eConsole

eConsole is a small-sized application whose purpose is to replace the default Win32 console window. Compared to the built-in console, this one offers additional customization preferences, such as transparent window or background image.
Before proceeding any further, you should know that it hasn't been updated for a very long time and doesn't work properly on newer Windows editions. You can still use it on older OS, though, such as Windows XP.

No setup required

eConsole is wrapped in a portable package, so there is no installation involved. You can unpack the downloaded ZIP archive in any part of the hard disk or even on a removable storage unit, in order to directly launch the tool on any PC. It shouldn't make any changes to the Windows registry.
After initialization, you are welcomed by a semi-transparent window with green text, where you can start sending commands just in the classical Command Prompt utility.

Change the window transparency and apply a background image

Several options become available by opening the right-click menu. It's possible to launch a Command Prompt instance in the current location, enable automatic window resize, as well as change the main window's opacity level or use a custom-defined tint color instead, by consulting the color spectrum.
As previously mentioned, you can apply a background image to the console. Supported file types include BMP, GIF, JPEG, PCX and TGA. Moreover, you can customize basic font settings (e.g. name, style, size, color) and modify the cursor's style (e.g. block, horizontal line, bar, console, spinner).
eConsole can be glued to the desktop. You can also enable fast dragging mode, hide borders, and set the window to automatically hide.

Evaluation and conclusion

The tool worked smoothly on Windows XP during our evaluation, without triggering the operating system to hang, crash or prompt error messages. It left a small footprint on system resources, running on low CPU and RAM.
To sum it up, eConsole provides users of older Windows with a surprisingly rich set of customization preferences for a console window, and it can be configured with ease.