CATMANDU21 CATMANDU21

My two cents on Stardock.............

▼

My two cents on Stardock.............

from WinCustomize Forums
In my opinion, Stardock's out of control on the Premium Dream pricing scheme. The real reason this site is hot is because of the free submissions made by aspiring artists who frequent this site like TheMasterBaron, AzDude and others who have really brought Stardock's Dream Site area all of the hype it has and have also saved Microsoft's butts. Stardock's Premium Dreams have had little impact on the overall success of Dreamscene's, if anything Stardock and Microsoft are riding the coattails of all of Stardock's free submitters. Also realize that if the free users stopped submitting, Stardock would be dead in the water on Dreamscenes. Stardock shouldn't have any premium Dreamscenes, they should be free contributions for all the hits and revenue their users produce. They can charge for Object Desktop, Windowsblinds and the rest of their 100+ other products they have for sale on their site. Just to add, my opinion on why Stardock is charging is because Microsoft made things much harder for Stardock with Vista. In the XP days, Stardock brought Vista-like interface changes to the table. In that era, Stardock cornered the market on GUI customization. Today, things aren't so rosy. Vista performs many of Stardock's Object Desktop features natively, leaving Stardock to find new ways to make money. Understand Stardock's days are numbered in the GUI customiztion business. As OS's get prettier with age like Vista and MacOS, Stardock's software can now be considered "bloatware" and a waste of precious RAM and processor time.

Also, isn't Stardock getting any Microsoft kickbacks being that Dreamscenes and Deskscapes/Dreammaker are collaborative efforts as they work into one another, I mean Stardock has bailed Microsoft out on what would have been a pathetic release with only 10+ dreams available from Microsoft when Stardock currently brought over 200 more Dreams to the table? Finally, if you purchase any of these Premium Dreams, you'll have to activate this product, a little overboard for a $10 wallpaper. Even better, if your system should fail and you are reinstalling Windows and you don't take backup images like a friend of mine who purchased one, then chances are your going to have to call/e-mail Stardock to reactivate your Premium Dream as this activation is paying attention to your SID's when activated to prevent piracy so a reinstall or sysprep would force reactivation, yuck! Saddest part, after the paying customer has all these hoops to jump through, I can guarantee crackers have already infiltrated the activation so in the end the guy paying the $10 feels like, um..........

Hopefully, Stardock's work in the GUI business will not be in vain, leading to a buyout or takeover by Microsoft being that your GUI enhancement's have influenced Vista greatly. In the end Stardock could take over the GUI development portion of the next Windows OS after Vista, which would buy Stardock more time in the game. Some may say it's crazy, but look at the Winternals acquisition. Winternals showed Microsoft how to use System Restore and make it work. They also introduced Microsoft as well as BartPE, UBCD and Reatogo to the bootable Windows environment, which changed the face of Vista as alot of Winternals ERCD's features are integrated into Vista's install DVD. Business constantly changes and evolves, eventually Stardock's position in the market will change drastically, hopefully for the better!!
24,599 views 112 replies
Reply #51 from WinCustomize Forums Top
That was a fast machine 3 or 4 years ago.
Reply #52 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Hehe.....
The gripe here is the money you pay for the program, (fine and well deserved), and then the more money you pay just to use a skin written for the program you already payed for. Then the more money you pay to use the company's website without being inundated with advertisements. The more disposable money we are willing to shell out for this eye-candy hobby, the more we are going to be asked of.


The Political Machine 2024
Reply #53 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I'm willing to bet whining won't get you anywhere. Why is it so hard for you to comprehend that anyone has the right to charge for their work. That you.. are not entitled to ANYthing for free.
Reply #54 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I'm willing to bet whining won't get you anywhere. Why is it so hard for you to comprehend that anyone has the right to charge for their work. That you.. are not entitled to ANYthing for free.


