Shadow Lord

Reply to The Hot Project List at Stardock in Personal Computing WinCustomize Forums

[quote]And I mean that both in the good sense and the bad sense (i.e. we get beat up by users who think our software is "bloated" or "buggy" or whatever). It's a multi-million dollar market to be sure. We have more users on our desktop enhancement software than we do on our games by far. A lot of the controversy comes from power users who actually aren't power users who really shouldn't be tweaking their computer in the first place.[/quote] WOW, just WOW.....

Reply to Is skinning a community or a market? in WinCustomize News WinCustomize Forums

Night Train and vStyler those all are pointless arguments. Again you forget I am Joe Blow consumer. I don't know what adobe photographshop is, I don't know if Vista is new (but it is pretty), I don't know what a skinner is (do they pickup road kill???) And dual booting? Is that when you put on two condoms? All I know is I paid for my new puter w/ 256mb hd and 1 jig of rom w/ Vista and the SD program so it looks pretty. You are still looking at it from the point of view of someone who is

Reply to Is skinning a community or a market? in WinCustomize News WinCustomize Forums

[quote]You DO get 'high quality skins for free'. It's what the skinners provide/upload here on Wincustomize and all the other skinning sites. Where's the beef?[/quote] O.k. Jaffo, Lets do some math: I am user Joe Blow, and just bought WB6 to go along with my fancy shmancy vista PC... I go on WC and look for WB skins and I see I can filter out the skins that will best use my investment (i.e. are WB6 and Vista ready).. Cool, I get 21 skins that meet those criteria. B

Reply to Is skinning a community or a market? in WinCustomize News WinCustomize Forums

[quote]Of course he cares, even if for no other reason than he wants you to buy it. He knows you will not do so if your do not perceive value. [/quote] No he doesn't because simply buying WB is not enough for me as the consumer or for him as the producer. Brad knows the real money is in selling skins: people will get tired of skins they have and want new ones, or new skins will come out and people will want those but someone can buy WB w/ subscription and really never need to buy again

Reply to Is skinning a community or a market? in WinCustomize News WinCustomize Forums

[quote]As with all artwork it isn't necessarily going to appeal to everyone....which brings up that old argument...and the reason many skinners started out.... if you can't find something you like...then DIY ....[/quote] Now that is the most ridiculousargument I always hear... Its like saying: "You don't like the state of healthcare in this country then become a doctor yourself" or "you don't like windows well write your own OS"... If I wanted/could do it myslef then I wouldn't be payin

Reply to Is skinning a community or a market? in WinCustomize News WinCustomize Forums

[quote]You would then be very surprised to hear that it is not uncommon to get Brad's ear on chat/ email to discuss whatever silly issue you have. My past experiences have assured me that he really does care ALOT! Especially to endure my petty bullshit. [/quote] Oh don't get me wrong: I am not saying Brad is not a nice guy or caring or what not as a person. But the fact that he will listen to you about your dead goldfish (sorry for the sarcasm) does not mean he cares about customers. He

Reply to Is skinning a community or a market? in WinCustomize News WinCustomize Forums

[quote]There definitely seems to be some miscommunication here, so let me clarify. I do not think and was not trying to imply that WC is solely a business asset. In fact I think it is both. Now I think my statement, "They try and play it like it a "community" site not a Stardock site" is what is getting you all riled up so let me explain. I think Stardock often tries to portray this as ONLY a community site, and they paint the picture that they do it entirely out of th

Reply to Is skinning a community or a market? in WinCustomize News WinCustomize Forums

[quote]It might not taste good, but like it or not WC is a Stardock asset. It may be an asset that encompasses a community, but it is a business asset just the same. Now you might not like being called an asset, but that doesn't change it.[/quote] Jeffery, Don't waste your breath. I've been saying the same thing for years (look up many of my old posts) and there is always a number of fan... I mean logical, rational people, with lots of good data to backup their claims saying it

Reply to Is skinning a community or a market? in WinCustomize News WinCustomize Forums

[quote]Yes, Stardock is a company. No, Wincustomize.com is NOT a company. The latter is a Community that is subsidized by the former, so, as it currently stands the latter would not exist without the apportioning of 'profits' from the former. It's simply how it is. People are not 'fan boys' because they understand and appreciate the symbiosis - they are fans because they enjoy and share the same interests as the people at Stardock.... skins and skinning....[/quote] And I did not cal

Reply to Is skinning a community or a market? in WinCustomize News WinCustomize Forums

[quote]I am encouraged that it looks like change is coming.I dont think Brad wouldnt have bothered posting unless he already had a bunch in mind(however vague or already decided).Consider this discussion a softener to what is most likely inevitable. [/quote] I already have... See the last paragraph of post 109.... :D

Reply to Is skinning a community or a market? in WinCustomize News WinCustomize Forums

[quote]Shadow Lord, there will always be people willing to spend money to make their lives a little prettier. Trust me on this. Especially people who spens a lot of time in front of their PC....[/quote] of course they are... Last I checked apple was still in business wasn't it? ;) But as the price of making things prettier go up and up there are less and less people willing to pay it... I spend 4-6 hours a day infront of my PC... Am I willing to pay $20 for WB and all free cont

Reply to Is skinning a community or a market? in WinCustomize News WinCustomize Forums

[quote]So, what then? SD pays the master skinner...who pays SD? What is the difference between paying SD directly for a master skin, or paying here at WC? You surely can't expect SD to pay someone to make a skin, and then you get it for free. Oh, wait. I think they've done that this year already! With 3 skins: Aero Executive, Aura, and Elegance..... [/quote] Are you really that naive? You got nothing for free. Brad and co have realized that the ship has sprung many leaks (i.e lack of ex

