..... interested companies in designed skins become more popular.... more skins...... more downloads.....

my goodness, when does it end???

there are non-customers and non-customers A non-cutomer is someone that looks at the shopwindow and there comes out the shopowner and hands him $20,- a non-customer is someone that goes into the shop, looks around, stirs with items on shelves and leaves again without buying. Those you have to try to get asway from the shopfloor in order to transfer them into a non-customer

I don't know how it works in the US, but here in Canada, companies that are public (have stocks on the stock market) have to make their financial statements public. Otherwise privately owned companies don't have to. It's probably the same in the US, ans AFAIK Stardock isn't on the share market.

Let me give you some statistics.

As we've been looking at adding new features for users such as the ability to subscribe to threads and skins (for comments) and other things we also added bytes downloaded. This was partially designed so that no one could easiy "stuff" the ballot by downloading their own skins over and over to get a higher ranking.

But in the process we learned some starting things. There are many users who have downloaded over a GIGABYTE of skins/themes from this site. And most of them are not Stardock customers in any form.

Now, I imagine most people don't have a problem with some guy/gal coming on and casually downloading some skins and themes or walls even if they've regretably chosen not to register software. However, downloading a GIG?

Let me put it in perspective, I've obviously been here since day 1, I download many skins each day, every day of all kinds. I've only downloaded 100 megabytes of stuff in all that time. I think you'd all agree that I'm no casual user. So anyone who's downloaded more than 100 megs (let alone a GIG) is certainly not some casual window shopper.

>100megs is the guy who's in the bookstore having taken most of the books off the shelf and read them right there.

And just to be clear, anyone who is a subscriber of Object Desktop or WinCustomize should be encouraged to download to their heart's content. Just not the people using a warez/shareware copy.

Frogboy: Why don't you date your shareware software like a lot of companys do. A 30 day count down and then it quits working. This would give the user time to see if they like it or not. This would translate into more sales.

No, it would translate into more cracked copies. 30 day countdowns are one of the easiest sorts of protection to crack. Far better not to have the full functionality in the trial version in the first place.

Can you fix the trial vesion to work only on certain releases. Then when you update the programs the trial version won't work on the skins made with the new versions.

It's been said several times but ignored - if you want it, buy it. If not, then don't. If you want it without buying it, don't expect Stardock to apologise for being "evil" and give it to you.

I believe that lots and lots of sites have gone to subscription only. Wincustomize would certainly be within their rights to do that as well.

The thing that gets me about this whole thread and some of the negative views is the feeling that somehow Stardock owes you something. If you're a skinner, I respect your talent and effort and happily use and look forward to your stuff. Do I owe you something? Maybe. I've paid for UniverseMetal and think it well worth the price. OTH, some stuff I don't bother to download for free - doesn't work for me. Others might like it, that's fine.

If you think Stardock treats you unfairly as a skinner, take your stuff elsewhere. I'm quite sure I'll live without it fine and I doubt Wincustomize will suffer too much. If you think $20 is too much for a subscription, don't buy it.

In any case, stop your damn whining.

The Chef is cooking with gas

And cooking with gas sounds GREAT.

How many people that haven't bought something from stardock have downloaded more than you have Frogboy? I am curious

Any opposing views to yours and others is considered "whining Chef Gary? I really didn't take the too many of the replies to this thread as whining. Also, I don't think this has anything to do with paying $20 for a subscription. I think it's obvious that most have made up their minds on that issue already.

Also, keep in mind that your opinion regarding anything is no more important than anyone elses irregardless of the fact that you've paid your $8 debt to 2 skinners.

Many people have been made the point that all people are equal here, therefore where do you get off by telling anyone else to take their skins and leave instead of voicing their opinion.

Notice that in spite of your rude comments that I still didn't tell you to take your $20 skinbrowser and your suite pack and go somewhere else?

Chef, if ALL the skinners left, what would happen? That's what happened to skinz.org when the eFront scandal was unveiled. Almost every skinner deleted their stuff, and Skinz went down.
Skinners do the skins site a big service and the skins sites do the downloaders a big service, and the downloaders do the skinners a service. It all comes around and everybody is happy.

