My two cents on Stardock.............
Friday, July 6, 2007 by CATMANDU21 | Discussion: Animated Wallpapers
In my opinion, Stardock's out of control on the Premium Dream pricing scheme. The real reason this site is hot is because of the free submissions made by aspiring artists who frequent this site like TheMasterBaron, AzDude and others who have really brought Stardock's Dream Site area all of the hype it has and have also saved Microsoft's butts. Stardock's Premium Dreams have had little impact on the overall success of Dreamscene's, if anything Stardock and Microsoft are riding the coattails of all of Stardock's free submitters. Also realize that if the free users stopped submitting, Stardock would be dead in the water on Dreamscenes. Stardock shouldn't have any premium Dreamscenes, they should be free contributions for all the hits and revenue their users produce. They can charge for Object Desktop, Windowsblinds and the rest of their 100+ other products they have for sale on their site. Just to add, my opinion on why Stardock is charging is because Microsoft made things much harder for Stardock with Vista. In the XP days, Stardock brought Vista-like interface changes to the table. In that era, Stardock cornered the market on GUI customization. Today, things aren't so rosy. Vista performs many of Stardock's Object Desktop features natively, leaving Stardock to find new ways to make money. Understand Stardock's days are numbered in the GUI customiztion business. As OS's get prettier with age like Vista and MacOS, Stardock's software can now be considered "bloatware" and a waste of precious RAM and processor time.
Also, isn't Stardock getting any Microsoft kickbacks being that Dreamscenes and Deskscapes/Dreammaker are collaborative efforts as they work into one another, I mean Stardock has bailed Microsoft out on what would have been a pathetic release with only 10+ dreams available from Microsoft when Stardock currently brought over 200 more Dreams to the table? Finally, if you purchase any of these Premium Dreams, you'll have to activate this product, a little overboard for a $10 wallpaper. Even better, if your system should fail and you are reinstalling Windows and you don't take backup images like a friend of mine who purchased one, then chances are your going to have to call/e-mail Stardock to reactivate your Premium Dream as this activation is paying attention to your SID's when activated to prevent piracy so a reinstall or sysprep would force reactivation, yuck! Saddest part, after the paying customer has all these hoops to jump through, I can guarantee crackers have already infiltrated the activation so in the end the guy paying the $10 feels like, um..........
Hopefully, Stardock's work in the GUI business will not be in vain, leading to a buyout or takeover by Microsoft being that your GUI enhancement's have influenced Vista greatly. In the end Stardock could take over the GUI development portion of the next Windows OS after Vista, which would buy Stardock more time in the game. Some may say it's crazy, but look at the Winternals acquisition. Winternals showed Microsoft how to use System Restore and make it work. They also introduced Microsoft as well as BartPE, UBCD and Reatogo to the bootable Windows environment, which changed the face of Vista as alot of Winternals ERCD's features are integrated into Vista's install DVD. Business constantly changes and evolves, eventually Stardock's position in the market will change drastically, hopefully for the better!!
Also, isn't Stardock getting any Microsoft kickbacks being that Dreamscenes and Deskscapes/Dreammaker are collaborative efforts as they work into one another, I mean Stardock has bailed Microsoft out on what would have been a pathetic release with only 10+ dreams available from Microsoft when Stardock currently brought over 200 more Dreams to the table? Finally, if you purchase any of these Premium Dreams, you'll have to activate this product, a little overboard for a $10 wallpaper. Even better, if your system should fail and you are reinstalling Windows and you don't take backup images like a friend of mine who purchased one, then chances are your going to have to call/e-mail Stardock to reactivate your Premium Dream as this activation is paying attention to your SID's when activated to prevent piracy so a reinstall or sysprep would force reactivation, yuck! Saddest part, after the paying customer has all these hoops to jump through, I can guarantee crackers have already infiltrated the activation so in the end the guy paying the $10 feels like, um..........
Hopefully, Stardock's work in the GUI business will not be in vain, leading to a buyout or takeover by Microsoft being that your GUI enhancement's have influenced Vista greatly. In the end Stardock could take over the GUI development portion of the next Windows OS after Vista, which would buy Stardock more time in the game. Some may say it's crazy, but look at the Winternals acquisition. Winternals showed Microsoft how to use System Restore and make it work. They also introduced Microsoft as well as BartPE, UBCD and Reatogo to the bootable Windows environment, which changed the face of Vista as alot of Winternals ERCD's features are integrated into Vista's install DVD. Business constantly changes and evolves, eventually Stardock's position in the market will change drastically, hopefully for the better!!
