Who are you? What do you want?
A little bit about ourselves
Thursday, January 25, 2007 by Frogboy | Discussion: WinCustomize Talk
The skinning community is fairly unique in that it brings together a very wide range of people into something that is pretty specific.
Why change your computer from the default look and feel? The computer is a tool or a source of amusement. The way you get to your tools or games is irrelevant right?
And yet, here we are. Hanging out on a site that brings together millions of people from around the world. So why do we do it?
So tell us, who are you? What do you want? Why do you do it?
For me:
My name is Brad Wardell. I got into skinning because I spend a lot of time in front of the computer doing "work".
I started out as a game developer and foudn that it bugged me that other people should tell me how I would get my work done. So I endeavored to find ways to change the way my computer worked to suit my own tastes. Over time, I teamed up with like minded people who were developers.
And so now much of my professional career is creating stuff for like-minded people. I live in Michigan with my wife and 2 small sons and baby daughter.
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basj
Reply #2 Thursday, January 25, 2007 11:12 PM
Reply #2 Thursday, January 25, 2007 11:12 PM
who am I?... my name is Jazlan...
what i want?.. I want my pc to look like what I want it to look.
why i do it? I started way back in late 1990', I learned that I can change my Winamp to almost anylook I want it to be... and It grew on my... become a hobby....but now it become more then just hobby...
what i want?.. I want my pc to look like what I want it to look.
why i do it? I started way back in late 1990', I learned that I can change my Winamp to almost anylook I want it to be... and It grew on my... become a hobby....but now it become more then just hobby...
I.R. Brainiac
Reply #3 Thursday, January 25, 2007 11:19 PM
Reply #3 Thursday, January 25, 2007 11:19 PM
HI my name is Michael,I am a skinnaholic.( 
@ Bebi)My story is similar to hers...except for the pinks and yellows(those are GURL colors 
).
Then I saw NextStart and royally borked up someone elses work with image substitution.Soon my craving for more customisation options led me to Wincustomize.A place where skinnaholics were not judged for their addiction...but welcomed and given the help they so desperately needed.
What do I want?I want to work for Stardock.
@ Bebi)My story is similar to hers...except for the pinks and yellows(those are GURL colors 
).Then I saw NextStart and royally borked up someone elses work with image substitution.Soon my craving for more customisation options led me to Wincustomize.A place where skinnaholics were not judged for their addiction...but welcomed and given the help they so desperately needed.
What do I want?I want to work for Stardock.
tawoods
Reply #4 Thursday, January 25, 2007 11:25 PM
Reply #4 Thursday, January 25, 2007 11:25 PM
Hi my name is Troy. I am a on staff at Skinnalicious and hanging out here to try an keep starkers in line while learning to skin in the process. 
boopish
Reply #5 Thursday, January 25, 2007 11:29 PM
Reply #5 Thursday, January 25, 2007 11:29 PM
hello, my name is Betty...and I am a skinnaholic....started out innocently enough...screenshots. Then i started recoloring...and then, well....now i spend most of my time in front to my 'puter....even getting an imac didn't stop me...no siree...put parallels on that baby and run xp from there ....now i am even thinking of making my imac to match the parallels window!!!!! I can't stop!!!
I am a mother of three (two girls and a boy) and grandmother to one (Gabe). Been married for 26 and a half years and live in beautiful British Columbia, Canada. I hang out here and at my home base, Skinartistry.
.
What do i want? Those little envelopes back on the myskins page LOL and someone to do a tutorial on changing that UIFILE so that I can get rid of those ghastly blue separators on the System Folder and change the text colors there.
Why do i skin..because I can!! LOL...Seriously, because then I can make my 'puter look the way I want! It's an artistic outlet and a constant learning process. I like that.
I am a mother of three (two girls and a boy) and grandmother to one (Gabe). Been married for 26 and a half years and live in beautiful British Columbia, Canada. I hang out here and at my home base, Skinartistry.
.
What do i want? Those little envelopes back on the myskins page LOL and someone to do a tutorial on changing that UIFILE so that I can get rid of those ghastly blue separators on the System Folder and change the text colors there.
Why do i skin..because I can!! LOL...Seriously, because then I can make my 'puter look the way I want! It's an artistic outlet and a constant learning process. I like that.
Erk.
