Comments about the Windows customization poll
Wednesday, March 17, 2004 by paxx | Discussion: WinCustomize Talk
It's nice to have a poll, but I find it better to hear people voice their comments about their answer.
Here are my comments, you are all welcome to voice yours in this thread.
Personnaly, given the way the question was written, I had no choice but vote for #1. Windows customization is indeed getting more popular, there is no denying it. But I could have just as well have answered #3 if originality and quality was concerned. It is my opinion that the days are long gone where skinners were trying to be original, come up with new imaginative ways to have things look and feel. I guess, that's what happens when skinning gets a bit more mainstream (although it's still not really completely so either - read last paragraph): skins become more conservative. Oh, there are still lots of very nice looking skins, but very few daring ones.
Also, while I do agree that more and more people are getting into customization, I'd like to mention that it's still a small niche. I think it's still a very long way before skinning (or customization) come to the masses - if it ever does. Don't forget that most computer users don't even know how to change their friggen resolution, let alone start applying different skins!
My two cents. Here, your turn now. 
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Reply #42 Thursday, March 18, 2004 7:57 PM
| I used to do this just with desktop wallpaper back on Windows 3.1 |
Ah...and I was doing it with Calmira.....a shell that could turn 3.1 into 95 and beyond......again 'stronger' skinning, as it were...
Reply #43 Thursday, March 18, 2004 8:07 PM
Reply #44 Friday, March 19, 2004 4:17 AM
IMHO i prefer the odd and unique free form skins.. but thats just me...all i think jafo is trying to do is spur the "Outside the norm" creativity in you guys....ask your selves "when was the last time i made a skin that was just fun?" some little weird skin that looked cool to you, but prolly wouldnt be a big hit.....
look at some of the most popular skins for winamp alone... they are the weird odd shaped ones ....(examples) invicta,octave,t3-amp, to name a few,,, some times thinking outside the norm is actually the most popular thinking
as long as you are having fun making the skins, cause you like to, then thats all that counts......
but yes i have noticed there are those who are more interested in #'s than having a good time making skins. *** i will not mention any self involved ego fluffing posts of late ***
this is just my 2 cents ,,,,,
[Message Edited]
Reply #45 Friday, March 19, 2004 9:09 PM
| If a compact start menu is a good idea, then why does anyone need to see the text on the left either? |
I guess I better not do that then... I thought of that a while ago. You can tell, much like the right side of the panel, what they are and what they do.
I didn't try to do it yet in SkinStudio but I actually thought it wasn't possible.
Reply #46 Friday, March 19, 2004 9:20 PM
| If a compact start menu is a good idea, then why does anyone need to see the text on the left either? |
Well, because the left pane is customizable, unlike the right pane. I for one have sortcuts to my mostly used folders in my start menu left pane. And since all folders look alike, it's convenient to be able to tell tem apart. But I still applaude the novel idea. Maybe youo can try to submit it again, and specify this time that it was done on purpose.
Reply #47 Friday, March 19, 2004 9:26 PM
I guess a sub theme with the option would be the best option.
joetheblow - I didn't manage to get rid of the space the text takes up which is what I tried for a while to do, just hide the text as white on white...
Anyhow. The skin has been accepted to tkae part in the GUIO now (without white on white), but anyone can add that back easily enough with skin studio if they choose
Reply #48 Friday, March 19, 2004 9:36 PM
Good to know.
Reply #50 Friday, March 19, 2004 10:13 PM
What do you mean by "change the folder location"?
What I did is create shortcuts to folders at the top of the Start menu's left panel. Just drag any folder where you want it, towards the top of the left panel (above the recently used programs), and it will create a shortcut. Nothing fancy.
Reply #52 Monday, March 22, 2004 6:08 PM
Reply #53 Monday, March 22, 2004 6:13 PM
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Reply #41 Thursday, March 18, 2004 7:57 PM
Oh...this is why I voted that customizing in on the increase still as I see other people's desktops on a daily basis and when we deployed NT lots of them discovered Webshots, and since having XP, a lot of them have found out about themes and things....sometimes they come up with (IMHO) AWFUL combinations of fonts/colours/sizes, even if they've still got the standard Windows "skin"...sometimes it's simple things like moving the task bar to vertical, or switching to the "classic" view, but very few have the vanilla XP look and feel these days.