I agree with the people backing the inclusion of a Rainlendar section. That little application is such a lifesaver for me because I would never be able to keep track of all my assignment deadlines and exams if I had to write it down the old-fashioned way. Plus, I find that DesktopX is a system resource hog, and a bit too much to handle if you just want to use a calendar.

deviantART has a section for Rainlendar, but it is really not that well organized and their servers are usually very slow.

So ... my unconditional support for a Rainlendar section! ^-^

Just makes sense to me that rainlender would be included here. AFter all... plenty of screenshots suggest that a lot of people use it. It would also be a lot easier to find skins for all the apps if they were expanded upon here.

OK looks like most folks have had their say.

KG do we have a case?.............i certainly think we do

Seems like enough of a case to warrant a 'Poll'...why not...If you can have a poll about "Which season do you like the best", you can surely have one asking who wants Rainlendar in the library

This is a pretty straight forward situation:

WinCustomize has always focused on already popular programs. That is why Trillian is at the top of our list of sections to add when we have time to code in more sections.

In our last poll asking what section people would like up not, Railendar wasn't specifically listed but "other" was. And "other" only got roughly 11% of the vote which no doubt includes many other programs out there as well.

Other than a handful of posts on the message boards, the evidence wide spread rainlendar use is very low.  I think WinCustomize has been pretty even handed on what sections it adds. It's been burned in the past by adding sections based on what seemed popular to some people (KewlEdit anyone?).

On deviantART there are quite a few calendars there indeed.  However, the most popular one of all time, Esela, has 1,910 downloads. The most popular DesktopX calendar object, has nearly twice as many downloads here on WinCustomize. And DesktopX 2 isn't even released yet. So these are downloads by the beta users.

It's not that we don't think Rainlendar is a good program. I've used it and it is quite nice. But the evidence seems to support that it is currently not very popular yet.  Maybe things will change over time and it will make that threshold.

Incidentally, DesktopX 2 uses fewer resources than Rainlendar. So if you're worried about memory or CPU, you're actually better off using DesktopX 2 just for your calendar.  However, as someone else pointed out, Rainlendar has more features for scheduling so it's not an apples and apples comparison.  But it's not fair to say that DesktopX is some sort of resource hog. It's probably the most efficient desktop enhancement out there.

And DesktopX 2 isn't even released yet.

Frogboy, by the looks of the lastest poll I think not alot of us are going to use DX 2. Rainlendar is far easier to use but hey, your the boss.

It's probably the most efficient desktop enhancement out there.

IMHO I disagree. I like point and click desktops. That is to say, to change a skin in one click like Litestep.

If you need more proof, go look through the screenshots section...almost all of them have Rainlender in there. How many people take shots of their trillian skins?

Brad..........i have read your comments and respect your opinion but you are making the mistake of underestimating the popularity of Rainlendar. Before we "lock horns" on this subject i am going to consider my response carefully and then i will return to this thread so we can debate this matter further.
I must say that many of us will be very disappointed by your post.
I am going to be "like a dog with a bone" on this subject. >

must say that many of us will be very disappointed by your post.

I to am disappointed. Alot of people use rainlander. ALOT of people. Maybe because it is freeware? who knows. I love it because I can set up appointments, ect.

If I lock horns with Brad, will not be the first time.

BTW Leo, well said.

Kona - then show your evidence.  Here's a clue: You saying " a lot of people use X" doesn't make it true.

If Rainlendar is popular, then show us the proof. 

Ignoring the statistics I painstakenly provided does not help your case. The Alexa score on the Rainlendar home page is very high. The # of documented downloads of its skins is low.

DesktopX, btw, is the third most popular desktop enhancement on the Internet. 

http://download.com.com/3101-2019-0-1.html?tag=pop

Last week DesktopX  got nearly 11,000 downloads.

So unless you have actual facts to back up your assertions, you're just making noise.  As I said I think Rainlendar is a very nice program. I can see why some people would use it. I personally use DesktopX and not jsut because I work at Stardock.

I think I've been around long enough to recognize the difference between a cult following and mainstream appeal. Rainlendar has a small, vocal following. But it'll need to get beyond that.  WinCustomize doesn't exist to put small apps into the major leagues. It is for those major apps to get to the next level and in turn WinCustomize benefits from the large following. It is a two-way relationship.

The question you guys need to answer is this: What is the benefit to WinCustomize of adding a Rainlendar section? Will it bring more users to WC? That is the litmus test. But there is no indication that there is a significant (in terms of number, not # of posts Kona) following for Rainlendar. The # of downloads of its skins is quite low and the home page for the program is currently not very popular.

There are lots of people who swear by skinnable editors, skinnable clocks, skinnable CPU meters, and so forth. To them, their favorite skinnable app is very popular.  But it's not clear whether such specialty apps have enough popularity to be side by side with heavy weights like WindowBlinds, Media Player, IconPackager, Winamp, Litestep, etc.

