One post....7 comments...in 8 years and it's "want want want".

"revolting" is relative.

Oh, correction....

want want want want want.   [pays to be accurate]....

Site updates and all that aren't necessarily reflective of the reality. Especially when people are multi tasked.

I still put my faith in Stardock. I think you should as well. I do not know any details (even if I did I couldn't say), but my gut tells me you will not be disappointed if you just have a bit more patience. 

You're a current customer, gmknobl. You can and should continue to update whatever software you own. 

And know that my faith in SD continues. Brad is a 'skinner' and a 'gamer'. I haven't ever heard him say different.

Ironic, but as I was typing, this came out. Just sayin':

https://forums.wincustomize.com/411649

It always makes me shudder how long term customers that gave good money to Stardock over the years are treated here (so much for 'want, want, want'). Especially by You Jafo. With all given respect, but sometimes I really wonder. Ant the beg for patience maybe right if we where talking about some hobbyist freeware here, but we are not. It is a given fact that Object Desktop loses value regularly.

Some of You even didn't get the intention of the thread-starter at all and have fallen to automatic defense mode that is activated quick and often here.

I think Carl, perhaps, even a customer coming off as 'I want want want' is not the best way to go about things, I've seen many many posts where folks have asked in a customary, respectful manner, the same types of questions, and gotten very polite responses and in some cases helped above and beyond what I've seen from other Co's.

Also, Yes, the site may be a reflection of a company but really, the site has been brilliant for me recently.. for the most part, and im sure that altho the 'version' may be a couple of years old, there have been tons of improvements since then, not reflected in the version date.

I imagine that most 'major websites' go at least 2-3 years, or more before a complete renovation, minus some cosmetics perhaps.

Your a good guy, and your being empathetic from a customer standpoint, and that's admirable, I'm just not sure in this case, the OP was justified in how he handled.. the OP.

Only one skinners 2c... but in my book, if I am treated in a negative manner, It will be summarily and similarly returned.

Few people I know enjoy anything being demanded of them.

c242 -

He said it better than I.

Now add to that-

You're an idealist and only want the best for us all, Carl. I do too, only I can tolerate taking it one imperfect step at a time. 

It's up to you as well - be patient or not.  

I think that when people are doing many tasks and running for deadlines and trying to keep their families in bread and butter, there can be oversights, errors and frankly, mistakes made.  

I'm just not willing to throw the baby out with the bath water, and I know you don't either. So what say we wait a bit and be generous with each other... eh? 

particularly for .. Snipers, Carnival knife throwers, and Interface skinning (dont forget your X3200 zoom folks)

gmknobl:  OP mean original poster.  

I never jump into threads like these for obvious reasons, but there is something I would like to point out: in my opinion, long time users like gmknobl and c242 should be cherished, not driven away. When they point the finger and are vocal about being displeased with the current state of affairs, they are only stating what a lot of other users and customers think but don't have the will to say out loud.

These users, on the other hand, truly care. They have remained loyal customers for years, and they care enough to spend time writing a lengthy post and risk being shot down for speaking their mind (as I am doing right now).

It is a fact that Stardock development in Windows customization has been slow in these past couple of years, especially when compared to the first years. Focus has been more on the game development side of the company than on what made Stardock successful since the OS/2 days, and users feel that. They miss Brad's presence, for instance, which was a constant force in these forums (and apparently everywhere else, damn! ) in the days of old.

Speaking as a developer, I fully understand why things are slower. I know resources are limited. I also know how there is much more going on inside a company than users realize.

I also don't like it much when a user pokes my eye with his finger (and it has happened to me plenty of times too, even today!) - but these users do it because they love our products and they want to see us succeed and to continue being successful, not because they take pleasure in shooting us down. Although they can sometimes be a pain in the proverbial bottom , they do and say these things because they care - they would not be here otherwise.

As such, even though the first reaction is to 'push back' (nobody likes being attacked after all), I think the reply should never-the-less be tempered with understanding and patience.

Personally I prefer a thousand times those friends who speak their mind and tell me straight up when I'm wrong than those who act like I can do no wrong (even when they secretly think otherwise).

Not disagreeing one bit with what you said Jorge but what I see as an issue is the groundhog day repeating of the same line over and over Ad infinitum.

Things will get done when they get done and not before they are ready.  These public displays of venting will not hasten the development or updates of any Stardock products.

No one is trying to drive anyone away.

Not a ridiculous request.  Anybody want to take that one?

Good question.

As is stands right now, I'm not even sure when my subs run out (due to muck ups in the way things are being handled now...not a good omen this was fixed). I think my WC sub runs out next year...and I honestly can't think of a good reason to renew. The only reason I can think of is the Master skin discount. This version of WC went live a few years ago, and there are *still* lingering bugs that never got fixed. Why should I renew if the money I'm giving isn't being put towards fixing the site and maintaining it?

As for OD....I got the whole package because it was a better deal. I got a ton of awesome programs and updates to go with them, all for a pretty hefty discount compared to getting them separately. But with things the way they are now...it might actually make more financial sense to get them separate. ODNT works as a subscription: I get free update for as long as my sub is current (1 year subs). After that year, no more updates. With how slowly the updates are coming out, I might get only a handful of updates during my sub (and then they might totally FUBAR my system, as with the latest WB update). Compare that to the separate purchases...I have OD+ and I can get updates up until the next major version change. OD2 came out a few years ago or so and we've only gotten a handful of updates in that time...but I'll likely get updates forever since it could be forever before it sees another major update.

For the record, I've been supporting Stardock and WC as a paying customer for over 7 years.

On both sides......in, a perfect world. 

Indeed, Wiz and my thanks to Philly as well.

I wish folks would just realize that as much as I want to vent and want the apps yesterday, I realize all the shouting and screaming in the world won't hurry the process.

Why not?

Because there is a process through which each app and item has to go through because teams and people make them. They were doing other stuff before. So now you have tasked people and groups and people making sure it's getting done and people to check and test the apps (I venture to challenge anyone to deny what screaming there would be if they weren't well tested - and EVEN THEN they won't be perfect for every set up). 

What will?

The people themselves and their motivation. The process is in place to assure quality. It's no big secret that the people were developing Impulse and games as well as software. Brad even said everyone was working too much. Now there are more people and no Impulse. So there will be a replacement soon. There's a download page for the software until then. Jorge uses other websites to download his 2 programs which I love, but which have problems as well. So everyone is getting what they should/are entitled to with one big exception: DX. That absolutely needs to get fixed. I agree with those who have said so and have tried for some time to help people having problems with it. I've been back and forth with Support doing that. Not because I get paid to and not because it's my job. Just to help people. No one here (including me) knows how hard Dewie and Roscoe_P and everyone else in support worked to try and get Phoon going with the older, more functional DX version.

Reasons to buy OD again?

No one is telling you to buy again. Wait and see what happens.

Jorge -

I don't see anyone being driven away. 

Asking for patience and explaining what little of what's going on that I know isn't denying what they have to say. I think enough of it to answer: FOR ME, not Stardock. I don't work for Stardock and don't represent it (for the 1,000th time).

Let's see if anyone reads this any better than what I research and try hard to serve up to you.