Oh dear, another soothsayer...prophet of doom...the end is nigh type....God shalt smite thee down if thouest doth not repent.

I remember one of those sandwich board types when I was a kid, pounding the pavement with his imminent doom message to all us sinners....yep, the world was going to end in 1968 and we were all going to perish in a modern day Sodom and Gomorrah.

Well, it obviously didn't happen then, nor did it on numerous other dates they proclaimed to be the end of the world, so why should we believe it now....but just in case, I've stocked up on extra food and dozens of candles....you know, to try riding it out in the basement.

Well they should be. Again I need some reason to renew my OD account which is about to expire and the existing updates may not be quite enough. It's just my feedback. Take it however you see fit. I still think you guys are missing a grteat marketing opportunity here.

This post was moved from another forum. Here are some of my responses. As I can see I have upset many Stardock users and actually I am on your side. I understand you all enjoy Stardock products, but to blindly defend a corporation you don't work for, own, or have any deep knowledge about would seem less wise then my unpopular opinion. Here's the rest of my rant, flame me if you like, but it's the fans that make this site, not Stardock.

Some Responses.......

"I can't really say whether the free submissions are the "real reason" people come here." - That I find the biggest insult, not only Dreams, but Wallpapers and the other user contributed creations. Stardock's users are the real reason the hit count is good around here. Customers usually don't hang around a vendor's site just because they like their product and want to hang around and watch the home page. Stardock's users, from wallpaper creators to full fledged artists, make 95% of the total contribultions for content on this site. Using Deskscapes for example, Stardock provided the software and about 10-15 dreams to wet the appetite. The users in return came up with the other 200+ dreams helping Stardock to "have" a product. Had the artists not made those 200+ dream contributions, users would have been gone a long time ago because nobody hangs around a forum talking about the same old 10 dreams forever, do they?

"There's a lot of erroneous statements in what you say above. First off, I am not aware of a single feature of Object Desktop that is in Windows Vista." - exactly my point; Microsoft's improvements in Vista's GUI have put Stardock in an uncomfortable position. Microsoft threw Stardock a bone with Dreamscene's since Microsoft totally screwed Stardock's niche market all up on Vista. Like I said, Object Desktop on Vista IS BLOATWARE!!! In Stardock's heyday in the XP-era, Stardock had something unique to bring, today OS's bring it natively withhout 3rd Party intervention.

The other primary mistake you make has to do with what you consider "bloatware". - again, you stated that Vista and Object Desktop are kind of useless together so you've answered your own question.

"WindowBlinds, for instance, not only is faster than Aero, but it vastly reduces the power consumption." - So your saying that Vista Ultimate users are going to actually disable Aero in favor of WindowBlinds? You've definitely lost it now!! The dream customer is an Ultimate customer, the user who want's all of Microsoft's features and is willing to pay a premium for it. For that same user to disable Aero in favor of Windowblinds, why buy Ultimate then? Why not buy Vista Basic and save yourself the $200 or even stick with XP! So the Ultimate user is in essence paying $200 more for Dreamscenes, and Hold em' Poker. Again, most customers I know don't like throwing money away, your plan is insane!

"Why should you care if you activate a $10 wallpaper? The benefit is that activation makes it much easier for users to re-download in the future." - I don't care personally, however I was speaking for the customer who does care. Microsoft always talks about the "benefits" of activation and I haven't seen it yet. At least Microsoft is protecting a $400 product with activation like Windows Vista for an example, Stardock is making the customer inconvenienced by protecting their $10 wallpaper. Greater software has been offered with less headaches.

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; This is completely untrue. - untrue? So your saying if I reinstall Windows and attempt to reinstall my Premium Dream, no re-activation will be required as my Premium Dream will recognize that I have already registered and that even though my computer's Windows installation is now entirely different, highly unlikely. If this is true, try to pass on one of your premium dreams to a friend as a test and give your friend your registration info and see if he can install the Dream, how's it going?