Reply #6 Thursday, January 25, 2007 11:43 PM
Reply #6 Thursday, January 25, 2007 11:43 PM
Eric here ...Hi!
I spend all day & a good portion of the evening/night in front of the computer..
I'm here because it's a great place to hang, for starters. No other community on the net is as good as this one, imo.
Got the skins/skinning bug way back when I trialled WB - back in the day when I had a win98 machine. That computer died [not as a result of any Stardock software] of un-natural causes [fried mobo], and I was offline for a few years ~mostly due to work committments.
Then, when Windows XP was launched, I got a new comp and decided that I didnt like the default look of XP ...I wondered whether WB was still around, and with a little searching I found that it was. Not only was it still around ~it had improved in leaps & bounds!
I have always loved to dabble with various programs, so when I found ObjectDesktop ...and that IT incorporated WB and a TON of other great apps, I was hooked. Purchased it almost immediately the moment I saw it. Haven't been without it since.
I bought myself a copy of Photoshop, began by downloading hundreds of tutorials from the net ...and the rest they say, is history. Been here ever since.
I customize mainly for myself these days, due to being very busy managing a business ..but every now & then I'll make a wall to upload here, hoping it's accepted.
I spend all day & a good portion of the evening/night in front of the computer..
I'm here because it's a great place to hang, for starters. No other community on the net is as good as this one, imo.
Got the skins/skinning bug way back when I trialled WB - back in the day when I had a win98 machine. That computer died [not as a result of any Stardock software] of un-natural causes [fried mobo], and I was offline for a few years ~mostly due to work committments.
Then, when Windows XP was launched, I got a new comp and decided that I didnt like the default look of XP ...I wondered whether WB was still around, and with a little searching I found that it was. Not only was it still around ~it had improved in leaps & bounds!
I have always loved to dabble with various programs, so when I found ObjectDesktop ...and that IT incorporated WB and a TON of other great apps, I was hooked. Purchased it almost immediately the moment I saw it. Haven't been without it since.
I bought myself a copy of Photoshop, began by downloading hundreds of tutorials from the net ...and the rest they say, is history. Been here ever since.
I customize mainly for myself these days, due to being very busy managing a business ..but every now & then I'll make a wall to upload here, hoping it's accepted.
essenceoftao
Reply #8 Friday, January 26, 2007 12:24 AM
Reply #8 Friday, January 26, 2007 12:24 AM
Here I sit. Doing this thing that I do. Working toward the perfect combination of actions 'til I achieve entropy. Or at least the image my minds eye invisioned. Time to start again.
sViz
Reply #9 Friday, January 26, 2007 1:50 AM
Reply #9 Friday, January 26, 2007 1:50 AM
Who am I? I'm nobody. I'm anyone who's channeled their creativity into their unique avenue of self-expression in a world of dos, don'ts, cans and can'ts. There's alot of things I can't do or don't have the means to do. It's nice to find something you are good at and are always getting better at- more importantly something you enjoy.
What do I want? I want what everyone wants; to acheive something beyond your expectations. There's alot of things I thought I couldn't do but you can check learning to code off that list. My interest in coding started way back when with GWBasic. Did some neato things with it like a ferris wheel, and a mystery detective game but I was a kid then so I quickly lost interest in it. Over the years the desire to create my own applications was always there. Then I discovered WindowsBlinds and from there discovered DesktopX. It had everything, and was made so simple. Got back into coding again last year and at the time it seemed I would never be able to learn anything in my spare time, but here I am making my own mini-apps via DX!
Why do I do it? To be creative and original. Although some might view the long hours I spend on this hobby of mine as time not wisely spent, nothing is lost when knowledge is gained in its place. I work hard at Desktopx, I learn something new, I express myself. I like it.
What do I want? I want what everyone wants; to acheive something beyond your expectations. There's alot of things I thought I couldn't do but you can check learning to code off that list. My interest in coding started way back when with GWBasic. Did some neato things with it like a ferris wheel, and a mystery detective game but I was a kid then so I quickly lost interest in it. Over the years the desire to create my own applications was always there. Then I discovered WindowsBlinds and from there discovered DesktopX. It had everything, and was made so simple. Got back into coding again last year and at the time it seemed I would never be able to learn anything in my spare time, but here I am making my own mini-apps via DX!