I for one can see that I HAVE LOST sight on this post. I am sorry for stating "if you don't like it, leave" this is a open site, and everybody in this fine world has their own ideas. Please enjoy the time we have been given, and enjoy what the skinners have given us to enjoy. Different people have different ideas and thoughts.

"Smile, the world loves ya"

Mike

davad - I take your views and especially chichi's in much the same light as I do that of spoiled children. The rules are pretty clear (to me at least). I get the sense that you consider the rules unfair. Well Stardock has the right to make the rules whether you like them or not.

I didn't tell anyone to leave, simply pointed out that they have that option if they're not happy. You are quite correct, your opinion is every bit as valid as mine. I have the sense that you consider yours to be more so because you are a skinner and I merely a user. If my impression is incorrect, I apologise. If that is indeed how you feel, I'll try not to be too upset.

Paxx - I agree with you. If all skinners left, WC would fold as Skinz did. However I don't get the sense that the majority of skinners are unhappy.

BTW, it seems interesting that Chichi starts a thread apologizing for past rants, then flames anew a couple of days later. Again, maybe I'm missing something or judging on insufficient information but that's how it appears.

Lecrayon...5 hours after your request for financial information I gave you a response.....that private entities are not obliged to publicly air their details.
You had your answer quite quickly, I thought...

the reason why this site is so popular is because of the skinners mainly. and the skinners like this site the most because this site seems to be run by them. i can't think of a more skinner friendly site than this one. users and sites need skinners just like skinners need sites and users. circle of life stuff.

Voicing my opinion and disagreeing with certain policies of the site make it appear that I'm superior? That's the response that I seem to get any time that I voice my opinion.

A few more points and then I'll retire for the evening.

1. Garry.....nobody is forcing you to participate in these "whiney" threads. If you don't like hearing the voice of a dissenter, then stop reading.

2. I never said that Stardock and the admins of this site didn't have the right to make whatever rules they want. I have merely pointed out a few times that there are certain issues that the majority of skinners disagree with (such as ratings, skin updates, etc). If that's being "whiney" or a "spoiled child", then certainly in your view that's what I apparently am. It's your right to think that, but to call people that here. A bit child-like in my opinion. Have I ever said if you don't change this I will pull my skins from here? No I haven't. And for several reasons; hardly anyone would miss them, and because that would be childish (much like name calling.

OK, I'm off to finish a skin which I've been working on for three weeks. That's how I contribute to the site afterall. I need to finish it so that other's may make their contribution by spending 20 seconds to download it with their $20 skinbrowser.

Dear Jafo,
I know you answered it's a private cy. I also wanted to know if you had to be registered, gave examples how it works in NL. Didnt get an answer for that, I don't blame you, after all you are an Ozzie.
I subscribed to WC long before this thread came up. The reason why I partcipated was, again, for the benefit of all users. So that they might get a clearer view why WC is going to be commercialised. Basically, I don't give a ****. To me it's a disguised raise of OD...Within a few years OD will only available without the ability to upload your work,you need to be a WC subscriber to be able to do that it's just how business goes. I can hear you disagreeing on that last sentence, but you will think of me a few years from now. That's why there is such a big stir about this issue. People sense that and whatever reasons you will give ,or the company for that matter, it is going to be just like I said when it comes down to the core. And yes, I sometimes get aggravated when things aren't put in the right perspective, and a layer of mist is hung over the real reasosns. I really hate that.

And one more thing, one chichi girl more or less, the company really doesn't care. If one or two turn their back it's no big deal. What it comes down to is how to maintain the "pro's". Money talks always, but not to me as I stated earlier. The so called skinssuites that soon are available have to paid for too.

Available for WC subscribers that is.

"Such a big stir"? I only see one person massed at the barricades of dissent and social turmoil....

And what's with the 'after all you are only an Ozzie' quip? FYI, it's 'Aussie'... , and there's nothing particularly 'only' about them at all....

Thank you for calling me something JAFO. Whatever.

That is if that one person you meant refers to me. I didnt blame you for not knowing, but I will blame you if you knew and just didnt tell.