I told him to take a look at it. That means research should be done before buying. It wasn't as a Doctor, medical advice nor "Hey you better do this...". It was also part of an effort to allay his fears...look at everything I wrote, warreni.

This is really OT...if he weren't so concerned I wouldn't have posted it along with why I didn't think his financial info was "out there" in cyberspace.

At the risk of criticism from some, I would like to see the gallery standards back to where they were a few years ago, I think it directly reflects the quality of the site, SD and it's software and is the area that fuels desire for Stardock's customization tools.

I remember when I first visted, I was blown away by the quality of skins available. WC had the rep of having the best skins, was difficult to even get approved for the galleries.

First impressions are everything and knowing it is the skins that sell the software I would want to deliver a knockout punch in the galleries.

The old 'less is more' premise.

my 2c

*cliche disclaimer#

Oh, and another thing... regarding that misconception/fallacy... um. ludicrous suggestion....

A major Oz law firm an acquaintance of mine works for just swapped out 2500 + Macs for Pc's loaded with Vista.

Apparently it is NOT an isolated case...

As far as I am concerned, go Stardock!  I would love to see a new site under Stardock control. 

Everyone might want to continue the discussion here:

https://forums.wincustomize.com/?postid=335824

to my knowledge and observations the only gallery that has ever been subject to quality standards is the wallpaper gallery. What HAS changed with the skins is the dedication that used to be put in by skinners seems to have not carried on to quite a few of this new wave of skinners. very few go that extra mile anymore like you and Night Train to name a couple.

Should WC turn to a marketing driven, corporate entity then I would think some better standards should be in order.

Don't confuse the Mac OS with the Mac computer. Any Intel Mac will run Windows and therefore any Windows applications including Windowblinds.

I certainly try to clarify it in the best way I know how.

It just seems like with many skins the designer does not take the time to look at the small details, serveral times to make sure it is the best that they can do. They seem rushed. One good example (for me at least) is when I see the All Programs mouse over be just a new color instead of a class act image. So many possibilities exist with that section that can really enhance the theme. You might also see blurry edges or parts that just .. feel rushed. I think people get so excited that they are nearing completion of a windowblind that they put it out without going back and really going over it with a fine tooth comb.

Phoon is right in this. I have taken a few apart (no, I won't say which) and I see exactly what he does. There's no argument about this at all.

I was wondering when someone would say it, though. I am not a skinner and something in me says, "You don't have a right to criticise since you haven't skinned yourself. You don't know what pressures the other person is under."

I am also aware that being a 'Purist' doesn't endear one with others....especially when one hasn't skinned.

I don't know how to do that.  I don't know where to LOOK to find out how to do that.  As someone who is trying to create my own Windowblinds, I can tell you, the instructions/skills on how to go about these little details you're talking about are about as easy to acquire as it is for an average person to get into a Masonic lodge! (you have to know somebody whose already in it, they have to invite you, you have to ASK them about it first repetitively....) I've dissected a lot of skins just to get where I'm at right now, and somethings just aren't obvious, even after scouring the entire WBA file!  I've posted in a thread about 4 months ago, that I would pay up to $50 for a Windowblind Skinning Bible...something that would go through the entire program and describe how to do every little thing, with pictures and examples.  It's like asking someone to invent the Holy Grail.

Phoon, I understand what you are saying but the all programs mouseover might be a bad one to use as example. A master skin has to work flawlessly on all systems. There is a language and settings issue with the all progrmas area that sort of pins a master skin into having to be that mouseover instead of an image. Otherwise it will be screwed up on some systems. All I am saying is on this one, it's not really laziness but handcuffed.

perhaps the all programs mouseover is a bad example indeed.

k10w3, there's no harsh about it if you don't blow it out of proportion of what I said. I never said the skin should be perfect, not once. I said that people need to take the time, look at it, look at it again and again before submitting. Give them the extra mile and not just submit them out of restlessness or glory seeking. The fine detailed second look will always show and will give the creator a true sense of earned accomplishment.

Once again, if the site goes corporate and marketing driven I can see the bar being raised and subject other categories to marketing's approval. It won't be a community driven site but rather a place where the community gives stardock free marketing content.

If you are saying that skins will be gone over with an electron microscope, then there goes my skinning career...lol. I'll never get approved. I don't really think of myself as a skinner. More of a modder.

Who knows PDJ, who knows. It makes sense if it's marketing/corporate driven. Every marketing department I know wants content that sells the product. If you have less than desirable content then it is counter productive to that purpose.

Only time will tell. I may be wrong but I don't see as strong of a "community" as it has been in the past.

There are other community driven sites out there that would be a great avenue for submission as well.

Skinartistry and Skinning.net are 2 great examples.

I have work at both SDN and Deviant Art. And am starting my own site, but it will never be like this, in any stretch of imagination. WC is and will always be the best, IMO. I hope it don't let me down.

The community is existing customers, not NEW customers. The community knows the value of the software and does not need much marketing to re-up. The potential new customers do not.