Win 8's tiles kill the desire for customizing.  

I still use WB's on Win7 along with DeskScapes and CursorFX.  I run DX once in awhile, along with WFX and Winstep (not a Stardock product, for you new guys) but just the workshelf. I no longer use IconPackager on it due to erratic performance/results.

 On 8.1 installed as a dual boot, I  run everything made for Windows8 except Launch 8. I reluctantly installed 8 in the first place just so I could be of assistance to friends, family and anyone else with Windows8 and I figured I'd be more helpful in these forums if I at least ran the Windows 8 apps on it. As a bonus, the Stardock apps keep me from going postal. I must admit though that I rarely boot into 8.1

 On XP I use WB's, IP, DS, LogonStudio, SoundPackager, ObjectDock, DesktopX and MyColors. Gotta love XP, if only because everything Stardock still works fine, although I never got brave enough to try BootSkin.

I agree, we need another skinning contest or community theme, perhaps tied to the upcoming WinCustomize 2014 makeover.

I am talking about the "minimalistic",the plain/dull design trend you have seen on the UI rather the delicate/glossy at years back. Nevertheless,as 14 years of Stardock fan,I am really grateful Windowblinds is still going and strong.  

To boot directly to the desktop in Windows 8:

http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/windows-and-office/make-windows-8-boot-straight-to-the-desktop/#. 

If you're running Windows 8.1:

http://howto.cnet.com/8301-11310_39-57591261-285/how-to-boot-directly-to-the-desktop-in-windows-8.1/ 

Just in case......

On 2 of my rigs, I still use all the Stardock stuff that is useable on 8.1.

One a third rig, I run 8.1 naked, just to get the feel of Windows 8.1 in it's native habitat.

Most of my Stardock stuff works fine on 8.1.

I still design DesktopX themes and other skins on 8.1.

I for one still customize my desktop. Not with just my own windowblinds but also use others as I switch the look. I am mostly on Win 7 but win 8 can be customized just fine using Stardock products. 

I agree it appears to show not as many people are downloading customizing graphics. Saying that I also believe that with win 8 being on everything you purchase now from computers, tablets, etc that this is what people are using and I'm sure most don't even know anything else can change what they are seeing. Also the generation for a few years now have been using phones with nothing but tiles and icons on them. They are use to seeing what they see and very used to it. I don't believe they are even interested in any change from what they see and use as it's all they know. 

Also believe that in the past with Windows they have some awful looking desktops. So people would search around to see if there was something else available. That brought them to Stardock and other programs that would change the look of the desktop. As I mentioned they are now growing up with tiles on all their devices and believe that is the way things have to be. It's a different world now with all that is available and all of it has basically the same looking things on them. There was a time that only one device was available, the computer so lets see what we can change. Now people have several different devices so why change anything as they basically all look the same.

Until it's impossible to customize my desktop I will continue to do so. Just my look on the situation.

  Dave  you  rock! 

Yes, both are on my agenda for this year.

That is very good to hear Island Dog. 

I never run a 'naked' desktop... not ever.  MS never got the UI right in any Windows iteration yet, and I doubt they ever will.  Thank heavens for Stardock, because without their customisation tools I would have gone mental years ago.  While MS added something good in Aero Glass, the boring black and white start menu in Vista and Win 7 just wasn't pleasing to the eye after a few days of use, thus Windowblinds became the most essential app on my PC, along with IconPackager, CursorFX and Winstep Xtreme. 

In using these apps with matching skins [eg, Steampunk] I was never bored or displeased with my desktop, and with the great variety of skins, one can change the desktop regularly and experiment with different elements to create many spectacular and interesting themes. So for mine, skins are essential to a more contented and satisfying PC use.

I'm not sure that I have the right to be but I'm sad and disappointed.  I must not have gotten the memo.

That will be because of your infatuation with Win 8.

There's nothing inherently 'wrong' with 7 ...which is why so many modern WBs are not a hell of a lot dissimilar to the default look.

But 8 is about as appealing as genital warts....

mhh hibernation - for me as little skinner its due to exams that have to be written - exams that will more or less influence the life of me and my family in the furture. There is simply no time to be very creative atm. And im a bit sad about it.
But there is always time to customize a desktop
But there is more to it a good example is the fact that iconpackager needs to be finally updated to fully work with windows8 so that i can use my live folders and my iconpackages ( it would be time seriously ) hate it that my Fences will show the old iconpack icons aswell.
My last uploads were icons but for objectdock because why should i make icons and upload them with an iconpackage if its not fully working.

But i admit that since windows8 i became a fan of minimalism a good example was the screenshot of LighStar i think it was called FLAT i drooled all over it would love to have that skin -
I simply can concentrate much more on my work with a minimal skin and still have a decent good look on my screen with widgets and fences.
I even switch to the default theme once in a while   ...But mainly i keep jumping from Echo to Arsenic Solid State while MECHOS is dominating.

Was using Decor8 on 8.0 sadly had problems on 8.1 with it and could switch my color settings ( they always jumped back to black) i think/guess there wasnt a update yet for it i havent tested it there might be.

Still for me ModernMix is the best APP for windows8 

 

Dusting it!

Bastards!!!  I was replying in some detail to this post when a phony java update hijacked my browser [Waterfox, a x64 version of Firefox] and closed the page.  Naturally, I lost all I had written, and so I'm pissed off I'll cut it short.

In a nutshell, I am not infatuated with Win 8.  I do like it, however, because hands down it is the best OS I've used, for several reasons. So, I don't give a tinker's cuss who is still kicking and screaming about it.  It suits my needs and that's all I give a toss about

Well I tried, unfortunately a discussion about desktop customization does not seem to be relevant in the one place I thought it would. 

That'll be Windows 8 again...

I'm not actually 'kicking and screaming' about 8 .... but you can guarantee there are quite a few at MS who are.  Whether you like it or not, the 'results' of the Win 8 release match quite well the performance of the English cricket team this summer.....down the gurgler...and likewise there are people throwing themselves on their swords.....or being pushed....

Re what I'm doing with my desktop .... I mostly leave it 'naked' [because it's 7 and the least repugnant OS] as 'skinning' tends to take a back seat when you're dealing with all the other skinners' dramas and woes.  It's been about 2 or 3 months since I skinned a plane for FSX, even...