Value of being a subscriber?

Monday, August 11, 2008 by screamingiraffe | Discussion: WinCustomize Talk

Greetings,


I was a subscriber for over a year, and member since 2002 i believe. I have to say, during this time, I have yet to see any real value of paying Stardock for a subscription. I bought Window blinds and have yet to see anything better than the stock "dragon" theme that's included. Has any other member created anything similar?

I believe stardock depends on contributor work too much and should create some 'masterwork' designs in house. Add some value to the subscriptions, and I'd probably re-subscribe. Masterwork dreams are now few and far between, decent windowblinds are non-existant, and every once in a while, you see a pretty good CursorFX. I'm still using the

Telsa cursor (best I've seen so far, and that was way way back).

 

I saw a few articles back how stardock wanted to add value to subscriptions, but I think they went about it all wrong. I've also seen quite a few articles dated a while back about the same issue I raise how stardock leans on the backs of contributors to make a buck, and the stuff they charge for isn't all that good. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, I know.. but all the same..

 

what do you guys think?

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Bichur
Reply #1 Monday, August 11, 2008 6:58 PM
which subscription are you referring to?
Island Dog
Reply #2 Monday, August 11, 2008 7:20 PM
I believe stardock depends on contributor work too much and should create some 'masterwork' designs in house. Add some value to the subscriptions, and I'd probably re-subscribe. Masterwork dreams are now few and far between, decent windowblinds are non-existant, and every once in a while, you see a pretty good CursorFX. I'm still using the


Master skins are sold by skinners who have achieved that rank, it really has nothing to do with subscribing.  Right now with a subscription to WinCustomize gets up to 12 free premium skins per year.  We just released the Boulder skin last week.

https://www.wincustomize.com/subscribers.aspx




Ausvet
Reply #3 Monday, August 11, 2008 7:58 PM
For so much complaining about lack of quality downloads your profile indicates 4.2 Gb of downloads, just a bit of a contradiction to your argument don't you think?     
HG_Eliminator
Reply #4 Monday, August 11, 2008 8:45 PM
Subscribing to WC offers download of some cool skins not available to the public. As well as supports this site. Which It has been stated they will be offering more subscriber content soon. But as far as I know, WC does not constantly staff Paid skinners to supply endless amounts of content.

A sub to WB or another SD product gives SD the funds necessary to continue development of the programs as well as helps to a smaller proportion support this site. Which is why you get acess to it with no additional charge. I would imagine to hire more people to start pumping out tons of Master style skins SD would have to raise the price of the apps, as $20 a year dont go very far.
ZubaZ
Reply #5 Monday, August 11, 2008 9:13 PM
If you don't like the content available . . don't subscribe.

Me, I subscribe year after year because the quality of the community deserves my support even if I never downloaded another skin.
vStyler
Reply #6 Monday, August 11, 2008 9:28 PM
If you don't like the content available . . don't subscribe.


I dont like what you get as a subscriber @ rubbergoodies.com.. and Iamademocrat.com.. don't care what they have to offer either..  

Solution.. They aint gettin my money   
zakai1369
Reply #7 Monday, August 11, 2008 11:42 PM
If you don't like the content available . . don't subscribe.


Wow! You mean... they don't send someone to your house to hold a gun to your head and force you to subscribe?
Jafo
Reply #8 Monday, August 11, 2008 11:56 PM

Wow! You mean... they don't send someone to your house to hold a gun to your head and force you to subscribe?

Well....we don't tell anyone....

See that van parked out front....the one with the blacked-out windows?

 

 

 

zakai1369
Reply #9 Tuesday, August 12, 2008 12:10 AM
See that van parked out front....the one with the blacked-out windows?