It is a disease very much a part of the internet world. If I could give everyone in the world a free car, there would be those that would complain of having to buy gas. Just the way it is...life in the big city.
Reply #55 from WinCustomize Forums Top
It is a disease very much a part of the internet world. If I could give everyone in the world a free car, there would be those that would complain of having to buy gas. Just the way it is...life in the big city.


You nailed it Kenwas. But, plese let's all remember there would also be those who would be thankful and happy they only had to pay for gas.  
Reply #56 from WinCustomize Forums Top
That was a fast machine 3 or 4 years ago.


Tell your mother when she gets change for a penny, I'll pay her for last night.   
Reply #57 from WinCustomize Forums Top
no need for personal attacks.. they will get your posting priveleges revoked...
Reply #58 from WinCustomize Forums Top
The more disposable money we are willing to shell out for this eye-candy hobby, the more we are going to be asked of.



Try being a musician...now thats an expensive hobby!I suggest you find another hobby...  
Reply #59 from WinCustomize Forums Top


Try being a musician...now thats an expensive hobby!I suggest you find another hobby...  



John ( vStyler) make good music's too..
Reply #60 from JoeUser Forums Top
All this over a $10 wallpaper ?

Meanwhile, over on CNN, we intently, studiously ponder topics of the moment such as

..... pandemic sweeps Africa

..... Tsunami wipes out Asia

..... Politicians disenfranchise Voters brains

..... Voters search for Politicians brains

Meanwhile on JoeUser "Activation disgrace of $10 WallPaper"

*Sigh*   

Reply #61 from WinCustomize Forums Top
All this over a $10 wallpaper ?


Yeah, 'tis sad, isn't it! Personally, I think Stardock should start using its 'press any key' tazer technology on anyone who complains/questions its pricing policy...they hit any key and they get zapped. You'd certainly recognise them in the street....they're the ones with scorched eyebrows and frizzed up hair.

.. Voters search for Politicians brains


And meet with the same success as those early explorers who searched in vain for the fountain of youth. Perhaps Stardock technology could invent/develop one.....a politician brain, that is.
Reply #62 from WinCustomize Forums Top

The gripe here is the money you pay for the program, (fine and well deserved), and then the more money you pay just to use a skin written for the program you already payed for. Then the more money you pay to use the company's website without being inundated with advertisements. The more disposable money we are willing to shell out for this eye-candy hobby, the more we are going to be asked of.

The alternative is much higher base prices.  Consider the price of "upgrading" from XP to Windows Vista.  If I have Windows XP Professional.  The Upgrade price to Windows Vista Ultimate is over $200.

By contrast, someone who bought WindowBlinds 5 in November of 2005 for $19.95 has gotten years of significant updates and access to thousands of free skins on a free site.

Another contrast, if I buy a PC game these days, I usually end up paying $50.  Then, less than a year later, I'm usually expected to pay over $30 for an expansion pack for that game.  And then there's the MMOs which are $50 plus the $40 expansion pack and then $15 per month to enjoy something whose fun is heavily dependend on other players who are paying the same thing.

Nothing exists in a vacuum. For someone to complain that the existence of premium content and advertising on the free site to get free content is unfair strikes me as being unaware of the larger economics out there.

I'd say that windows customization software and content is about the best deal out there.  I can't think of another genre of computer software and content that gives more bang for the buck.

Reply #63 from WinCustomize Forums Top
It is a disease very much a part of the internet world. If I could give everyone in the world a free car, there would be those that would complain of having to buy gas. Just the way it is...life in the big city.


I promise I won't complain Ken..can I get mine in metallic rose ?
Make it a convertible too

Reply #64 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I'd say that windows customization software and content is about the best deal out there. I can't think of another genre of computer software and content that gives more bang for the buck.


The sad thing is, Brad, there'll always be some who will complain, no matter what you say to answer the critics. Those who bolt at high speed from the idea of 'user pays' are never, ever gonna be convinced to happily pay for what they want. Fortunately, GUI customisation has a very large audience in those of us who have been/are converted, who will always purchase Stardock's fantastic/value for money software and, who will support the skinning community and not expect everything for nix.