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Frogboy
Reply #62 Saturday, July 14, 2007 10:43 AM
Reply #62 Saturday, July 14, 2007 10:43 AM
The gripe here is the money you pay for the program, (fine and well deserved), and then the more money you pay just to use a skin written for the program you already payed for. Then the more money you pay to use the company's website without being inundated with advertisements. The more disposable money we are willing to shell out for this eye-candy hobby, the more we are going to be asked of.
The alternative is much higher base prices. Consider the price of "upgrading" from XP to Windows Vista. If I have Windows XP Professional. The Upgrade price to Windows Vista Ultimate is over $200.
By contrast, someone who bought WindowBlinds 5 in November of 2005 for $19.95 has gotten years of significant updates and access to thousands of free skins on a free site.
Another contrast, if I buy a PC game these days, I usually end up paying $50. Then, less than a year later, I'm usually expected to pay over $30 for an expansion pack for that game. And then there's the MMOs which are $50 plus the $40 expansion pack and then $15 per month to enjoy something whose fun is heavily dependend on other players who are paying the same thing.
Nothing exists in a vacuum. For someone to complain that the existence of premium content and advertising on the free site to get free content is unfair strikes me as being unaware of the larger economics out there.
I'd say that windows customization software and content is about the best deal out there. I can't think of another genre of computer software and content that gives more bang for the buck.
Fairyy~
Reply #63 Saturday, July 14, 2007 11:16 AM
I promise I won't complain Ken..can I get mine in metallic rose ?
Make it a convertible too
Reply #63 Saturday, July 14, 2007 11:16 AM
It is a disease very much a part of the internet world. If I could give everyone in the world a free car, there would be those that would complain of having to buy gas. Just the way it is...life in the big city.
I promise I won't complain Ken..can I get mine in metallic rose ?
Make it a convertible too
starkers
Reply #64 Saturday, July 14, 2007 4:01 PM
The sad thing is, Brad, there'll always be some who will complain, no matter what you say to answer the critics. Those who bolt at high speed from the idea of 'user pays' are never, ever gonna be convinced to happily pay for what they want. Fortunately, GUI customisation has a very large audience in those of us who have been/are converted, who will always purchase Stardock's fantastic/value for money software and, who will support the skinning community and not expect everything for nix.
Btw, being the resident pirate, and a captain at that, where's my complimentary Pirate Suite....for zilch, nix, nada....gratis, even.
Reply #64 Saturday, July 14, 2007 4:01 PM
I'd say that windows customization software and content is about the best deal out there. I can't think of another genre of computer software and content that gives more bang for the buck.
The sad thing is, Brad, there'll always be some who will complain, no matter what you say to answer the critics. Those who bolt at high speed from the idea of 'user pays' are never, ever gonna be convinced to happily pay for what they want. Fortunately, GUI customisation has a very large audience in those of us who have been/are converted, who will always purchase Stardock's fantastic/value for money software and, who will support the skinning community and not expect everything for nix.
Btw, being the resident pirate, and a captain at that, where's my complimentary Pirate Suite....for zilch, nix, nada....gratis, even.
xgman
Reply #65 Saturday, July 14, 2007 9:35 PM
Reply #65 Saturday, July 14, 2007 9:35 PM
I have always said that these "premium" dreams should be free for Object Desktop subscribers. It would be an added reason to subscribe, as I currently do. I am finding, however, less and less reason to continue my OD subscription though since I don't use window blinds on Vista and updates are not as often as they should be for full Vista compatability. I really think that with the premium dreams added, they would be making a smart business move. (regardless of this, the dreams they are posting are WAY too expensive)
vStyler
Reply #66 Saturday, July 14, 2007 9:41 PM
Compared to what?.. Take what you do for a living.. realizing that this is a real person spending their real time making these dreams.. and ask yourself.. would I do.. what I do for half what they pay me?
Something tells me you wouldn't and neither would anyone else complaining about the pricing of artwork on this site.
