Installer

from Stardock Forums

I really liked Fences 1 and have been using it for a couple years, then I saw on Lifehacker today that 2.0 was out. I downloaded it only to find it came bundled with AVG, with a somewhat deceptive choice to not install AVG I might add. Having to choose "custom installation" and uncheck everything to make it not install is not intuitive, and deliberately so.

I canceled it as I don't want to support bundling software, especially with a trial version of a paid software. Is the $10 not enough? Not finding a clean installer anywhere I decided I would looked passed that and just install it, so I chose custom installation on the AVG portion and unchecked all the boxes, and completed the installation.

As the install was completing the installer killed Chrome. Is there a legitimate reason this was necessary, or was something installed without consent? I don't see anything in Chrome's extensions at least, but I'm seriously doubting Stardock's credibility at this point.

You probably would have had a paying customer with 2.0, but for now I'm uninstalling it and I'll just go without.

fences
3,098 views 4 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

I decided to try again to be sure it was the installer that killed Chrome, immediately after the install completed it killed Chrome again.

Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top

The trial at cnet comes with avg but the version through the webstore or through Stardock Central does not.  Use those if you purchased Fences.

We'll test more in the morning, but the installer shouldn't be closing Chrome (although a reboot is required).
 
 Stardock has been around for years, producing great software.  Your doubts are misplaced. :)

The Political Machine 2024
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

I know Stardock has been around for awhile, but that doesn't mean they won't/haven't turned slimey. I want a trial, as I'm not willing to pay before I try it. I did end up logging out as it didn't run right prior to that. I had 13 days without logging off!

If it is CNET throwing the AVG crap in then perhaps Stardock can host their own downloads, it is pretty scummy to throw in extra software in an installer, and even more so if it is a trial that they are hoping will lead to a paying customer.

Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting tomf80, reply 3
but that doesn't mean they won't/haven't turned slimey.
End of tomf80's quote

Yes it does.

Stardock doesn't do 'slimey'.

Many products are available through CNET, and many of those are bundled to assist CNET's ability to continue to host/distribute such software.

Stardock's products are available directly from Stardock.  They are naturally NOT bundled with third party trialware.  That is the standard for trialware sites, however, as you have seen.

One would imagine that several years of enjoying Fences 1 would be SUFFICIENT 'trialling' of any sort to be confident that Fences 2 is a desirable product/upgrade.

I certainly didn't bother with some bundled trial, I too had used the first version and knew the second would be worthwhile...;)