Btw, being the resident pirate, and a captain at that, where's my complimentary Pirate Suite....for zilch, nix, nada....gratis, even.
Reply #65 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I have always said that these "premium" dreams should be free for Object Desktop subscribers. It would be an added reason to subscribe, as I currently do. I am finding, however, less and less reason to continue my OD subscription though since I don't use window blinds on Vista and updates are not as often as they should be for full Vista compatability. I really think that with the premium dreams added, they would be making a smart business move. (regardless of this, the dreams they are posting are WAY too expensive)
Reply #66 from WinCustomize Forums Top
(regardless of this, the dreams they are posting are WAY too expensive)


Compared to what?.. Take what you do for a living.. realizing that this is a real person spending their real time making these dreams.. and ask yourself.. would I do.. what I do for half what they pay me?

Something tells me you wouldn't and neither would anyone else complaining about the pricing of artwork on this site.  
Reply #67 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I use to paint for a living, also It was hard to peace all people though. This is what is going on too. Even all people on this earth No Peace. Only Peace is in Jesus Christ. Have You ask Jesus to come in your heart & ask him to forgive your sins too. Well We all will be Before Him one day! Will You Hear Him say, Come In You have My Peace!
Heartitude  
Reply #68 from WinCustomize Forums Top
holy crap when did Jesus Christ make his way into this thread?

And for those that are complaining about a ten dollar price tag... grow up. Either pay the pittance or don't. I don't see a Stardock overlord whipping customers to pay for something they don't want to. Frogboy once said that if 10 dollars is too much for you to afford, then you are simply NOT the target audience for Stardock's products. I really don't see how it gets any simpler than that. If by chance you *still* don't get the point, then go study some economics before you critique how a business does it's work.
Reply #69 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I have always said that these "premium" dreams should be free for Object Desktop subscribers.

Desktop Earth, the most popular premium dream of all time, is already available for free for Object Desktop users. Two additional free premium dreams are about to be released for it.

But that doesn't mean all premium dreams will be made available for Object Desktop users.

 

Reply #70 from WinCustomize Forums Top
holy crap
Jesus Christ
LMAO
Reply #71 from WinCustomize Forums Top
LMAO


Umm.. your supposed to be driving.. get on with it Mister !   
Reply #72 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Me thinks that if these whining critics/complainers were to save every 2 cents worth from every whining post, they'd have more than enough to buy several premium dreams....and Vista Ultimate, Object Desktop and Muliplicity.

Trouble is, they have a 2 cent gripe and expect 10 cents change.
Reply #73 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I use to paint for a living, also It was hard to peace all people though. This is what is going on too. Even all people on this earth No Peace. Only Peace is in Jesus Christ. Have You ask Jesus to come in your heart & ask him to forgive your sins too. Well We all will be Before Him one day! Will You Hear Him say, Come In You have My Peace!
Heartitude 

Thank you for the little light relief. However, I'm thinking you need to be brought a little closer to Jesus...   

 

Reply #74 from JoeUser Forums Top
Thank you for the little light relief. However, I'm thinking you need to be brought a little closer to Jesus


There's a $10 entry fee tho .....

Quite apart from the fact that life is too short to rush to meet one's Maker due to a dispute over $10 - Stardock do a good job in my view, and deserve their success.

Even if its all a conn - and we pander to the Lifetime Conspiracy Lovers vision of a nightmare under every stone regardless of facts - Stardock's would be classed as a damned clever one, and they would equally deserve their success   

Geez what a fuss over nothing, even The Simpsons would have changed channels   


Reply #75 from WinCustomize Forums Top
..... Voters search for Politicians brains

Meanwhile on JoeUser "Activation disgrace of $10 WallPaper"


Well to be honest, I care more about a $10 wallpaper than most politicians..