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premium skins poll - my answer

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premium skins poll - my answer

from WinCustomize Forums
this is the second poll in a row i cannot really vote on, since none of the available answers are my answer. since this is getting to me (i like to participate, and voting is part of that) i decided to just give my answer this way instead

taking the options in turn:
* icons - i mainly see icons via powerdesk pro 5 under winXP. due to acts of Microsoft i get the standard yellow folder icons, regardless of the icon pack i have installed. so, this significantly reduces the visual impact of icon sets. also, after a while i stop noticing the icons *shrug*

so, i am quite unlikely to purchase premium icons.

* themes - i presume this means a set of matching skins across several programs.
well, on this machine (work) i have:
+ coolplayer skinned with the outstanding sputnik skin
+ IE and notepad skinned with via WB with XP Jeans UIS1
+ textpad skinned via WB with devoir
+ tera term pro skinned via WB with XPForest

these are the main programs i use on this machine, and if you know (or look up) these skins you will see this isn't exactly an integrated look

* a pack of cool skins / visual styles - this is unlikely simply because so very few WB skins really speak to me. i have certain practical requirements for my main skin on my work machine, which further limit the skins i use long term. so, i would do this, but the odds are very long, since i am unlikely to be that impressed by any premium skins

this is nothing against the premium skins. the same can (and is) said about the WB skins here. of the over 2000, there are only a handful i use at all regularly

* media player skins - i only ever use media player for viewing video clips. my experience is most skins aren't really that good for that.

* wallpaper - the wallpaper on this machine is buried under approx 14 open windows (average to below average number!), and not even 1 pixel of it is showing.

* no interest - that isn't really the answer either. i am quite happy to support the outstanding skinners, but if i am going to pay for it, it has to be something i both like and will use.


so, what is my answer? CursorXP!
since when i use my mouse (i am keyboard orientated by nature) i am very aware of where my cursor is and what it is doing, this is the area where skins have the best chance of really impressing me.

also, percentage wise, there are far more CursorXP skins i really like than in any other category at this site. that means there is at least a fighting chance of me being really impressed with premium cursors



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19,791 views 70 replies
Reply #51 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I support this site and also support the artists here by purchasing suites.



But again, I really wanted to use Carbonix but WHY is the minimize button on the left side?! Hehe. Too much work goin all the way over there, you know .

I don't know, at least make a subskin you know.
[Message Edited]
Reply #52 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Kind of funny. The other day I wanted to record sound to the computer that coudl do more than 1 minute contiuously (that's where MS's included sound recorder tops off).

The price for somethign that lets you save to a WAV or MP3 file from speaking into a microphone? $25 to $30. There are several programs that do this and they all cost that much. Recording your voice to a a file.

And people object to playing 8 bucks or something for a bunch of fully animated cursors or a full skin suite or something.

Elemental: Reforged
Reply #53 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Forgboy: if ten minutes are enough, here´s some free beer for you: http://www.xemico.com/pvr/
(it´s even skinnable)
Reply #54 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Sheesh..... since I posted that I got the cursors and that I liked them I have gotten emails from two different people wanting to work out some "trade" for them......

The barter system seems to be alive and well on the internet.... but somehow it sure feels like cheating to me.

Reply #55 from WinCustomize Forums Top
/me wonders if some kind admin would please delete my post up there under frogboy's announcement?

Getting these emails is just making me angry.....
Reply #56 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Since showing a screenshot of my Syncronus desktop I got 3 mails from guys that wanted me to send the carbonix suite for free to them for different reasons. Now isn't that...



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Reply #57 from WinCustomize Forums Top
take your email addresses out of your profile.



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Reply #58 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I often considered that, but then again how to reach me for serious things ?
Reply #59 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Expanding upon my previous post.... (rephrasing argument in paragraph 1, proposing new solution in paragraph 2)

I think that if the price point was lower, you would make up in volume what you lose in dollers per individual sale. The people who would buy ths suites to support the community and the authors will buy anyway, and a micro-price such as $1 for a skin would probably attract a huge number of casual users who would never pay $10 for a skin.

There's no need to just take my word for this, run an experiment for one month. Let the numbers decide the future of the store. This is what real world stores do, they adjust prices experimentally until they find the price point in which they are getting the most profit (or in this case, the most income).
Reply #60 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Aqua, you have a noble idea, but it wouldn't work out for the skinners. Part of the 'premium suite' schtick is that it's 'premium' and therefor, more desirable than say...a free skin. c242 and goodmorphing both got emails about 'send me that suite please?', if it were only $1, everybody and their momma would have it. It would take away the prestige of owning a premium suite. Just my opinion...
Reply #61 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Hus, the purpose of selling the suites isn't to be elitest, it's to make money to support the authors and help pay for the site's bandwidth.

I completely disagree with your position of keeping the prices high just to ensure "snob appeal". BTW, you can't get snob appeal with a $10 price anyway.
Reply #62 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Hi wolfie! I thought about removing the email, and I will if it gets too bad. But I always remember the good contacts that have been made, the use it has been. So I am reluctant to hide it just yet.

/me was just shocked by how quick and how openly people are trying to rip the suite!

Next time I will keep my purchases a secret. I have many of the suites and most of the products already!

/me has designated Stardock and Wincustomize to be 'life's luxuries' for now....
Reply #63 from WinCustomize Forums Top

GM....on that issue you refer to....pass on any info about these people wishing to cheat the system and they'll have a stiff talking-to. The first one, BTW, doesn't appear to be a member of the site....I already checked...

Aqua....the problem is not so much bartering a price, as the issue that the 'product' is 'art' or 'craft' and is priced according to the artist/creator's valuation, NOT to its wide-spread marketability.