Phew. Actually I had noticed that out there and am now relieved since I know it's just guys with guns. I had feared it was Zubaz waiting for me to leave so he could break in and apply his Flaming Aero Of Death to my desktop and change my homepage to zubaz.com.
ZubaZ
Reply #10 Tuesday, August 12, 2008 12:48 AM
I had feared it was Zubaz waiting for me to leave so he could break in and apply his Flaming Aero Of Death to my desktop and change my homepage to zubaz.com
There are many cars and vans in yoru neighborhood.  Not all have to be painted in animal print stripes to be part of my "Legion of Pats"
Daiwa
Reply #11 Tuesday, August 12, 2008 12:55 AM
I love posts which answer their own question.
superman
Reply #12 Tuesday, August 12, 2008 1:23 AM
U may be right bv this is not true. If u download a skin don't see it with your eyes..Try to feel it with the eyes of skinner. With subscription u get unlimited downloads, power to rate.. So it has a value... Lastly BE HAPPY
Xiandi
Reply #13 Tuesday, August 12, 2008 1:33 AM
decent windowblinds are non-existant

So make one yourself.
starkers
Reply #14 Tuesday, August 12, 2008 1:43 AM
See that van parked out front....the one with the blacked-out windows?


Uhhhh??? And to think, I've been taking them out coffee and donuts to get on their 'good sides'... thought they were feds sent to spy on me cos I've been making lots of dissenting noises about the Gov't again... still. Wait a minute *insert silence and a few pops here* is that crackling I hear on my internet line? I gotta be so very, very careful now... cos I know they're going through my garbage (recovering my discarded Playboy's and Osama bin Weekly's) late at night, and tapping my phone line to listen for conversations with secret societies and Guy Fawkes-type figures.

To screamingiraffe...I suggest you go get your eyes checked. The quality of the skins on WC is abundant and second to none... anywhere on the net. Furthermore, it is NOT up to Stardock to provide the lion's share of content here... it is a community site, run by the community for the community... and any contributions made by Stardock thereafter are a bonus to those supporting that community, financially and otherwise.

OK, so not everything is to your liking - which is understandable because not all of it is to my taste, either - but to write up a post such as yours shows absolutely no respect for the time, efforts and/or talents of the artist and skinners who contribute here. Sure you have a right to an opinion, but to voice one such as yours here isn't going to sit well with the community or win you any friends.
starkers
Reply #15 Tuesday, August 12, 2008 1:45 AM
I had feared it was Zubaz waiting for me to leave so he could break in and apply his Flaming Aero Of Death to my desktop and change my homepage to zubaz.com


Not to mention making this....
Free Image Hosting at www.ImageShack.us

.... your wallpaper
da_zman20
Reply #16 Tuesday, August 12, 2008 2:14 AM
Me, I subscribe year after year because the quality of the community deserves my support even if I never downloaded another skin.


My thoughts exactly...
Mirsguy
Reply #17 Tuesday, August 12, 2008 2:23 AM
decent windowblinds are non-existant, and every once in a while, you see a pretty good CursorFX.


Guess you haven't seen the works of vStyler, The AVMAN, J. Aroche, and the many more that are a part of the community.

Personally, it took me a while to subscribe, but I'm glad I finally broke down and did it. This is a great place, and worthy of my support.
Quicksilver007
Reply #18 Tuesday, August 12, 2008 8:35 AM
decent windowblinds are non-existantSo make one yourself.




Guess you haven't seen the works of vStyler, The AVMAN, J. Aroche, and the many more that are a part of the community.



My thoughts exactly!
DrJBHL
Reply #19 Tuesday, August 12, 2008 9:15 AM
Guys, look: Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and about smell and taste one can't argue (sounds better in Hebrew...and after He Brew ),

Some folks have to argue, fight and tell others how to live.

Others are wise enough to just let it be, and not try "to push the river".

Still others have attained true enlightenment and sit in the back of the van that Zubaz
sends around to enslave all our OS's and desktops through evil code thinly diguised as mispelled words....You guessed it:

Zubots!

Island Dog
Reply #20 Tuesday, August 12, 2008 9:26 AM
Let me also say that subscribing helps the site overall with maintenance, development, and all types of things like that. I have subscribed for many years without a hesitation when it comes to renew time. 

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