I did a side-by-side comparison from all the major skin sites comparing Rainlender to Trillian. Here are the results...

----

Trillian 0.70/Pro
Skinbase - 31
Velocity Art - 7
Cerulean Studios - 103
DevaintART - 50
DeviantART (0.70) - 88
DeviantART (Pro) - 90
Customize.org - 31
Skinz.org - 4

Rainlendar
Skinbase - 77
Velocity Art - n/a
DeviantART - 135
Customize.org - n/a
Skins.org - n/a

---

Although there are more sites hoting Trillian skins, the ones that have both...Rainlender seems to have the edge in popularity. DeviantART has 228 Trillian skins in total. They started accepting submissions in early 2001. Rainlender's first submission was in December of 2002. So you be the judge as to which is more popular. The way I see it...Rainlender is off to a good start.


P.S. I mean no way trying to be a smart ass or anything like that. I really like this site a lot and I don't want to see a new section be put up and have it waste away like KewlPad or Beatnik.

Kona - then show your evidence. Here's a clue: You saying " a lot of people use X" doesn't make it true.

My evidence is i have none. Well i do but i do not wish to argue at this time.

My post was refering to the WC poll=


It seems to me ALOT of people are not going to use DX. I use Litestep and nextstart. I think both use less resourses because i can run them on my 233 mhz machine. I can not use DX on this hardware.

well that image did not work...

in any case brad, I will not argue with you. no point in it.

What is "a LOT". You mean not th emajority? According to the poll right now, only roughly 20% of users responded that they won't be using DesktopX.

Also, Trillian's home page has a very good skin library which makes a side by side comparison not valid.

The # of skins something has is not indicative of its popularity, it has more to do with how easy it is to create skins for it.  The # of downloads is the question.

Poll

What do you think you'll use DesktopX 2 for the most?


74 votes
1- Enhanced Desktop Icons






2- Alternative Desktop Themes






3- Calendars, Performance Meters or System Info






4- Weather objects, RSS feeds, reading of external web info






5- I have some other use in mind






6- I don't plan to use DesktopX 2




That is the poll I was referring to Brad. Seems alot of people here do not want to use DX2. Me included. WB is way more popular.

And so is rainlander.

Brad, it might also have something to do with the fact rainlander is free...

hmmmm call me a free loading SOB but seriously what would you rather have? Rainlander (free) or DX (not free)

Kona,

You would make a good advocate for the opposing point of view due to your obtuseness.

How is Rainlendar more popular? In the current poll of around 75 respondants about 80% of those responding say they're going to use DesktopX.

DesktopX is the third most poular download on Download.com's desktop enhancements.

The most popular DX calendar objects (which only recently started coming out) get far more downloads than the #1 rainlendar calendars on any site that lists download counts.

In other words, there is no evidence to support your position. While there is a great deal of evidence to support the obvious -- DesktopX is vastly more popular.

And DesktopX's popularity is irrelevant to whether there's a Rainlendar section or not. The issue is whether Rainlendard has become popular enough to have earned a section here. There is no evidence to suggest that it is.

I have presented a considerable amount of evidence that shows that Rainlendar does not seem to have passed that threshold. Your repeated and totally unsubstantiated claims to the contrary don't prove anything other than your obnoxiousness.

And DesktopX's popularity is irrelevant to whether there's a Rainlendar section or not. The issue is whether Rainlendard has become popular enough to have earned a section here. There is no evidence to suggest that it is.

however, there are people here that want a riany section added, as Leo said, it is VERY popular.

I have tried and used DX when I had my powerful AMD machine running. I have nothing bad to say about it, other than it is not a proggie for me.

have presented a considerable amount of evidence that shows that Rainlendar does not seem to have passed that threshold. Your repeated and totally unsubstantiated claims to the contrary don't prove anything other than your obnoxiousness.

And BTW if I had said anythig like that to you, it would be called a personal attack.

Maybe i don't know anything of what I am talking about but I was trying to point out that there are other people here that want a rainy section.

Out of curiosity, what takes more resources? DX or LiteStep? I really do not care. I do not have enough energy to argue with you brad. I can argue with Jafo all day but not you.

"humble expression number #32"

The most popular DX calendar objects (which only recently started coming out) get far more downloads than the #1 rainlendar calendars on any site that lists download counts.

Again, not to be offending, but does Rainlender have BOTH a hugely popular site (WinCustomize) hosting skins AND Download.com hosting the app? Regardless of how good DX calendars are, you can't judge until Rainlender is in the same position.

Just forget about it guys...

The bottom line is Stardock will make money with DX and not with Rainlendar...In a way Rainlendar would be competition and would slow sales in DX...I am sure the effect on sales would be very minimal...but a buck is a buck

I would probably do the same if it was my company
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