FAQ: Why can't I download any more stuff?
Sunday, May 30, 2004 by Frogboy | Discussion: WinCustomize Talk
Problem: After having downloaded 50 megabytes or more of skins, themes, icons, or wallpapers I am unable to download any more without having to purchase a subscription. What gives?
Discussion:
As of May 2004, WinCustomize.com uses approximately 27,000 GIGABYTES (not bits) of bandwidth each month. The cost of this bandwidth, as you can imagine, is quite significant. In addition, while the site runs on a day to day basis thanks to a small but dedicated group of volunteer moderators and administrators, it still requires consider IT resources which are not free along with occasional hardware upgrades (a typical server might cost $10,000).
At the end of the day, someone has to pay for this. You are not paying for skins and themes, you are simply helping pay for the bandwidth costs that you have used. The ISP that provides WinCustomize the bandwidth that has to be paid for each month doesn't care what is being downloaded. They don't care whether it's skins, themes, music, documentation, videos, whatever. Bandwidth is bandwidth and it has to be paid for. Thousands and thousands of dollars each month.
Once a user has downloaded 50 megabytes of skins and themes (and in actuality used considerably more than that in the form of previews and library browsing) they are asked to contribute *something* to the site.
One can contribute to WinCustomize in one of 4 ways:
(1) They can being creating skins and themes and icon packages and submitting them. That is, contribute to the library that they themselves have used. Users with Apprentice access or higher are immune to the bandwidth caps.
(2) They can help their fellow users on the message forums. Answer questions, give them a hand or tips. This is another path to gaining higher access.
(3) They can purchase one of Stardock's programs (CursorXP, WindowBlinds, DesktopX, Object Desktop, IconPackager, etc.). Since Stardock is the one who ultimately pays the bandwidth bill, they have agreed to pay for the bandwidth used by Stardock customers.
(4) They can purchase a WinCustomize account which is $19.95 and not only gives them unlimited bandwidth useages but access to premium suites, access to the WinCustomize skin browser (an extremely cool program), the WinCustomize system tray add-on, and more.
We hope that you will join our community and help it continue to grow and thrive. It is only because of those who contribute back to the site that it is able to exist today.
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Reply #82 Thursday, September 9, 2004 11:11 PM
I just found out about all of these marvelous products a couple of days ago while doing a search to change the Windows XP icons on my laptop. I like to have themes on my computers to relieve the boredom of the usual Microsoft look.
I've downloaded the available free versions but I haven't installed them yet. I've been trying to find all of the information I could on all of the products. I created an Excel spreadsheet listing all of the programs available and so far I've found listed at least 26 products for Object Desktop - which doesn't include the Plus or other extra packages you can purchase. What a fantastic amount of products for just $49.95.
I have to wait a few more days before I can purchase Object Desktop and the subscription here. But I don't see why people make such a fuss about not being able to download more than 50MB. The price is so negligable compared to what you get.
Sorry I went on for so long.
Reply #83 Saturday, September 11, 2004 11:40 AM
Reply #84 Friday, September 17, 2004 1:56 PM
Reply #85 Sunday, October 3, 2004 5:39 PM
The key word is 'attempting', as, everytime I tried to download said item, I ended up running into a 'page cannot be displayed'. I didn't download anything, but, yet, I am told I did.
Reply #86 Friday, October 8, 2004 11:44 AM
Reply #87 Friday, October 8, 2004 11:08 PM
| I spend loads of time on this website and I think we should be awarded for using the website lots as well as having to pay for subscription |
Unfortunately, using the site does nothing to help defer the costs of maintaining a large site such as this one. Web site space costs lots of money as well as the servers to maintain it.
The only way other that I've heard to defer such costs is by spyware type advertisement. And, this site, to my gratitude, does not support that type of cost deferment.
Reply #88 Sunday, October 10, 2004 9:39 PM
Keep up the good work and I hope I can pay you back with a skin of my own at some time in the future.
Reply #89 Monday, October 11, 2004 7:54 PM
| Come on people it is only $10 dollars a year. |
Exactly, less than one dollar a month.
Ill bet your internet connection costs quite a bit more than that.
Reply #92 Tuesday, October 12, 2004 5:35 PM
| About $90 a month |
And I thought we paid a lot ($50...)
Then again, is that 90 a fixed rate, or pay as you go?
Proves the point even more though... The claim 'its too expensive' is baseless, and shows a lack of cerebral function.
[Message Edited]
Reply #93 Tuesday, October 12, 2004 9:39 PM
90 AUS is about 60 USD....and yes, it's fixed....unless I go over 3 gig....and much of that is dl'ing junk walls/skins for moderation, etc...so there's a cost, not just in 'time' of being a site admin.
Has its rewards on occasion though, when I exile some twit who really deserves it....
Reply #94 Wednesday, October 13, 2004 9:16 AM
(thats like, $20 u.s. I think)
Reply #96 Wednesday, October 13, 2004 11:24 PM
Reply #97 Saturday, October 16, 2004 4:46 PM
Reply #98 Sunday, October 17, 2004 9:25 AM
It'd only take a month or two to torrent everything.
Of course, you'd need to set up a tracker and modify the site to take the torrents into acount.
The trickiest part would probably be keeping everything seeded and/or booting people that don't at least seed the filesize.
Hmmm.
-SoulTorn D.
Reply #99 Sunday, October 17, 2004 12:37 PM
Reply #100 Tuesday, October 19, 2004 4:04 PM
I think a torrent system could work here however it would be hard to keep everthing seeded and maybe would still require the site to remain the same for some of the content.
Why not impement torrents on the newer stuff and see how things go ???
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Reply #81 Thursday, September 9, 2004 9:14 PM
And to say that what you get with Object Desktop is worth the money is a gross understatment. I have yet to see anyone offer as much as what you get with Object Desktop + the great support you receive when you act civil. It was by far the best purchase I have made to date of any software.