WinCustomize Subscription Drive: Day 3
128 and counting..
Monday, October 3, 2005 by Frogboy | Discussion: WinCustomize News
As we near the end of day 3, WinCustomize.com has 128 new/renewed subscribers. To get to our 2000 goal we have to average 64 per day. By subscribing to WinCustomize.com you not help keep WinCustomize.com up and running but you also get unlimited downloads, two premium suites plus a new one that that is being worked on, no advertisements on the site, a personal page, a personal photo album with 20 megabytes of disk space, a personal blog with your own partial domain name and more. You also get the WinCustomize browser.
The WinCustomize browser is a unique program that taps directly into WinCustomize.com's database. Not only does it quickly retrieve the most popular skins, the latest downloads, and our full directory of skins, themes, wallpapers, etc. It is also able to directly apply that content. Whether it be a wallpaper, a Windows Media Player skin, an icon package, or even a WindowBlinds skin, you can select a given skin, press a button and it'll instantly download and apply it for you (as long as you have the corresponding program installed and if not, it'll prompt you and download the program for you!). The Browser also integrates seamlessly into the WinCustomize forums. It's the fastest, easiest way to access the forums on WinCustomize.
And if that wasn't enough, there's also the WinCustomize system tray notifier. Simply load it up and it sits in your system tray notifying you when new content has come on-line (user settable). The newest skins, the hottest themes, and latest news are always just a click away.
These are just some of the things user get for $19.95. It's an incredible variety of software, content, and site services. In a world where many sites and services are charging $15 to $25 per month, WinCustomize provides a great deal of bang for the buck.
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Frogboy
Reply #2 Monday, October 3, 2005 9:07 PM
Reply #2 Monday, October 3, 2005 9:07 PM
No, it will likely mean that WC becomes a more private site. Non-subscribers non-active customers will not be able to do very much. Even as is, non-subscribers and non-active customers are likely to not be able to do as much.
ZubaZ
Reply #3 Monday, October 3, 2005 9:16 PM
Reply #3 Monday, October 3, 2005 9:16 PM
Are there any advantages to the Wincustomize browser over Stardock Central?
NightTrainthedark
Reply #4 Monday, October 3, 2005 9:19 PM
Yes, you can open the WC browser knowing you supported the site.
Reply #4 Monday, October 3, 2005 9:19 PM
| Are there any advantages to the Wincustomize browser over Stardock Central? |
Yes, you can open the WC browser knowing you supported the site.
dave86
Reply #5 Monday, October 3, 2005 11:13 PM
I found that I could more easily manage downloads from the site using the WC browser.
Reply #5 Monday, October 3, 2005 11:13 PM
| Are there any advantages to the Wincustomize browser over Stardock Central? |
I found that I could more easily manage downloads from the site using the WC browser.
laurentfr
Reply #6 Tuesday, October 4, 2005 2:47 AM
Reply #6 Tuesday, October 4, 2005 2:47 AM
I wonder how hard would it be to auto-check if the installed skins on my hard drive have been updated on the WC server ??
rsplitter
Reply #7 Tuesday, October 4, 2005 4:20 AM
Reply #7 Tuesday, October 4, 2005 4:20 AM
It lists all the skins you have installed and cross-references them with the server to see if there are any updates. I think.
Where can I get the WinCustomize system tray notifier? I don't see it anywhere ;x
Where can I get the WinCustomize system tray notifier? I don't see it anywhere ;x
indigonecro
Reply #8 Tuesday, October 4, 2005 5:25 AM
Reply #8 Tuesday, October 4, 2005 5:25 AM
Well the WC Browser is basically the "building block" of some of the SD Browser functionality. From the way I view it. After you become a WC subscriber and go into your SD Browser and specify in the settings that you are a WC Subscriber it will allow you to do the same things in the SD Browser as you can also do in the WC Browser, and also have access to your ObjectDesktop "suite" of applications as you did already. Now whether or not the WC Browser has different sorting for everything or updates the skins list better, I don't know. They both seem to work the same to me. 
I believe it's a way to give ObjectDesktop users a "special treat" as I view it.
