XP Tips/Tricks?

[noah03ark]

okay, so after a long long argument with a coke bottle who differed with myself on key issues, i realized i was having a bizzare dream

anyway i want to make xp a bit better for doing some stuff... sounds weird eh?
basically i wanna know what you recommend of the following:
general programs
performance enhancers
gui stuff
whatever else you recommend for XP

anything?
thx