when that was the thing to do (about 20 years ago, oh how time flies...)

However, one should at least be aware of this from JWS:

"Sometimes people ask me why there is no Windows port of XScreenSaver. The reason is that Microsoft killed my company, and I hold a personal grudge. They are a company with vicious, predatory, anti-competitive business practices, and always have been. They also happen to make terrible products, and always have. I do not use any Microsoft products, and neither should you."
https://www.jwz.org/xscreensaver/xscreensaver-windows.html

I definitely sympathize with his opinion, although I'm not fan of such exclusionary practices. After all, open source is open source.

[stardepp]

@Pathduck yes, I knew his opinion already too. But I'm glad that XScreenSaver for Windows still works so well, even though development ended in 2015, for Windows.

[Catweazle]

Interesting, some like a Screensaver, even though it is one of the most useless softs out there, who is left in front of the screen to see the Screensaver when not using the PC?
Although yes, there are real beauties in this type of soft, not only those of Windows itself, but even OpenSource, like the Electric Sheep series or the beautiful 3D Screensaver offered by nVidia. https://youtu.be/dqwL3ALZh8I

[Pathduck]

@Catweazle I don't really see that much point in the CPU-heavy screensavers, but I think it's nice to have an good looking or useful one.

I ran the Earth saver for a very long time, it just shows the globe with the current light/dark sides:
https://www.fourmilab.ch/earthscr/

Currently I use Electric Sheep, it looks really good with the paid HD version

[Catweazle]

@Pathduck, I know the Earth Saver, and no, it is irrelevant if a Screensaver has a lot of megas, only use this megas when the Screensaver is activ, if not, it is 0. Sun City of nVidia also isn't very "heavy" (36Mb).
A Screensaver only works on demand, startet by the system itself after a time of inactivity, it isn´t a resident app.

Although you must be careful with the huge amount of Screensavers, offered free on the network, many of them are used for vehicle of all kinds of malware.

[greybeard]

My memory may be faulty here but didn't the Fruit at some time sue someone for using "Flying Toasters"?
Ooops wrong companies:

In a Federal suit filed in September, Berkeley Systems Inc. contended that the Delrina Corporation had infringed its copyright with a program featuring the comic-strip character Opus the penguin shooting at a flock of flying toasters. Berkeley Systems, of Berkeley, Calif., has used the airborne appliances in its popular "After Dark" screen-saver program since 1990.

[litlee]

Hey there! Would you have to still have this installer? The Google Drive link has since been deleted..

[stardepp]

@litlee You can download it here: https://mega.nz/file/tbM0kYCT#beceuGkJ_BW11SS-5LE-mCwzKBE_mk8AAwvEtG9hkH4

[litlee]

Says its a violation

[stardepp]

@litlee Just recreated, see below.