Paying for individual WB's

Wednesday, March 14, 2007 by garsgolfer | Discussion: WindowBlinds

I've been wondering about the thoughts and experiences of others regarding paying for individual WB skins. Are you finding aspects of the skins not skinning properly or as expected? And, why is there no download/purchase stats being posted per skin, as there are with all others?

Seems even the best skinners struggle with building perfect skins. The one I am using now is named "StealthOS", a great skin, and IMO by one of the best skinners, yet, the start panel text "Turn off Computer" falls off the panel, while 2 of his other skins appear as they should.

So far, only a few appear to properly skin all aspects of the applications I run; like Sean Grey's "Digital Grey."  However, that same skin becomes annoying as my mouse passes over the text on the Start-menu panel because all listings highlight. His "Chocolate", which is a great skin, however it to has problems with text falling off the start panel, and those things shouldn't happen.  Other skins fail to skin check boxes, eliminating the check box choice altogether making the skin worthless in a few applications.

Even though these problems seems sporadic per skin, I seldom find the perfectly complete skin.  I just downloaded Stardocks "Stargate SG-1" skin to find it's "Turn off Computer" is almost non-existent, I  deleted it.

No disrespect meant to hardworking skinners, cause many do a good job. But, I just won't pay for an unfinished product, no matter what it is.

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Hankers
Reply #1 Wednesday, March 14, 2007 12:10 PM
I just downloaded Stardocks "Stargate SG-1" skin to find it's "Turn off Computer" is almost non-existent,


Looks absolutely fine on my computer.  Maybe you have a setting wrong at your end.

Zoomba
Reply #2 Wednesday, March 14, 2007 12:23 PM

SG-1 is not a Stardock skin.

SG-1 was made by a community skinner, vStyler.  Only skins with the author name "Stardock Design" are officially packaged and distributed Stardock skins.  Skins with that name attached go through internal QA testing and are made sure to skin all major elements of Windows before they go on sale.

Also, SG-1 is a free skin.  You didnt have to pay anything for it.

Content on WinCustomize is, for the large part, user-created.  When something passes moderation and is posted, we do a few spot checks to make sure they load, but we can't QA them.  We do more QA on any "Master Skin" before posting since people are paying for them.

For all your text issues, my guess is you're running a custom font or font size that the skin designer was not able to account for. 


NightTrainthedark
Reply #3 Wednesday, March 14, 2007 12:26 PM
I just downloaded Stardocks "Stargate SG-1" skin to find it's "Turn off Computer" is almost non-existent, I deleted it.


That skin is by vStyler not Stardock.

But, I just won't pay for an unfinished product



Unfinished wouldn't be the word I would use. Different is better. Making a skin that looks and functions different requires sacrifice in function. If you want perfect, use XP Luna.

If a premium skin has flaws like you mention then it is not premium in my eyes. A premium skin should be tested for all languages and systems. Otherwise it fails short of premium.

I.R. Brainiac
Reply #4 Wednesday, March 14, 2007 12:27 PM
Its not a Stardock skin.Its fine here...maybe you are on a laptop with an undock button?Some Start menu designs cant accomodate a 3rd button.
Even if no checkbox graphic were assigned,I think you would still see plain windows checkboxes.A possible exception would be mixed state checkboxes....hmmmmm,or is that just radio buttons...brain not awake yet.  

ZubaZ
Reply #5 Wednesday, March 14, 2007 12:27 PM
{edit - Too slow  }



scorpNZ
Reply #6 Wednesday, March 14, 2007 12:30 PM
Stargate fine here the only thing i thought was'nt there was the close window button,it's ok i found it...lol...

NightTrainthedark
Reply #7 Wednesday, March 14, 2007 12:31 PM
Are we claer that the skin was made by vStyler yet?   

I.R. Brainiac
Reply #8 Wednesday, March 14, 2007 12:46 PM
who dat?  