Stardock has no intention of being bought out by Microsoft or anyone else. - Neither did PeopleSoft, Enron, Worldcomm or anyone else out there but guess what! Whether Stardock will be acquired by another company hinges solely on Stardocks' financials and their future viability. Stardock only has as much control as their business practices dictate. Bigger companies have talked your talk and 10 years later, found themselves eating those words. When people get bought out, it's usually not by choice, remember that!!

I understand that you have to show your vendor loyalty being that your working for Stardock, however your points were weak at best. As I said, I'm not anti-Stardock! I just don't like the direction on the Deskscapes\Dreamscenes pricing scheme simply put. Like I also said, I credit Stardock with many of Vista's native GUI featureset so actually I have given Stardock a compliment. All businesses aren't perfect, I'm simply pointing to an area that Stardock needs to work on. Thanks again for your time.

LINK TO ENTIRE POST
WWW Link

Maybe it's just me...but I think you're getting that backwards. Vista doesn't have a dock, Vista doesn't offer easy icon changing on the fly (in fact, I thought it doesn't offer any icon changing at all?), Vista doesn't have triggered dreams, Vista doesn't have a full-fledged gadget system, etc. So how is it bloatware if Vista *doesn't* have any of that stuff? How does Vista do any of that natively that ODNT currently offers?

CATMANDU21 ...your last comment [#83] is merely an opinion, none of which is based in any semblance of reality.  At best it simply does not apply [bears no relevance].

It's all based on a claim that commenters here have no 'deep knowledge about [Stardock]' which would presuppose you do and thus your comments bear more weight?

Let's just suppose no-one here has a 'deep knowledge', ergo any and all opinions are equally invalid, being based on speculation.

Some here have an extensive history/association with Stardock and its products, not merely in the current Vista age...or prior...XP, but perhaps all the way back before the Windows OS itself.

Hypotheticals are good....we all enjoy Fantasy/S-F, too, but in any situation such as relative knowledge and historical understanding, some of the opinions expressed here will have more pith/substance, being based in fact...

Personally, I dont work for them.

For a $10 wallpaper, a Senate investigation would not be appropriate, they have more important things to do.

Dont do a King Canute, you are not going to pursuade the world to get excited over the validity or otherwise of Stardock's intentions connected with a $10 wallpaper, and then go on a meaningful crusade for the Holy Grail of wallpapers

There is a famous saying:

"When you are in a hole, stop digging"

Regards
Zy

Nope...to upset a Stardock user you'd actually have to say something (sensible) regarding its imminent closure....then back it up with fact. Other than that, we're pretty much unflappable and implicitly trusting of Stardock.

So, as another wise Stardock customer/WC member said......

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Holy Crap! I been using Stardock products for about 15 years give or take a couple. Its been so long ago that I can't remember, lol, guess my age is showing. I was addicted with my first Windowblind, can't remember which one it was, age showing again. I just remember it had something pretty in it, that was unique, and I liked it a lot. (Thanks Frogboy, and all of you who have made me happy all these years.)

I don't think that it's fair to slam a group of people who have worked so hard to make a lot of people's lives a little more pleasant each day, by making their their computer screens a little more colorful, and enjoyable over all these years. All over $10.00, no less.

I know it been a while since the original post was made, and his reply too, but hopefully he has his meds straighten out now.

I think he's gone,I heard a faint 'pop' as he disappeared up his own backside.    

Im guessing in his Almost 2 months of being a member hes gotten a much better working knowledge of Stardock, WC and its Members than those of us who have been here for years and years and years.....Funny i don't remember seeing him in the Stardock chat room gathering intel.......

Ironic isnt it?

the new born telling us WE have Little working knowledge of Stardock/WC so our opinions arent valid.....LOL what a laugh....


think before speaking..thx

Oh I'm so glad you found a priest who'd come n' give his blessing. Was worried after all that blasphemy agin Stardock n' its customers that we'd all end up going to HELL.