Reply #66 Saturday, July 14, 2007 9:41 PM
(regardless of this, the dreams they are posting are WAY too expensive)
Compared to what?.. Take what you do for a living.. realizing that this is a real person spending their real time making these dreams.. and ask yourself.. would I do.. what I do for half what they pay me?
Something tells me you wouldn't and neither would anyone else complaining about the pricing of artwork on this site.
heartitude
Reply #67 Saturday, July 14, 2007 10:40 PM
Reply #67 Saturday, July 14, 2007 10:40 PM
I use to paint for a living, also It was hard to peace all people though. This is what is going on too. Even all people on this earth No Peace. Only Peace is in Jesus Christ. Have You ask Jesus to come in your heart & ask him to forgive your sins too. Well We all will be Before Him one day! Will You Hear Him say, Come In You have My Peace!
Heartitude
Heartitude
Yosmel
Reply #68 Saturday, July 14, 2007 11:32 PM
Reply #68 Saturday, July 14, 2007 11:32 PM
holy crap when did Jesus Christ make his way into this thread?
And for those that are complaining about a ten dollar price tag... grow up. Either pay the pittance or don't. I don't see a Stardock overlord whipping customers to pay for something they don't want to. Frogboy once said that if 10 dollars is too much for you to afford, then you are simply NOT the target audience for Stardock's products. I really don't see how it gets any simpler than that. If by chance you *still* don't get the point, then go study some economics before you critique how a business does it's work.
And for those that are complaining about a ten dollar price tag... grow up. Either pay the pittance or don't. I don't see a Stardock overlord whipping customers to pay for something they don't want to. Frogboy once said that if 10 dollars is too much for you to afford, then you are simply NOT the target audience for Stardock's products. I really don't see how it gets any simpler than that. If by chance you *still* don't get the point, then go study some economics before you critique how a business does it's work.
Frogboy
Reply #69 Saturday, July 14, 2007 11:41 PM
Reply #69 Saturday, July 14, 2007 11:41 PM
I have always said that these "premium" dreams should be free for Object Desktop subscribers.
Desktop Earth, the most popular premium dream of all time, is already available for free for Object Desktop users. Two additional free premium dreams are about to be released for it.
But that doesn't mean all premium dreams will be made available for Object Desktop users.
vStyler
Reply #71 Sunday, July 15, 2007 12:42 AM
Umm.. your supposed to be driving.. get on with it Mister !
Reply #71 Sunday, July 15, 2007 12:42 AM
LMAO
Umm.. your supposed to be driving.. get on with it Mister !
starkers
Reply #72 Sunday, July 15, 2007 1:18 AM
Reply #72 Sunday, July 15, 2007 1:18 AM
Me thinks that if these whining critics/complainers were to save every 2 cents worth from every whining post, they'd have more than enough to buy several premium dreams....and Vista Ultimate, Object Desktop and Muliplicity.
Trouble is, they have a 2 cent gripe and expect 10 cents change.
Trouble is, they have a 2 cent gripe and expect 10 cents change.
Fuzzy Logic
Reply #73 Sunday, July 15, 2007 5:03 AM
Reply #73 Sunday, July 15, 2007 5:03 AM
I use to paint for a living, also It was hard to peace all people though. This is what is going on too. Even all people on this earth No Peace. Only Peace is in Jesus Christ. Have You ask Jesus to come in your heart & ask him to forgive your sins too. Well We all will be Before Him one day! Will You Hear Him say, Come In You have My Peace!
Heartitude
Heartitude
Thank you for the little light relief. However, I'm thinking you need to be brought a little closer to Jesus...
Zydor
Reply #74 Sunday, July 15, 2007 6:39 AM
There's a $10 entry fee tho .....
Quite apart from the fact that life is too short to rush to meet one's Maker due to a dispute over $10 - Stardock do a good job in my view, and deserve their success.
Even if its all a conn - and we pander to the Lifetime Conspiracy Lovers vision of a nightmare under every stone regardless of facts - Stardock's would be classed as a damned clever one, and they would equally deserve their success
Geez what a fuss over nothing, even The Simpsons would have changed channels
Reply #74 Sunday, July 15, 2007 6:39 AM
Thank you for the little light relief. However, I'm thinking you need to be brought a little closer to Jesus
There's a $10 entry fee tho .....
