Windows XP and what it will mean to the skin community

from WinCustomize Forums
So what do you guys think XP is going to do for skinning?

I think it's the best thing that could happen. First off, it will start to get people off of Windows 9x/ME which means developers don't have to focus working around bizarre Windows bugs as much. If WindowBlinds 3 didn't have to run on Win9x/ME, it would be shipping already for instance.

XP also introduces people to the idea of a skinnable UI since you can switch between classic and Luna. An dpeople are already expecting that they should be able to do more. There's people currently trying to "Crack" digital signatures (I'm sure the ecommerce crooks are anxiously hoping they succeed) so that people can make (in theory) their own XP "visual styles".

Of course, that also begs the question, how many people with ME/98 are going to upgrade to XP?
4,636 views 9 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Upgrading will take many, many years... And I don't think XP will make such a big impact skinwise. Many people will take the skins for granted, just like they take the (relatively limited) customisability of the current Windowses for granted. I think I can count the number of people I know (in the physical world) that have changed the colours of Windows on one hand.

WinAmp jumpstarted skinning on this platform and it has been steadily growing. XP might speed things up a bit, but I doubt it will have any major impact.
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
We will be over ran, have our bandwith choked and eventially disband to remote messageboard on the outer edges of the Internet.....

Star Control: Origins
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top

/me thinks that was maybe just a little dramatic....
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Well, I run 98SE at home and plan switch to XP as soon as I can get Dell to ship it to me. I think Craeonics might be underestimating the general public on this. I think most people would love to change their desktop they just lack the know-how and the patience. I see people every day changing everything from colors to icons to wallpapers on their machines. While basic, they still want their machine to be an extension of themselves. XP will introduce a basic customised desktop to the masses. I beleive this taste will lead to a hunger for much more. Hey let's not forget 600,00 unique visitors here last month...
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
They'll hunt us down! There's no hiding!! Arrgh!
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I think the rise in the number of unique vsitors to this site is a testimony to the rise in interest that XP is generating for skinning. And the damn software hasn't even hit the shelves yet! Once it does, I *do* think that the numbers will rise at an even higher rate.

In previous version of Windows, the intro movie that new users were greeted with didn't hype the fact that you could change your color scheme; XP's intro movie *does* hype the fact that XP is skinnable (I forget whether or not they actually use that term), which in and of itself will generate interest.

And I think people are getting more comfortable with computers nowadays. The generation that competely swore them off is now greatly outnumbered. As people's comfort-level with PCs rises, so will their curiosities. As they learn what their PCs are capable of, they'll begin to explore those possiblities.

I think XP will do wonders for the skinning community in terms of population. I doubt, though, that it will offer much in the way of enhancing qulaity, except that XP lets companies like Stardock do more with their software.
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
As far as skinning goes, it depends on how easy it is to use for the normal run of the mill joe. Look how hugely popular the windows "theme" sites are. THAT stuff is easy. If it becomes that easy to skin windows, then it will become mainstream. If WB were something that MS shipped with XP, it would probably happen, but as long as it still takes a 3rd-party app, it might get big, but not quite as mainstream.
Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I don't know, I tend to think like craeonics. Most people don't even bother change the colors schemes of Windows, or the themes. Oh, I'm not saying it won't bring some new people in, it will for sure. But just how many? Probably a lot more people, but I doubt very much that XP will make skinning mainstream.
Besides, I don't how many people will be interested in the first place. For some reason that I can't explain, since I've installed XP a few weeks ago, I haven't run Windowblinds nor Desktop X. I think I first wanted to get used to the interface as it is, and now I've really gorwn to like it and I'd hate to switch to something else.
Oh, I'm sure I'll get sick of it eventually, but it might take a bit.
Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I really can't understand all the fuss about XP. Personally I hate the look of it, and I don't like ANY of the XP skins available here. When all is said and done, it's just another OS upgrade that Microsoft is using to bundle it's apps in, and gain more domination of the marketplace. I'm not complaining about this, I just don't understand all the fuss.
I am using ME, and can't see myself getting XP until I buy a new machine, and then I won't have a choice as it will come with it.
Maybe I would feel different if Treetog had designed the GUI for XP, now that would be something to see!