Why do I do it? To be creative and original. Although some might view the long hours I spend on this hobby of mine as time not wisely spent, nothing is lost when knowledge is gained in its place. I work hard at Desktopx, I learn something new, I express myself. I like it.
Erk.
Reply #10 Friday, January 26, 2007 5:42 AM
Reply #10 Friday, January 26, 2007 5:42 AM
Forums are a tad quiet right now ...thought I'd bump this back up.
...It's a good topic.
...It's a good topic.
NightTrainthedark
Reply #11 Friday, January 26, 2007 6:56 AM
Reply #11 Friday, January 26, 2007 6:56 AM
I am Craig. I tried to quit skinning but it is not working out very well.
jazzymjr
Reply #12 Friday, January 26, 2007 6:57 AM
Reply #12 Friday, January 26, 2007 6:57 AM
Hi, I'm Mary Jane....and, I, too, am a skinnaholic. I started way back with Windows 95, messing with colors and changing themes. Then, when XP came out, I started using Theme XP Visual styles....I would change those around too! Then, about 3 years ago, my techy son told me about Windowblinds. Like Betty, I started out doing screenshots. Soon I found myself messing with blinds that I downloaded....and, before I knew it, I "fell" into trying to make my own blinds. Now, I can't stop!
I am a mother of 5 (2 girls and three boys), and a grandmother of 13! I'm an RN, working in home health care. I just recently moved to Texas, but am thinking of moving back to Florida...I miss the water too much!
Skinning is an outlet for me, gives me a sense of accomplishment, that, hey, I did that! I get to have my computer look the way I want it to look.
I am a mother of 5 (2 girls and three boys), and a grandmother of 13! I'm an RN, working in home health care. I just recently moved to Texas, but am thinking of moving back to Florida...I miss the water too much!
Skinning is an outlet for me, gives me a sense of accomplishment, that, hey, I did that! I get to have my computer look the way I want it to look.
Lantec
Reply #13 Friday, January 26, 2007 7:01 AM
Reply #13 Friday, January 26, 2007 7:01 AM
Hi, my name is Mike and I'm a work-a-holic. I spend around 15 hours a day in front of the computer except on weekends where I only manage 6-8. I pop in here whenever I have a moment or need to get a WC fix. The forum is my home page.
My goal is to retire early so I can spend more time doing photography, skinning and fishing.
My goal is to retire early so I can spend more time doing photography, skinning and fishing.
Vad_M
Reply #14 Friday, January 26, 2007 7:08 AM
Reply #14 Friday, January 26, 2007 7:08 AM
Hi! My name is Vadim and I'm live in Kiev, Ukraine.
I work with computers more then 20 years and always dreamed to optimize the system interface as well as to have a several useful applications like programmable calendar, clock etc... on my desktop. But I had no any possibilities to do this because I had no a special software which could help me to realise my desires...
WOW
I said itself when have accidentally found a pirate copy of DesktopX in the internet and then tried to install and use it. This is exactly a program about what I dreamed so long! I have immediately bought the PRO version and my Family (as well as my business) has lost me because I doved into DesktopX much deeply (joke ).
Why I do this? I do this because I have finally got a possibility to realise all of my ideas on GUI optimization and I'm really love this work.
What do I want? I want that length of day was more than 24 hours to give me enough time for scripting and skinning. This is a big part of my life and I want that this part was much longer.
I work with computers more then 20 years and always dreamed to optimize the system interface as well as to have a several useful applications like programmable calendar, clock etc... on my desktop. But I had no any possibilities to do this because I had no a special software which could help me to realise my desires...
WOW
I said itself when have accidentally found a pirate copy of DesktopX in the internet and then tried to install and use it. This is exactly a program about what I dreamed so long! I have immediately bought the PRO version and my Family (as well as my business) has lost me because I doved into DesktopX much deeply (joke ).Why I do this? I do this because I have finally got a possibility to realise all of my ideas on GUI optimization and I'm really love this work.
What do I want? I want that length of day was more than 24 hours to give me enough time for scripting and skinning. This is a big part of my life and I want that this part was much longer.
Island Dog
Reply #15 Friday, January 26, 2007 7:37 AM
Reply #15 Friday, January 26, 2007 7:37 AM
Hi! My name is Spencer and I live in a somewhat small town of St. Cloud in Florida.
A good part of background history is in hospitality management, and I have a wife and 3 daughters.