Quite apart from the fact that life is too short to rush to meet one's Maker due to a dispute over $10 - Stardock do a good job in my view, and deserve their success.
Even if its all a conn - and we pander to the Lifetime Conspiracy Lovers vision of a nightmare under every stone regardless of facts - Stardock's would be classed as a damned clever one, and they would equally deserve their success
Geez what a fuss over nothing, even The Simpsons would have changed channels
Island Dog
Reply #75 Sunday, July 15, 2007 7:31 AM
Well to be honest, I care more about a $10 wallpaper than most politicians..
Reply #75 Sunday, July 15, 2007 7:31 AM
..... Voters search for Politicians brains
Meanwhile on JoeUser "Activation disgrace of $10 WallPaper"
Meanwhile on JoeUser "Activation disgrace of $10 WallPaper"
Well to be honest, I care more about a $10 wallpaper than most politicians..
Jafo
Reply #76 Sunday, July 15, 2007 7:41 AM
Reply #76 Sunday, July 15, 2007 7:41 AM
Well to be honest, I care more about a $10 wallpaper than most politicians
A $10 wallpaper is more intelligent.....
......should run for election....
starkers
Reply #77 Sunday, July 15, 2007 5:04 PM
Yeah, me too....in fact, I care more about a .00002 cent piece of toilet paper than I do about any politician. (don't blame me....you're the one who started the "I don't respect" politicians stuff )
Now that, I think, is taking it a bit too far....why bother with the election bit - let's just install them.
Reply #77 Sunday, July 15, 2007 5:04 PM
Well to be honest, I care more about a $10 wallpaper than most politicians..
Yeah, me too....in fact, I care more about a .00002 cent piece of toilet paper than I do about any politician.
(don't blame me....you're the one who started the "I don't respect" politicians stuff )A $10 wallpaper is more intelligent.....
......should run for election....
......should run for election....
Now that, I think, is taking it a bit too far....why bother with the election bit - let's just install them.
Jythier
Reply #78 Sunday, July 15, 2007 5:13 PM
Reply #78 Sunday, July 15, 2007 5:13 PM
Lightbulb!
Take all the premium dreams.
Sell ad space in them, or pop up ads that the user can't cancel, etc.
Release them for free, and make a ton of money on ad revenue.
Do you want that to happen, or do you want to pay $10?
What's a dream again?
Take all the premium dreams.
Sell ad space in them, or pop up ads that the user can't cancel, etc.
Release them for free, and make a ton of money on ad revenue.
Do you want that to happen, or do you want to pay $10?
What's a dream again?
starkers
Reply #79 Wednesday, July 18, 2007 12:38 AM
Reply #79 Wednesday, July 18, 2007 12:38 AM
Didn't sleep a wink last night...in fact, I've slept very little since this thread went up. Why? I'll tell you why, it's a conspiracy I tell ya, a conspiracy.....
Picture this...a young Frogboy, messing around with his boring old Windows 3.1, comes up with a snazzy way to make it look so much prettier....with coloured taskbars, pretty icons and a sweet looking cursor. Frogboy then sat back and cast his eyes upon what he had made....and he saw it was good.
On the second day, Frogboy showed his snazzy new desktop to his friends and colleagues at work, and they too saw it was good. Seeing that his friends were impressed, Frogboy let them have it on their PC's.....and he sat back and saw it was good
On the third day, Frogboy decided he was sick of working for a boss and opened his own company to make customisation software....knowing in his heart that desktop themes would flourish around the world and over the internet. How did Frogboy know he would succeed? Well, because he saw that his friends had become addicted to their newly skinned desktops and saw that they wanted more, more, more.....
On the fourth day, Frogboy gathered together some of his colleagues and closest friends to inform them of his decision and invite them on board, and they too knew it was good.
At their first board meeting, they developed a business plan and a strategy to market this new fangled software....something to ensure they would never ever fail.
This, folks, is where you come in! Ever wonder why you're so addicted to skinning and customising your desktop? Well I'll tell ya....subliminal messages....little cues and prompts to keep you subscribing to Stardock software. Yes folks, that's what keeps you coming back over and over again....subliminal messages. They're on your monitor screen and in your PC speakers...but don't bother looking for them because they're inaudible and invisible ordinarily to the naked eye. You don't think Frogboy was going to use technology that's easily detectable, do you? To see the subliminal messages on your screen, you must be able to sit in an air tight room for 15 minutes under ultra violet lighting....and that is not recommended. And there's no point in turning off your speakers, either....the subliminal sounds also permeate through the screen. You may not be able to see or hear these subliminal messages, your not supposed to, but believe me, they're there.