I haven't been around Srardock/WC as long as you, only around 4 years, but I feel pretty much the same way....and certainly there is nothing here over-priced, it's all good value for money/worth every penny.



I wondered what that noise was....followed by that rather pungent smell. Thanks for solving the mystery....now I'll be able to apologise to the person who was standing next to me at the time....vehement protests of innocence did not deter my finger pointing that they'd let rip a colon cough.



Think Bobby answered that one....as to why not. If somehow he manages to extricate himself from that dark orifice (and thoroughy showers first) its probable he'll turn up over a TGT Soft after the reception he got here.

Its very simple, no one is going to get excited over a $10 wallpaper, $50 maybe, but not the former. Dont like it? Live with it.

In a way you do deserve some thanks - I wasnt a full blown Blinds yaddie yadda user, but having had the mind focused on it by this thread, its likely I'll go for it at those low prices.

They say all publicity is good publicity - do you work for Stardock by any chance ?   

Don't work for Stardock, but well said Zydor; their are more important things around here then this comment, unfortunately mindless users like Starkers with their comments like "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." How about you go back to school and read about freedom of speech because where you come from, there obviously is none.

Remember that thought when your Mommy is at the voting booth next time, Fidel Castro's unfortunately not on the ballet, sorry..............

You are not only wrong but you insult people without know them
Not cause you talk about something that unfortunately you seem don't know at all but cause you Attack others users, and that it's forbidden
Now for information this is a forum where people can dialog together not a Bash area.
Arguments yes insults not.
Again own opinion

You've obviously missed the tongue firmly pressed into my cheek...if you take a look at the 'Joe user is Joke User' thread, you will see that I jest and refer to non-existent Stardock technology....like Stardock could zap people should they complain and press any key on their keyboard.

Also, refer back to posts 79 & 81....again, more tongue in cheek stuff to lighten things up.

You are entitled to your opinion, as is anyone else here, but being that the majority is satisfied with Stardock's products and services, be prepared that few will support complaints or arguments against Stardock, particularly on a forum that Stardock provides to its customers.

Oh, and we do have freedom of speech here in Oz....for example, I could publicly say that lil Johnny (our Prime Minister) "is a low-life lying piece of pond scum who could lie under 40 foot of sewage with a mouth chocked full of parliamentary privileges, and wouldn't tell the truth if it were indelibly stamped to his tongue" and nobody would bat an eyelid.

ioniangod21 .... Stardock is actually NOT a product, it's a company, and for many of us [if not all] that company is comprised of people we know and respect ['buddies', even] and we're currently here 'hanging out' with them...

Actually, Starkers....we [Australia] don't have 'freedom of speech' at all.  Generally people think we are like the US, but we ain't.

Instead, what you find there with your comment as quoted is a bloody long, hard search on yer hands if you want to find anyone who does NOT agree with it....

Wincustomize.com [and Stardock] are US-based so in that regard 'FOS' does apply.

However, being privately-owned entities they can addend to 'FOS' with.....'personal attack of your fellow site member is not acceptable', etc. ....

I'll try, be hard though, difficult to remember the road there, it was 40 years ago.

I doubt mother will be too fussed, she's dead, anyway I dont think Castro will make it on the next ballot - he's at death's door.

You know, I'm quite certain Mitsubishi could have thrown in a DVD/navigation system "and still made a profit" on the vehicle I bought last month. So what's your friggin' point? Does that mean they've "missed a golden marketing opportunity" & are therefore doomed? Make your own cost/value decision & be done with it.

What the poster of this thread shows is an utter miss-understanding of why Stardock is here. Microsft over-sold with Ultimate and underdelivered, Stardock is doing what they were contracted to do and if they put out a premium dream they should be compensated for it.

I fail to see how a pretty interface can't be changed in other ways, I think Vista gives Stardock even more to work with, not less.

Just my 2 cents.