NightTrainthedark
Reply #9 Wednesday, March 14, 2007 12:47 PM
who dat?


vStyler? He's the guy that made the SG-1 skin.   

vStyler
Reply #10 Wednesday, March 14, 2007 12:53 PM
Its fine here...maybe you are on a laptop with an undock button?Some Start menu designs cant accomodate a 3rd button.


what he said.

Whose this vStyler guy?   



I.R. Brainiac
Reply #11 Wednesday, March 14, 2007 12:56 PM
Speak of the devil...    

vStyler
Reply #12 Wednesday, March 14, 2007 12:58 PM
Wouldn't let me edit.   

You should paste a screenshot before deleting anything , I can't fix something you havent explained correctly. Frankly it sort of bothers me when you call something of mine unfinished when I KNOW and others will testify how much I scrutinize my work before submitting it.

Lastly.. you didn't purchase it and i'll ask that you finish your research and either post in my submission thread or contact me privately beforer publicly mis-stating yourself with regards to my work in a public forum.

thanks.


I.R. Brainiac
Reply #13 Wednesday, March 14, 2007 1:04 PM
skinners have a hard time improving if they cant SEE the issues you may be having.  

garsgolfer
Reply #14 Wednesday, March 14, 2007 1:05 PM
I am well aware I didn't pay for the Stardock blind, but thanks. As for the font, no specific settings outside what the skin installs. Because I use my computer for business and look at constantly, Arial is my standard, nothing fancy.

vStyler
Reply #15 Wednesday, March 14, 2007 1:09 PM
Wouldn't let me edit again   

Sometimes in the attempt to skin outside the box in one area it affects another area adversely. Theres nothing you can do about it other than skin for maximum useabilty to start with. There are few and i mean, counting on one hand few.. completely useable in every application..skins. Even Luna isnt perfect... If flawless is what your looking for then im afraid your not going to find it.

I can pick apart any skin you send me, including "premium" ones and find flaws.

My best suggestion would be learn how to mod skins in SKS to match your personal needs.

NightTrainthedark
Reply #16 Wednesday, March 14, 2007 1:12 PM
Avoid compact start panels also.   

I.R. Brainiac
Reply #17 Wednesday, March 14, 2007 1:12 PM
I didn't pay for the Stardock blind


It AINT a Stardock blind. DOH!

And you didnt answer my question...are you on a laptop withan undock button?  

Keikonium
Reply #18 Wednesday, March 14, 2007 1:28 PM
The only thing I wish more skinners skinned was the hover image on the "All Programs" button. It wouldn't take that much longer to skin would it?
That and the "Log Off" and "Turn Off Computer" buttons. Those are the only things that kinda bother me when I find a great skin, so sometimes I just skin them myself .

vStyler
Reply #19 Wednesday, March 14, 2007 1:31 PM
The only thing I wish more skinners skinned was the hover image on the "All Programs" button.


The reason a lot dont is it can cause problems on some systems if not done correctly and on some others no matter how you skin it, it can cause probs.

Then of course, some dont know how to.

Its a damned if you do , damned if you dont area.

garsgolfer
Reply #20 Wednesday, March 14, 2007 1:47 PM
vStyler...I appreciate your desires and intent and broadly stated so in my post... and know I didn't pay for it...besides being an OD subscribing member since 2001. My post was in reference to paying for what "might" be less then perfectly complete skins, and what others thought about that. Besides, my posted wasn't directed at you as a criticism. I don't live on Stardock forums nor design skins. This being the windowblind forum, seemed fitting place to post.

The computers I own are A-typical Dell Latitude D-820's 15.4 inch Wide Screen WSXGA+ LCD 256MB NVIDIA Quadro NVS 110M TurboCache, latest updates and Arial is my default font, or 1280/1024 docked using Samsung 931b, and Windowblinds skin settings are left to default settings.

How am I suppose to know who you are or where to post to you. And, don't talk to me like I am technically incompetent or naive; I founded a front-end software consulting company back in the early 80's and wrote two commercially marketed vertical applications that have been marketed on three continents since. Furthermore, if you can't understand what's meant by the text on the start menu being half off or almost non-existent, then there's nothing else to say.


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