I believe it's a way to give ObjectDesktop users a "special treat" as I view it.
iseekserendipity
Reply #9 Tuesday, October 4, 2005 5:32 AM
Reply #9 Tuesday, October 4, 2005 5:32 AM
i can't wait to subscribe, but not having any cc here, i have to find someone to purchase it for me online, and wait for my wire transfer to their own account! 
i'm personally counting on friends being the great people they are and that my birthday just passed (24/09). beyond the obvious goodies i'd get, i do want to subscribe essentially to support the site... if you accepted wire transfers i'd wire you the money a.s.a.p.! (although i understand that it is hard when the person is in a country very very far away: madagascar)!
question though: for those with a stardock account that is still running, will things change as well before they get a chance to subscribe?
ah. and another question: is it okay to be a wincustomize subscriber if you do not skin? i have yet to complete a skin (i'm good at starting them, but since i believe that anything i may post needs to be 100% original, i know i'd have to skin every single thing which i never do because i never get past the windows...) but i will someday...
as a matter of fact, and i really appologize for the long post, can anyone email me or message me or something to tell me how i can get someone to "offer me" the subscription and yet make sure it is in my name? (in a way, it's not really an offer since i'll pay them back!) of course i don't mean someone doing it for me here, i have enough aunts & uncles and more who can't figure out what to get for me in terms of presents, but i mean in terms of fields filled in (like email for example, should it be my own address or theirs). sorry! i adore both stardock
& wincustomize and want both to survive for ever and ever! 
i'm personally counting on friends being the great people they are and that my birthday just passed (24/09). beyond the obvious goodies i'd get, i do want to subscribe essentially to support the site... if you accepted wire transfers i'd wire you the money a.s.a.p.! (although i understand that it is hard when the person is in a country very very far away: madagascar)!question though: for those with a stardock account that is still running, will things change as well before they get a chance to subscribe?
ah. and another question: is it okay to be a wincustomize subscriber if you do not skin? i have yet to complete a skin (i'm good at starting them, but since i believe that anything i may post needs to be 100% original, i know i'd have to skin every single thing which i never do because i never get past the windows...) but i will someday...
as a matter of fact, and i really appologize for the long post, can anyone email me or message me or something to tell me how i can get someone to "offer me" the subscription and yet make sure it is in my name? (in a way, it's not really an offer since i'll pay them back!) of course i don't mean someone doing it for me here, i have enough aunts & uncles and more who can't figure out what to get for me in terms of presents, but i mean in terms of fields filled in (like email for example, should it be my own address or theirs). sorry! i adore both stardock
& wincustomize and want both to survive for ever and ever! 
kith
Reply #10 Tuesday, October 4, 2005 6:05 AM
Reply #10 Tuesday, October 4, 2005 6:05 AM
Frogboy,
I am all for limiting the "Nons" as you say above. It can only benefit subscribers/customers by increasing site response. Question is how will you do it? Can't you just create as many disposable 50Mb accounts as you like. Personally I like Gmails approach that sends a text message to your cell. They give 10 accounts max per cell phone.
I am all for limiting the "Nons" as you say above. It can only benefit subscribers/customers by increasing site response. Question is how will you do it? Can't you just create as many disposable 50Mb accounts as you like. Personally I like Gmails approach that sends a text message to your cell. They give 10 accounts max per cell phone.
Jafo
Reply #11 Tuesday, October 4, 2005 6:36 AM
Reply #11 Tuesday, October 4, 2005 6:36 AM
| ah. and another question: is it okay to be a wincustomize subscriber if you do not skin? |
More than 'okay'....even ideal....
Anyone can subscribe...and [strangely] the more the merrier.....
iseekserendipity
Reply #12 Tuesday, October 4, 2005 6:48 AM
thank you sir jafo! i'm quite relieve as i still have to make any kind of skin... laziness gets the best of me! mind you, i have just sent a request to my two bestfriends in the u.s. to purchase my subscription (with of course the payback solution), so i am anxiously staring at my mailbox to see if it's okay!
i also have started showing pictures of my desktop under various configuration in my several blogs in the hope that it will encourage people to purchase either (or both) a stardock program & a wincustomize subscription. i do think the fact that people can still do a lot without a subscription (which is great! but not ideal for wincustomize as i read it) does make people question the utility of it all.
so i completely understand that the wincustomize staff is finding some ways of limiting those possibilities...!
