It is true that there are too many shells out there, but on the other hand you have all the time you need to read on about the most popular shell replacements among the available ones and to find the proper alternative to your default Windows shell. Find programs designed to beautify the Window XP pack, the ones that will give your Windows an exceptional look and feel. You might find it interesting that replacing your shell gives you more options, features and customization possibilities. So, why not start out with some easy to use shells that would allow more control over the taskbar, something you could manage by reading the ReadMe files for further customization. There are shells for advanced users as well. Read about their most useful properties and find out how much experience do you need to handle such a complex tool.