Reply to Is skinning a community or a market? in WinCustomize News WinCustomize Forums

[quote]Who ever claimed that WB makes your computer more user friendly?!! WindowBlinds are like painting your living room a pleasing color to enhance the experience of sitting there! [/quote] AND???? I fail to see the point you are trying to make unless of course it is to re-inforce the point I made which is WB is just that: window dressing. I will pay for windows in my house and I may pay for fancy drapes, if they are not too expensive. Same goes for WB I may pay $300 for Vista Ul

Reply to Is skinning a community or a market? in WinCustomize News WinCustomize Forums

[quote]The feature set has grown, the customer base has grown, and the overhead has grown. Now granted I don't know what kind of margin they are pulling,and I am a firm believer in maximizing both sides of the customer benefit/business benefit equation, but they gotta do what they gotta do to stay in business. Now the decisions they have made along the line I may not agree with, but I do support the product and would hate to see it gone. If raising prices or changing the product line up is wh

Reply to Is skinning a community or a market? in WinCustomize News WinCustomize Forums

[quote]The entitlement crowd seems to think these artists who can work for months on end building one theme, while spending money out of their own pockets for the programs to build it,owe them all skins for free. They should be thanking the masters/and skinners in general for not closing up shop and going pro leaving them with nothing at all to DL.[/quote] I completly disagree... I absolutely believe the master skinners should get paid... just not by the consumers but by STARDOCK.... Af

Reply to Is skinning a community or a market? in WinCustomize News WinCustomize Forums

[quote] guess what's at issue is the percieved value of software and content. For those who themselves do not create the content, there is a certain lack of understanding of what is involved in making a professional quality skin. When you don't know how something goes together, and if there's no physical product in your hands at the end, it's too easy to just assume that it's cheap or of little real value.[/quote] Zoomba, Unfortunately that is your problem and not the consume

Reply to Is skinning a community or a market? in WinCustomize News WinCustomize Forums

[quote]Actually I was thinking this site was related to Stardock. My apologies. [/quote] It is. It is owned and operated by Stardock. It is their mouth piece if you will...

Reply to Is skinning a community or a market? in WinCustomize News WinCustomize Forums

[quote]But the real message here is: If people are going to treat Stardock like it's just a purely for-profit corporation rather than a community driven company of like minded users, then we can do that. We can eliminate all the marginally profitable programs in a swoop, raise our prices, hire a few more QA and support people and call it a day.[/quote] Which it is! You have said it many times your self this is not a hobby, you are in it to make money and I have always said that is o.k.

Reply to Is skinning a community or a market? in WinCustomize News WinCustomize Forums

[quote]Sorry Brad,I meant the feedback from people who are knowledgeable and concise...it still gets ignored...I agree,MOST feedback is vague and incoherent...from users who may have no clue how to manage a pc. For the first time buyer,WB is a great deal...for a longtime supporter it sometimes seems lacking in completeness. I'm not giving up,I still love OD despite my(and it's) occasional crankiness.Lots of software seems to become really good about version 7 so I'm still a f

Reply to Is skinning a community or a market? in WinCustomize News WinCustomize Forums

[quote]Maybe this is a sign that Stardock should simply abandon the consumer market entirely. It's simply not worth the effort anymore. The basic problem is that people have unreasonable expectations for $20 programs. You say you've spent $150 in the past 5 years. Okay, that almost pays for an upgrade to Windows Vista which generates BILLIONS in revenue. Is Windows Vista perfect? I see two likely scenarios: Either: a) Stardock simply moves out of the consum

Reply to Object Desktop 2008 discussion in Personal Computing WinCustomize Forums

Well, I had written a great post (w/ spell check, linkage, etc.. etc..) but somehow during add reply it got pooch screwed so here is the quick and dirty version of it: 1. Can we get a table comparing price/programs of OD2K7, OD2K8, and OD2K8U? 2. If I am getting the ultimate version why aren't the ULTIMATE versions of EACH program included (e.g. DesktopX PRO vs. DesktopX)? 3. MyColors? Who cares! Isn't this a re-hash of Suites/ThemeManager/WinStyles? Why is so much res

Reply to Stardock announces DeskScapes 2.0 in WinCustomize News WinCustomize Forums

WOW. Just WOW.. I am speechless that Stardock would do this.. AGAIN! It's just like Object Dock. Originally released as free (w/ only the free version available). Consistently advertised mentioning how it was free then WHAMO! After it has a user base who have contributed skins and great ideas for the next versions bam comes about the enhanced version which COSTS money! And of course all the cool neew features are only available enhanced version... Sheesh... I will say this however, Stardock will

Reply to iPhone Unshacked from AT&T in WinCustomize News WinCustomize Forums

If the software is ever allowed to be released, there could be a hefty upswing in iPhone sales, and the rest of us who lust after the device may get a chance at owning one. Yeah that would bas as cool as say oh some one unlocking the object desktop subscription so it can be installed on any computer... Hypocrites...

Reply to Is art worthless on the Internet? in WinCustomize News WinCustomize Forums

interesting 'because we have to' is your 1st reason Ddi you read the rest of the post? Like I said I make no bones about the fact that I work to make money. I am not a charity nor care to be. you're telling me that just about any hospital will only charge me exactly what they pay - so then, hospitals are actually paying $5 and up for aspirin? that they don't try to recoup unpaid costs? You'd be surprise

Reply to Is art worthless on the Internet? in WinCustomize News WinCustomize Forums

The same reason the place you work has you take those free cases. Without those y'all probably don't get any govt money such as medicare claims. No, we take free cases because we have to (legally) and because it is the ethical thing to do. They are free because we don't get paid by anybody including medicair/medical/etc... Show me one hospital that would only charge me their actual cost of medicine, supplies and the s