Artworks tend to be priced to what a market will stand, for an exclusive value, not to spam the universe with prints of dogs playing pool available at every supermarket checkout.

ricing of a 'product' is not only about market share, but also about market placement.

It'd really be wonderful if an Aston Martin Vanquish was the price of a Toyota, but alas it's arguably more hand-built by craftsmen than any other car on the market and is closer in price-point to only ONE Toyota....the Toyota that runs around in Formula One....

 

Reply #64 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I agree with Aqua and Jafo


The point about the economic side of charging what is charged... I should be able to explain this in more detail since I am taking a economics class right now (something about sellers would not sell coffee for 10 cents because it would not be worth the trouble of making the coffee, but selkl it for 1,000 dollars and people will line up to sell it, but no one will buy... so a equilibrium is set between supply and demand. the sellers sell it at a 1.50 and poeple are willing to buy at 1.50. some sellers are not willing to sell at 1.50 so they don't... but if you make it really specail, capicino with almonds, sell it for 4.50 it is a treat... but its still coffee.)


phew...

Yes, I do believe that some of those prices for some of the skins are a little steep, but only in some cases.

But selling it for a dollar (USD) would be too low. Honestly when it comes to the cost of things phycologically, the cheaper it is the less it is appresiated.

I could not imagine Carbonix or Alacadabra being sold for a dollar.

u know what I mean???

(Yet one skinner made something a few months back that had allot of programs to it and he asked for donations, but if he sold it I think he would have been justified... it was Chad Ross)


Oh and Frogboy, if you stop the MS sound recorder just before it ends and then press continue, it will extend. I did it a few times and ened up with 25 minutes of wav file. (it could have been more)
Reply #66 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Frogboy - And people object to playing 8 bucks or something for a bunch of fully animated cursors or a full skin suite or something.


interesting comparison
however, i started at a different place, so have a different view

being used to living on a tight budget, i take some convincing to part with my hard eared money. when i first got OD i felt it was quite a bit of money, but worth every bit of it.

so, i see that my OD renewal for 12 months is $35, and a premium skin that doesn't move me is $10. it makes the skin look expensive

of course, it is also fair to say that OD is incredible value

it really depends on what you are comparing the premium skins to, and how much disposable income you feel you have.

having said all that, the new cursor set has a picture of fish cursors!!! /me wonders how they will go with the Aquarium WB skin...

i suspect i may be parting with some money this weekend



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Reply #67 from WinCustomize Forums Top
so, i see that my OD renewal for 12 months is $35, and a premium skin that doesn't move me is $10. it makes the skin look expensive


Feline made a good point. If I had a good job $10 would be nothing (though I'm not sure I'd spend it on a theme). Unfortunately, I haven't had a regular job since last May and have doing freelance stuff here and there, barely keeping ahead of the bills. Also, web design just doesn't bring in as much money as it used to.
Reply #68 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I have to agree that you cannot compare skins to programs. As I read this thread, my thought process was the same as feline's in #66. Then I ran across Frogboy's in #52. Although I wholeheartedly disagree with his comparison, it just goes to show that everyone has a different perspective on the issue.



My perspective is one of a programmer. I don't think 3-5 suites are worth the cost of the years of development that has gone into what ODNT is today. But is that a fair comparison? Of course not. That's like saying an artist spends months in the studio recording an album, but yet their work is sold for around "only" 15 dollars USD. C'mon, we're not paying their salaries here. Just as we're not paying the skinner's for their time in making skins.



Yes, anyone has the right to create and to buy suites. I have bought many myself. However, it truly is akin to the laws of supply and demand. The supply is truly limitless - you can d/l a suite thousands of times - but the price will be what it is. If the demand is low, then perhaps the pricing should be adjusted. Conversely, if the money is breaking down doors, then the cost should reflect that.



My personal opinion on using and paying for skins is that the more "complete" it is, the more apt I am to purchase it. My answer was two. I'm going for the whole experience of a new desktop when I look at buying a suite. c242 has provided this on more than one occasion for free. Others charge for it. I don't think $8.95 is too much, but it's gotta be pretty complete to warrant a purchase from me.



Just my 4 ha'pennies.


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[Message Edited]
Reply #69 from WinCustomize Forums Top

_Shoggot_ posted this little story many moons ago on skinz.org.  It is something to ponder whilst determining/debating cost vs. effort/input when thinking about 'artwork/s'...

A samurai commisioned an artist to produce an ink drawing of a rooster. The artist named a princely sum to produce it, & stated that he required 5 years to make it. The samurai agreed, & paid the artist, & waited the 5 years.  After the 5 years had elapsed, the samurai called for the artist; the artist came before him.  The samurai asked the artist for the rooster ink drawing.  The artist placed a sheet of paper on the ground before him, a blank sheet, placed a pot of ink by it, and a bamboo brush.  With 14 deft strokes of the brush, in less than a minute, the artist created the most beautiful ink rendering of a rooster that anyone had seen.  The samurai was enraged: "This took you but a minute! For -this-, I waited five years, and paid you so much??"  The samurai leapt from his seated position and swept off the artist's head with his katana.  The samurai's minister then carried the body of the artist back to the artist's home, so the family of the artist might do as they wished with his body.  When he arrived, inside he found the walls & floor covered with thousands of ink drawings of a rooster, each better than the last, but none quite as good as the final one he had produced in 60 seconds.  Don't be so quick to judge work based on the time it takes. If it's good work, it's good work.  (found it on an old news page of mine


Posted by _Shoggot_ at 10:43pm on 17 Dec 2000

Reply #70 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Damn, blast from the past.
I remember the day that got posted.