Why exactly did I renew? (or Desktop Aquarium is standalone???)
Tuesday, March 2, 2004 by Code Monkey | Discussion: WinCustomize Talk
"Wow, check that out, Desktop Aquarium, well, it's a neat toy, let's give it a go..."
>>>> Pony up $8 if you want to even see it in action <<<<
Can I just say WTF? I've paid $120 for continued support of the exact same software that I purchased over 2 years ago. The only things that I have found remotely useful on a continual basis is Icon Packager and WindowBlinds, neither of which would be worth a damn without the free support of the design community.
Desktop Aquarium would have been the perfect vehicle to let the subscribers know you actually intended to add content to the OD suite, and instead you let us know how much you just hope we'll keep ponying up the cash for incremental updates that do not warrant $35/year in any way at all.
Reply #2 Tuesday, March 2, 2004 10:21 PM
Reply #3 Tuesday, March 2, 2004 10:30 PM
when I signed on three years ago, OD included component manager,control center, windowblinds,iconpackager,desktopx and object bar. nothing else.
now, I have 17 different programs available to me, and updated regularly with new things added each time, not just bugfixes. all for LESS than I paid for my original subscription. I'd say that is worth the continued subscription price any day of the week.
Reply #4 Wednesday, March 3, 2004 12:06 AM
[Message Edited]
Reply #5 Wednesday, March 3, 2004 2:07 AM
[Message Edited]
Reply #8 Wednesday, March 3, 2004 2:40 AM
>
Reply #11 Wednesday, March 3, 2004 10:05 AM
Reply #12 Wednesday, March 3, 2004 12:25 PM
Just curious though. How is the aquarium different than just using the different aquarium objects from the library here? Just the fact that it's all packaged together and doesn't need DX loaded?
It seems to me it looks like a great way to demontrate DX's capacities to those who don't have it, but this widget requires Desktop X installed. I dunno. I guess I just don't get it. I pesonnally think it would probably be best if made a standalone EXE widget thingy like DX Pro can make.
I don't blame Stardock for selling it, 8$ isn't expensive. I just don't understand why DX users can't just make their own aquarium. *shrug* Or maybe I'm just thick. 
Reply #13 Wednesday, March 3, 2004 12:39 PM
There many, many freeware sites available.
[Message Edited]
Reply #14 Wednesday, March 3, 2004 12:46 PM
Let's see, in 2003 there was:
Keyboard LaunchPad 1.0
DesktopX 2 (and now 2.1 which is a major version too)
WindowBlinds 4
The new WindowFX stuff
The new IconPackager
Theme Manager (a rewrite from WinStyles)
IconDeveloper 1.0
SkinStudio 4
Now, two of the programs were completely new to Object Desktop. IconDeveloper is $20. Keyboard LaunchPad is $10. That's $30 in new software that you never were promised but that you got because you have Object Desktop.
Add to that the discounts on things such as Aquarium and other suites and you're nearly at the $34.95 upgrade price. And that's ignoring DesktopX 2, SkinStudio 4, WindowBlinds 4 and the other significant updates that came out.
Stardock had to pay thousands of dollars to license the fish in Aquarium. It wasn't cheap to do. And fish swimming on the desktop is not something we ever implied or promised would be part of Object Desktop. AND YET we still gave away a few of those fish for free as DesktopX objects in the library here just for Object Desktop users.
Like Paxx said: DesktopX users could make their own aquarium. We even provide some of the fish for Object Desktop users. But since we had to license the models for those fish, someone has to pay for that. If it came as part of Object Desktop, then we would have to make a cut somewhere else and that wouldn't be fair to those Object Desktpo users who have no interest in the aquarium.
It makes sense that those who are interested in the aquarium be the ones who help pay their share of the licensing costs for getting the fish.
Reply #15 Wednesday, March 3, 2004 1:16 PM
Reply #16 Wednesday, March 3, 2004 2:14 PM
Reply #17 Wednesday, March 3, 2004 2:18 PM
Reply #18 Wednesday, March 3, 2004 2:20 PM
Yes you do Stumpy..............
https://www.stardock.com/products/aquarium/
Aquarium Desktop for existing Object Desktop Users
**You must have DesktopX from Object Desktop installed**
Reply #19 Wednesday, March 3, 2004 2:28 PM
Reply #20 Wednesday, March 3, 2004 2:34 PM
I think the differences are.......
- DX doesn't have to be running to use it, just installed.
- I'm not sure, but I don't think the Aquarium theme for DX has all the features of this one...
Moving plants, fish become inactive if behind a window, etc.
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Reply #1 Tuesday, March 2, 2004 9:52 PM
I agree. I'll pony up and protest against the $8.00 price as well!!