#63 used a text editor that has incompatible html to IE7 ....looked fine in FF and Chrome.

A bit of lateral thinking....and I fixed it....

apologies to its author...I got lazy with some of the punctuation [essentially rewrote it]...

I'll keep it real simple (for a change):

1. I love the product.

2. I love the people.

3. Is it worth $29.95 to me? Yes.

4. Will I feel like a fool if it has to be commercialized and the decision has already been made to do that? No: 1 and 2.

5. 2 in no way alters *the list*.

Well said.  If this were 2001 with the same level of traffic, support, etc. The subscriptions from the community would be fine.

The core community is still about the same as it was in 2001 but we can't support the costs of WC by asking that community to be the ones who pay for all the bills for everyone else.

Me too wont care because I dont have that.. But there are many here at your WC who will care...

And if u love the skinning community u ll have to care for every skin lovers...

It might save bandwidth for SD if they dont host it.. But hosting it can increase site traffic..

If there are no other skinning software than Object Desktop, than how will u show to consumers the value it has to offer to them and its superior...

For me I would like them to see at least in a corner...

 Most of the Mods here have been here for a long time and have seen a ton of changes.  I subscribed from the first subscription drive.  I'am old enough to know not to worry over what I can't control so I just roll with the flow.  Whatever will be will be(from a song by a great  singer/actress from the past).    Wonder how many people will know who I'am talking about.

We know what HG wants. 

These are indeed interesting times we live in.  Seeing how the evolution of a community-oriented site I've spent just under a decade officially visiting on a daily basis (give or take a few weeks ) has impacted literally millions of people around the world and bred an entire community of customizers of which I consider myself a part of, I definitely want to weigh in and say that I strongly hope the community sticks around and continues to rally behind the skinning "movement" regardless of the direction the site takes.  I know I will.

Having said that, it is indeed sad to see how things have changed from "the good ol' days", as Jafo mentioned, but I'm glad I can still visit and post in a thread or two from time to time and still feel welcomed and respected as part of the community.

I started visiting because I loved the ability to customize my desktop to suit my needs/wants, the fact that it's Stardock providing the tools by which I'm able to do that is coincidental.  After all, it could have been any other company that took the initiative to put everything in one place, however, I think Wincustomize became what it is today because it was the best meeting place and melting pot of people with creative ideas.

What I'm getting at is that the heart of WC isn't and probably won't ever be solely about Stardock products.  What makes it great, as many others have pointed out, is it's people and their desire to customize their desktops and help others do the same and build friendships while doing so.

So go ahead and change the direction of the site.  I dont' think things will change much at all.

That's my two cents...

heman, notice I said 'visible link', the other non-Stardock related skins will still be accessible, so it has been posted and of course I care about the skinning Community, what do you think WC is?

Some answers:

1. Will the subscription drive fail? Some have said it's premature to say it's not going to make it. It would be great if the subscription drive works.  But its success or failure won't be dependent on the people who hang out on the forums.

To success, you need about 1,800 people to sign up.  That's roughly 40 people per day.  Right now, we're getting around 9 per day and typically at the start of a subscription drive is when you get the most.  So I think it highly likely that Stardock Software (which makes Object Desktop) is going to end up having to pay for most of the new site.

2. IF Stardock Software takes over WinCustomize, it won't be run anymore by community liasons but rather by Stardock's marketing team.  I would still be in overall charge of the site but the layout and design of the site would be set up by marketing's requirements instead of community concerns.

3. For the people in this forum, the change is likely to be an improvement.  Object Desktop users and the like are going to end up with a lot more features that target them.  For users who come here mostly for wallpapers or winamp skins or non-Stardock content, the new change will be a big negative.

4. What are some things on the table being discussed? Well, for one thing, a new WinCustomize skin browser would be made but it would ONLY support Stardock's applications.  Most people have no idea of how much it has cost over the years to try to support third party programs in terms of infrastructure, moderating, etc.

5. Am I a meanie? Well certainly.  At least once a year a bunch of people claim that the way I post and respond is going to drive Stardock or WC or whatever out of business because I'm so acidic.   But of course, that never happens.

So none of the current Mods would be Mods.. and the personal touch will cease to exist.

.......................................... Game over.

G'nite folks, and God bless.

You act like wanting your undieng servitude is asking wayy too much..

 or was it Pizza?    

That hasn't been said anywhere.  Moderators will still be needed.

Let me emphasize again what Brad just posted:

3. For the people in this forum, the change is likely to be an improvement.  Object Desktop users and the like are going to end up with a lot more features that target them.  For users who come here mostly for wallpapers or winamp skins or non-Stardock content, the new change will be a big negative.

We were all members before and I'm pretty sure we'll all still be members after. We will just have a bit more free time.

Does this suggest there will be no wallpaper gallery?

I would think not... It suggests that anything using non-stardock thirdparty software will not be as readily available. Wallpapers are native windows, and as such don't cause a conflict of interest with any stardock products. I don't see a commercial reason to not include wallpapers in the gallery...

I think this pretty much sums up the general idea for the future of Wincustomize: for subscribers to WC and ODNT the change will herald improvements to the over-all user experience, while streamlining the site to reduce the costs to Stardock.  Traditionally, the subscription drive falls short and Stardock has to make up the difference in order to maintain a viable site, so it makes good sense to trim back running costs in order to better be able to provide loyal customers with improved products and services, made possible by the savings.

The people most affected by these changes will be the non-customers and non-subscribers, but as these are generally drive-by skin hunters who contribute little or nothing to the day to day running of the site, it is only fair to say to them: " Either subscribe or go elsewhere to find what you want."  Put simply, it's a case of simple economics, reorganising resources and putting them to the best use so as to remain viable while serving a paying customer base... no more, no less. 

As for the general makeup of WC dramatically changing when Stardock Software takes over the day to day running of the site, and it most likely will, it's most doubtful Stardock will alienate its loyal customer base with wholesale changes that would greatly deny or inhibit the user experience.  Thus the key elements, the galleries and the forums, will remain accessible to Stardock customers and WC subscribers alike.  To alienate the customer base is business suicide... and Brad is way too canny a businessman to shoot himself in the foot like that.

Exactly!  The current moderators would remain, otherwise Stardock would have to employ moderators, because its current staff would not cope with the additional workload, and therefore would save nothing on reducing site costs.

the Skinning community and the blogger community mix like water and oil. I for one don't see that one working at all unless the goal is to further enhance the virtual bitch-slapping that often occurs when seeking to force the two to hug.

Starkers nailed it for the most part too.