I suppose they could remove it Po' but I think it also serves a purpose for others that might run across misinfo about crack versions of any software and give them the 'heads up' that all just may not be well in 'Freebie Land'

Just reading threads like this and comparing one persons view against many others with anti-crack views might help save them from a fatal lesson in the future.

I pay for a subscription to ObjectDesktop, I rarely have a problem but if I do I can email stardock support and I can join Stardock's IRC chat. Either way I can usually get it fixed quite quickly. I don't have a WinCustomize subscription simple because I can't afford it. It doesn't stop me from using the software LEGALLY. I think it's only fair to pay for the software because Stardock's efforts are great, and they deserve every penny (or... cent?)

and where did I do that?



I already stated this, but you must have missed it in your rush to judgment; I now have a OD subscription, why would I download other versions?



You are wrong. I an effort to find reasons to not subscribe, I went to public torrent sites and searched for stardock software. Try poking "stardock torrents" into google and see how many sites you can come up with...I found 219,000 links.



This is just plain stupid. How would the torrent versions be any better than the ones I download from stardock legally. Do these torrent originators improve the software they upload???



Looking at dates in the releases and comparing torrent dates you can match up the info.



I do have a subscription, this whole thread is about renewing it. And it hasn't yet expired...



If you don't subscribe and you are using the software, isn't that theft?


This all is great fun! More fools and their comments, please.

Listen, I have seen enough of your crap. You are the only fool here. You can defend yourself and act innocent till the cows come home. Anyone that can consider using illegal copies and or condone their use, not to mention announce that others can do it too, is a thief. Buying the software is the only criteria called for to legally use this site to download the skins. Weren't you able to read and understand Jafo's comment about this matter? Look at comment #22. I will no longer be arguing with you. I do not fight with un armed opponents. Get a clue.

Well it would seem that this thread was started for your verbal masturbation alone and as such I see no reason to participate any further, so have it

You've already made up your mind. You're not looking for a reason to renew, because you KNOW why you should renew. You're just looking to disturb some sh*t. Later.

clwoods wrote:



I'm having this conversation on forums.stardock.com not wincustomize.com. Where can you download skins on stardock.com?

And I can legally run the version of the software which is current when my subscription expires. So I can use wincustomize.com for as long as there are skins there which work with my version of the software. So there is something else I'm not doing wrong...

And you must have missed my question: Where did I admit to stealing?


Yes I could read this, but no I don't understand it's application here. I am now and will remain (regardless of my subscription status) a licensed user of the software in question.


That is a good idea since you're not able to justify your earlier remarks.

And perhaps you can justify this remark? Sounds like you are a regular visitor to file sharing networks and the only reason you could be doing that is to download unlicensed software. The threat to do so is also contained in the above statement

You got yourself off on the wrong foot, the only person you can blame for the response is yourself.

 

Life's too short for this _____. I'll hang with the winners, thanks. Later days...

OK, I've covered this before but I'll cover it again:

In evaluating my resubscribing to OD I decided to use a mild threat to attempt to garner some co-operation from stardock support. I had done the search on google for "stardock torrents." As I indicated earlier I found 219,00 hits.
Going to some of those sites (which didn't require login) I could see torrents for stardock products. Comparing the dates of releases to these torrent dates lead me to believe that updated versions came soon after the official releases. This is bad or illegal activity??

So, there is at least another reason for "doing that."

This is where this all goes sour. Your "mild" threat to garner support if carried out would cost Stardock one subscription account whilst you become a thief, sacrificing your own integrity. How smart is that?

Why not just concentrate on getting your remaining 11 issues resolved without the mild threats? If there are bugs out there that need to be addressed we all want to see that accomplished and you would get plenty of support in your efforts to resolve the problems.

Who are you trying to convince, yourself or us?

Sorry to say this but, I think most responders here did jump to conclusions. I read this with an open mind and came away with a different conclusions.

I have also sent numerious emails to support@stardock.com and never received a reply. Did I like that - NO.

The original poster probubly thought his arguments would receive a un-biased hearing in this forum. WRONG - most people who post here are stardock fanboys. Say anything against stardock and get ready to be blasted. The brainwashing software seems to be working for most people.

This crazy zeal is probubly why most e-mailed problems don't get replied to or fixed. If the problem isn't posted in the forum (where evryone can see) it gets swept under the carpet. And with all this (unjustifiable) zeal the company is under no pressure to fix things.

I think the poster's message is this: Reply to emails, fix your shit or I can go elsewhere. That's called voting with your wallet.

And one more thing, making comments about a couple of spelling mistakes is really immature and childish. You justify his comments regarding demonizing the holder of the alternate view.

TS

I think it was the inappropriate threat to use pirated software that created many of the reactions. In the long run, pirated software costs everyone and it does not make one a Stardock fanboy to be against its use. The threat detracted from the real points he wanted to raise.



I have no way of knowing if this is true or not. How do you KNOW this?



If this was indeed the intended message, it might have been helpful to give some specifics of the unresolved issues. How can anyone respond when there is nothing specific to address?



My favorite way to vote as well.

I like Stardock, but I must agree that they are a little slow when it comes to replying to emails.