So there you have it, folks, it was more by design than accident that you've become hooked on skinning and customisation....it's sort of like a mass hypnosis and totally unavoidable. Mind you, it's not such a bad thing, so let's have three cheers for Frogboy and Stardock for this wonderful technology which delivers countless hours of PC pleasure to countless people all around the world. Hip hip.......
Picture this...a young Frogboy, messing around with his boring old Windows 3.1, comes up with a snazzy way to make it look so much prettier....with coloured taskbars, pretty icons and a sweet looking cursor. Frogboy then sat back and cast his eyes upon what he had made....and he saw it was good.
On the second day, Frogboy showed his snazzy new desktop to his friends and colleagues at work, and they too saw it was good. Seeing that his friends were impressed, Frogboy let them have it on their PC's.....and he sat back and saw it was good
On the third day, Frogboy decided he was sick of working for a boss and opened his own company to make customisation software....knowing in his heart that desktop themes would flourish around the world and over the internet. How did Frogboy know he would succeed? Well, because he saw that his friends had become addicted to their newly skinned desktops and saw that they wanted more, more, more.....
On the fourth day, Frogboy gathered together some of his colleagues and closest friends to inform them of his decision and invite them on board, and they too knew it was good.
At their first board meeting, they developed a business plan and a strategy to market this new fangled software....something to ensure they would never ever fail.
This, folks, is where you come in! Ever wonder why you're so addicted to skinning and customising your desktop? Well I'll tell ya....subliminal messages....little cues and prompts to keep you subscribing to Stardock software. Yes folks, that's what keeps you coming back over and over again....subliminal messages. They're on your monitor screen and in your PC speakers...but don't bother looking for them because they're inaudible and invisible ordinarily to the naked eye. You don't think Frogboy was going to use technology that's easily detectable, do you? To see the subliminal messages on your screen, you must be able to sit in an air tight room for 15 minutes under ultra violet lighting....and that is not recommended. And there's no point in turning off your speakers, either....the subliminal sounds also permeate through the screen. You may not be able to see or hear these subliminal messages, your not supposed to, but believe me, they're there.
So there you have it, folks, it was more by design than accident that you've become hooked on skinning and customisation....it's sort of like a mass hypnosis and totally unavoidable. Mind you, it's not such a bad thing, so let's have three cheers for Frogboy and Stardock for this wonderful technology which delivers countless hours of PC pleasure to countless people all around the world. Hip hip.......
Kinjin
Reply #80 Wednesday, July 18, 2007 7:07 AM
Reply #80 Wednesday, July 18, 2007 7:07 AM
Hold the phone! The end is near?! I haven't been on this site since early spring because they were saying the same thing, and I thought it was all over... Now I find out the end didn't even come, but it IS near...AGAIN! OMG!
Wait before I run for cover. I know prophecy isn't an exact science but could you be a little more specific? Do you mean like "near" the end of the week, or did you mean month? Year? Decade?
No not really
I just got into modding my motorcycle more than windows. It's good to see you guys are still going great I just saw the announcement for the new skinstudio beta release. Just the thing to get me screwing up, I mean skinning windows again
Wait before I run for cover. I know prophecy isn't an exact science but could you be a little more specific? Do you mean like "near" the end of the week, or did you mean month? Year? Decade?
No not really
I just got into modding my motorcycle more than windows. It's good to see you guys are still going great I just saw the announcement for the new skinstudio beta release. Just the thing to get me screwing up, I mean skinning windows again Please login to comment and/or vote for this skin.
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Reply #61 Saturday, July 14, 2007 10:26 AM
Yeah, 'tis sad, isn't it! Personally, I think Stardock should start using its 'press any key' tazer technology on anyone who complains/questions its pricing policy...they hit any key and they get zapped. You'd certainly recognise them in the street....they're the ones with scorched eyebrows and frizzed up hair.
And meet with the same success as those early explorers who searched in vain for the fountain of youth. Perhaps Stardock technology could invent/develop one.....a politician brain, that is.