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 #122 Thursday, November 4, 2004 3:08 AM
I don't use plastic or check (due to past bad thing with them being stolen.)
I went to see if I could sign up using that method, but I found no print sheet or an adress to mail it in, with the payment.
(And people need to learn howto stop whining and get a job.)
Reply #124 Thursday, November 4, 2004 12:13 PM
Reply #126 Thursday, November 4, 2004 12:56 PM
Reply #127 Thursday, November 4, 2004 12:58 PM
Reply #129 Thursday, November 4, 2004 1:22 PM
!
Reply #130 Thursday, November 4, 2004 4:38 PM
Author: Chris Wilhelms
Nick: SupremeWeapon
UserID: 705036
User Level: 2
Bytes Downloaded: 51587 k
Reply #131 Thursday, November 4, 2004 4:43 PM
Now....51587 k is the salient point.
Having a passing knowledge of English and/or mathematics, I translate that simplisticly to be 51,587,000 bytes....however that ignores the reality that a kb is 1024 bytes....but do the math...multiply 50 by 1024 by 1024 and you'll get the preset limit for a Level 2....
BTW......the BBB will be amused to death [to use a title from Roger Waters]....
Reply #132 Friday, November 5, 2004 1:40 PM
(He probably doesn't know howto use a calculator).
50x1024x1024 = 52,428,800 bytes.
The owners of Wincustomize and Stardock are very graciously giving everyone that supplies an e-mail 50 MB's (52,428,800 bytes incase you have short term memory lose) of downloading.
They DON'T make you pay for that, which is extremely nice. Even when you sign up for the FREE account, it tells you that you have LIMITED download unless you subscribe for 20 bucks for 2 years.
You can't get ANY magazine for that price, let alone Computer Programs and materials.
So people, quit fu**ing complaining.
Either dish out the 20 bucks, or just shut up.
Alright, my 2 cents are in...
Keep up the good work artists. ^__^
Reply #134 Friday, November 5, 2004 2:51 PM
Reply #135 Friday, November 5, 2004 5:39 PM
| #134 by Citizen Altarius Tetanus - 11/5/2004 2:51:13 PM ... and now, people will make tons of bad skins, just to enter in apprentice group. |
Submitting sub-standard skins will never get anyone promoted. It's not quantity that counts, it's quality. 
Reply #136 Saturday, November 6, 2004 1:41 PM
Might have done something wrong or dumb..? Why yes, I did vote for Bush, why do you ask?
Reply #137 Sunday, November 7, 2004 1:32 PM
What is standard for quality?? If you think that some skin is good that doesn`t mean that all people think the same.
Reply #138 Sunday, November 7, 2004 2:01 PM
Reply #139 Sunday, November 7, 2004 6:10 PM
| I still don't understand why looking at the screenshots counts towards the introductory 50 meg download cap |
Accessing any part of the site requires bandwidth, not just the library content itself....and all of the bandwidth costs money, not just the file downloads....
Reply #140 Sunday, November 7, 2004 8:14 PM
| Accessing any part of the site requires bandwidth, not just the library content itself....and all of the bandwidth costs money, not just the file downloads.... |
I totally understand that aspect. I just remember the days before my promotion and it struck me as odd that screenshots counted against the trial period whereas wallpaper previews did not. It just seems that if a non-subscriber came to the site in search of wallpapers, a good number of them are available in a ready-to-go format through the preview function.
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Reply #121 Wednesday, November 3, 2004 11:22 PM
ChibiMan...no-one 'forces' anyone to do anything.
Commercial 'cost' requires financial input for services rendered, hence the general request for contribution.
Anyone is free to exercise his democratic right and abstain from contribution, as this site is likewise free to withhold access to the service.
It's what is known as 'fair trading'....