They do need to fix a few things, lots of their software that I am paying for with my OD subscription doesn't support XP64 - therefore I can't use it all right now (it's annoying and its not my only problem).

I am no "fanboy" but I do agree that when their software works it is great.

Is there any particular app you would most want to see working on XP64 bit?

Yes, all of OD...

Well, it would be nice to see Virtual Desktops work.
Also, IP (not the beta release) because when I hit apply it vanishes.
Alongside this DX stopped working last night/this morning.

My experience with support here has been good, if not funny. I have learned to be patient. I know I am not the only customer. I have waited over a week, here and there, , but got a response. I always have gotten a response. The funny part? If it does take a while, usually more than one person has caught it and I get two or three responses. Often, while waiting, I have gotten help in the forums from admin's and mod's.

When you look at the amount of traffic this site gets, IMHO, they make a pretty good effort here at resolving issues and such. I'm not a fanboy, and I think Jafo and a few other's can testify to that, but I've learned that Stardock stands behind their products and site, and even if I have to wait, they have yet to 'not come through' when I had an issue or a problem.

When I had a problem with IP and the 2 in one package, which all but drove me insane, it took a WHILE to get the info I needed, but I got it.

Persistence and patience, IMHO, will get you much further than 'threats', be they idle or not.

One other note...
I feel for you and others who want their 'money's worth', but when you look at other sites and such, $20 for a subscription and the $50 for OD is a sweet deal for all you get.

Yeah, OD is really well priced too.
When I first ordered it didn't charge me extra for the CD.

Not the first time such has been posted...but each and every time it annoys the shit out of me.

It presupposes anyone who appreciates/enjoys the SD software [or Stardock - the company] is brain-dead ignorant and/or gullible/blind/inept/stupid.

'Fanboy' in this context is an open abject insult and even contrary to Wincustomize site policy.

People actually bundled into this 'fanboy' descriptor [by you, and others] actually are mature, sensible and intelligent and capable of drawing their own conclusions about a person/place/product.

Some also have known the people behind the company for many years and consider them friends.

Are you a 'fanboy' in your family?....to your fellow classroom students?

Or do you, too have a brain...and can determine reality and understand sweeping prejudice?

Feel free to say you effing hate Stardock....most perceive that as their 'right'...but WHEN you are met by a barrage of argument/dissent think carefully...it MAY just be that they know more than you and are capable of independent thought....

If stardock is such a great company and such nice ppl, why don't they answer their email at support@stardock.com? Take my experience and the experiences of TarkusShakti and it doesn't look like they answer some emails. What excuse is there for not replying to emails?

jafo doesn't like the label "fanboy." The Wikipedia defines fanboy as:

Fanboy or fanboi is a term used to describe an individual (usually male, though the feminine version fangirl may be used for females) who is utterly devoted to a single fannish subject, or to a single point of view within that subject, often to the point where it is considered an obsession. Fanboys remain loyal to their particular obsession, disregarding any factors that differ from their point of view. They are also typically hateful to the opposing brand or competition of their obsession regardless of its merits or achievements.

This term seems vary appropriate from my point of view. I emailed the link to this thread to a few friends (prior to TarkusSkakti's post) and one replied that the topic title should be changed to "Fanboy Lynch Mob"



My thanks to TarkusShakti for distilling my original post to the simplest language. His interpretation is accurate. Kenwas says I didn't supply specifics. I disagree, the specifics are THEY DON"T ANSWER THEIR SUPPORT EMAILS! I find it strange that ppl here don't seem to think this is a problem.



TarkusShakti's reasoning sounds valid to me. And I see he used the word "probably" which leads me to think this was postulated as a plausible theory.



Using the wikipedia's definition I fail to understand how TarkusShaki's statement could constitute a violation of any reasonable policy. Perhaps jafo could provide references to the particular policy and explainations of his interpretation.

If TS's (TarkusShakti)statement is a violation of policy, then I'll bet that ppl calling me a thief is a violation too. But of course this fact is overlooked because I complained about shoddy support. This would seem to be hypocrisy, in my opinion. Maybe jafo can explain the difference?

This is DanDunn. I'm logged-in as a different user because my account here has been disabled.

I exchanged a couple emails with TarkusShakti this morning after I sent him a personal thanks for his comments. He now informs me that his account has also been disabled.

I guess this is what happens when you criticize Stardock. This should be a warning to all. They don't like criticism.

I think the site's message was "Please Do" Have a nice day.

Neither account has been disabled/banned/exciled/whatever.  Your complaints about the 'communism' of the forums and of Stardock is poorly-placed, and ill-advised.

I am forced to remind you that, since this is a private website, your 'right' to speak is not a right.  It is a privilege, and will be taken away if abused.    

How pathetic. Sorry, but all of us who have been here and know each other and the staff here know that what you speak is a lie. You are only proving to us who you really are. I actually feel sorry for people like you. You are just a trouble maker. If you really needed to get your programs fixed you would have spoke up and explained the problems to Neil when he came on this thread or when you actually took out this thread.
I was able to get to both the sites in question. Not to mention no account is ever disabled or deleted. They are just exiled and still accessible by all. You are still a level 5 not -1, so please,in the future do not consider us to be stupid enough to fall for your bullshit.