Reply #12 Tuesday, October 4, 2005 6:48 AM
| More than 'okay'....even ideal.... |
thank you sir jafo! i'm quite relieve as i still have to make any kind of skin... laziness gets the best of me!
mind you, i have just sent a request to my two bestfriends in the u.s. to purchase my subscription (with of course the payback solution), so i am anxiously staring at my mailbox to see if it's okay!i also have started showing pictures of my desktop under various configuration in my several blogs in the hope that it will encourage people to purchase either (or both) a stardock program & a wincustomize subscription. i do think the fact that people can still do a lot without a subscription (which is great! but not ideal for wincustomize as i read it) does make people question the utility of it all.
so i completely understand that the wincustomize staff is finding some ways of limiting those possibilities...!
indigonecro
Reply #13 Tuesday, October 4, 2005 8:25 AM
Reply #13 Tuesday, October 4, 2005 8:25 AM
Ok all promised an update on the SD Central/WC Browser integration. As far as I can tell (I'm in SD Central) there is no difference at all in using WC Browser or SD Central. SD Central, however, allows access to your ObjectDesktop apps. (as usual). Furthermore, If you are an ObjectDesktop user, then I would say just use SD Central so it's all in one with your Stardock products and they can let you know when updates are available as well. That's my 2 cents, hope it clears any confusion. SD Central = Fully Integrated WC Browser functionality and also Stardock material. WC Browser=Full Stardock app integration but only WC material.
jwvanderbeck
Reply #14 Tuesday, October 4, 2005 8:48 AM
Reply #14 Tuesday, October 4, 2005 8:48 AM
I am considering signing up but my main concern is the site performance. Now I understand thats WHY you need the memberships but it still concerns me to pay money to a site that half the time I have to hit refresh 50 times on to get a page to come up. Its very annoying. If I subscribe do I get better access or something? Will something be done about this for subscribers? If I can be relativly assured of a better performing website then i'll gladly subscribe.
ZubaZ
Reply #15 Tuesday, October 4, 2005 9:29 AM
That was my impression too. But I wanted to be sure. Thanks. I'm a WC member and a ODNT owner and couldn't be happier with those choices.
Reply #15 Tuesday, October 4, 2005 9:29 AM
| Ok all promised an update on the SD Central/WC Browser integration |
That was my impression too. But I wanted to be sure. Thanks. I'm a WC member and a ODNT owner and couldn't be happier with those choices.
Surj
Reply #16 Tuesday, October 4, 2005 10:55 AM
Reply #16 Tuesday, October 4, 2005 10:55 AM
Brad, is there anyways you could come up with an alternative package? I renewed my subscription again, but it was purely to help the site. I haven't cared for any of the free skins, dont use personal pages, photo galleries, or anything like that. Perhaps if you had another version that just covered the basic costs like bandwidth, without all the 'fluff', for a little bit less $$.
GreenReaper
Reply #17 Tuesday, October 4, 2005 11:00 AM
Reply #17 Tuesday, October 4, 2005 11:00 AM
That sounds like a good idea - like, a $9.95 "WinCustomize Standard" just for the downloads.
BX
Reply #18 Tuesday, October 4, 2005 11:25 AM
One thing which has not been mentioned, I think, is that Subscribers are re-directed to dedicated server(s) ... and they enjoy 70 - 90 percent faster browsing with No server bussy messeges.
Reply #18 Tuesday, October 4, 2005 11:25 AM
| I am considering signing up but my main concern is the site performance. Now I understand thats WHY you need the memberships but it still concerns me to pay money to a site that half the time I have to hit refresh 50 times on to get a page to come up. Its very annoying. If I subscribe do I get better access or something? Will something be done about this for subscribers? |
One thing which has not been mentioned, I think, is that Subscribers are re-directed to dedicated server(s) ... and they enjoy 70 - 90 percent faster browsing with No server bussy messeges.
jwvanderbeck
Reply #19 Tuesday, October 4, 2005 11:43 AM
Ahhh! Well yeah that should be mentioned somewhere. That right there is worth the subscription. I'll be sending some money soon
Reply #19 Tuesday, October 4, 2005 11:43 AM
| One thing which has not been mentioned, I think, is that Subscribers are re-directed to dedicated server(s) ... and they enjoy 70 - 90 percent faster browsing with No server bussy messeges. |
Ahhh!
Well yeah that should be mentioned somewhere. That right there is worth the subscription. I'll be sending some money soon
BX
Reply #20 Tuesday, October 4, 2005 11:44 AM
Obviously ... I, my self, don't skin (solid four years ... and not even a single wb/ip/dx) ... but I am proud member of WC Community ... !!!!
I found a new home and a bigger family .... here @ WC
Reply #20 Tuesday, October 4, 2005 11:44 AM
| ah. and another question: is it okay to be a wincustomize subscriber if you do not skin? |
Obviously ... I, my self, don't skin (solid four years ... and not even a single wb/ip/dx) ... but I am proud member of WC Community ... !!!!
I found a new home and a bigger family .... here @ WC
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Reply #1 Monday, October 3, 2005 8:40 PM