I discovered Wincustomize several years ago when I downloaded the WB trial from download.com. I was a lurker for a while, and then I decided to try my hand at making cursors. Since then I have tried my hand at more cursors, DX widgets and themes, icons, and WB skins. I did it then, and still do it because it was always fun to me, no matter how much work it was. Unfortunately, I don't have as much time available to skin, but I still try to squeeze some things in there every now and then.
Now I am fortunate enough to work for Stardock, and to be able to help other upcoming skinners, and help the community in general!
ZubaZ
Reply #16 Friday, January 26, 2007 7:43 AM
Reply #16 Friday, January 26, 2007 7:43 AM
Hi. I'm Aaron. I'm NOT a skinner, I'm a user. But I'm not much of a user. I've been a member here since Nov 17th, 2001 and I've only downloaded 867MB. I used to change skins fairly often but now I find something I like and stick with it for ages.
I've made under 20 walls but only submitted four. I've made hundreds of DX gadgets but only submitted two. I've submitted one Objectbar bar and I'm the #2 submitter in that catagory (only behind the lead dev). I've been talking for years now about a WB skin that looks like human flesh (hair and moles and all) with tatoos for all the glyphs but have never gotten past the sketch phase (any real skinners interested . . the idea is yours for the taking).
I lurked in the forums for ages it seems before I felt that I had something to contribute. Now I live there and in IRC. My work allows me to spend time in the community I love. Somehow I got to be a moderator.
I'm here for the freindship. To me, skinning is just the transportation method. I consider many of the people here in the forums and in IRC my best friends. I don't know what I'd do without some of them.
I'm waiting to find a way to work for Stardock.
My motto: Today is a good day
I've made under 20 walls but only submitted four. I've made hundreds of DX gadgets but only submitted two. I've submitted one Objectbar bar and I'm the #2 submitter in that catagory (only behind the lead dev). I've been talking for years now about a WB skin that looks like human flesh (hair and moles and all) with tatoos for all the glyphs but have never gotten past the sketch phase (any real skinners interested . . the idea is yours for the taking).
I lurked in the forums for ages it seems before I felt that I had something to contribute. Now I live there and in IRC. My work allows me to spend time in the community I love. Somehow I got to be a moderator.
I'm here for the freindship. To me, skinning is just the transportation method. I consider many of the people here in the forums and in IRC my best friends. I don't know what I'd do without some of them.
I'm waiting to find a way to work for Stardock.
My motto: Today is a good day
messiah1
Reply #17 Friday, January 26, 2007 8:03 AM
Reply #17 Friday, January 26, 2007 8:03 AM
My name's Mike. I hate plain and mundane. Windows was like that for me until I stumbled in here. I was a user but thought I'd like to try skinning some stuff myself. Now I'm a Subscriber and Creator. I live (now) in Indiana with my wife and 4 children. This is a great site with a lot of great people and I'm glad I stumbled in. Thanks.
Bandit4edu
Reply #18 Friday, January 26, 2007 9:16 AM
Reply #18 Friday, January 26, 2007 9:16 AM
My name is Greg, I've been teaching computer applications, OSs, and basic computer literacy in the community college system for 15 years. I got into skinning because, lets face it, the last thing I wanna see when I get home is the same ol' set up I been working on with students and in my office all day. I wanted something different, something to put the joy back into computing, or at least make bearable the time which I had to spend on one. Skinning, and the collection of skins proved to be the answer to the problem, and, I'm glad to say, has spilled over into my classroom, and my office and it's just a much guier world to live in now!
messiah1
Reply #19 Friday, January 26, 2007 11:53 AM
Reply #19 Friday, January 26, 2007 11:53 AM
That's a nice word bandit, 'guier'. Let's see if it makes it into the urban dictionary this year.
Bandit4edu
Reply #20 Friday, January 26, 2007 12:13 PM
Reply #20 Friday, January 26, 2007 12:13 PM
I said I teach computers, messiah, not the English language!
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Reply #1 Thursday, January 25, 2007 10:58 PM
Hi...my name is Steph.
I too spend a lot of time on the computer, and even when I couldn't install Windowblinds on the pc at work (ugh, government, couldn't do *anything*) I brought my wallpapers collection on a CD.
I'm not much of a skinner, but those who can't do, teach. Might convince my aunt to let me play around on her new laptop and skin it up a bit (she was impressed by how my pc looked).