WinCustomize Subscription Totals Won't Make The Goal: What Next?

With the WinCustomize Subscription Not Even At The Half Way Poin... What Now?

Published on October 25, 2005 By joetheblow In WinCustomize Talk

We have talked about this extensively on other threads, but now with the moment of truth upon us the question is what will happen to WinCustomize?

If this site was owned by a person and that crash with the server happened, it would have been a lost.

In fact, the idea that this happened only shows how much work is going on behind the scenes of this site that has to be costly and probably more than Frogboy will admit.

After reading the Does Stardock 'need' WinCustomize? thread as well as other threads on the message board/forums, the question is now what is next.

I think the answer will be more extreme that what we been talking about. Will it be a totally subscriber only site period (this would avoid the multiple account thing because even if you do that you will only get so much and view so much)?

What happens to the Wincustomize User Pages? How will un-subscribers be able to view it or download from it?

Will there be whole sections of WinCustomize off limits to outsiders?

I think the immediate response will be no downloads unless your signed in (unless its wallpapers, CursorXP or something) Not sure about the rest. I am guessing with the need for new restrictions that there will be a total site redesign for subscribers.

Personally, I think it is a sad day for all of this come November 1st 2005. The other sites just don't compare. I visited one site of the alternates to WinCusto and my browser crashed because of the pop-up attempts. Can you believe that?

I don't think many people will like the subscriber idea and will think Stardock is leaching off of artists. People will leave probably from what I read of some of the comments. I find that funny since most of the comments of 'leeching of artists' came from people who started off here and got there notoriety due to the 'leeching' of hosting their stuff, keeping it save, and organizing a community around it.

I always said that WinCustomize is a symbiosis between the artist and Stardock. On can not live as well without the other.

But with the restrictions soon to come on its way, what will happen to WinCustomize? What is next?

Comments (Page 1)

Bichur

on Oct 25, 2005

how about a general area and a subscribers area?

sandpiperw

on Oct 25, 2005

I agree Bichur, to much time and effort goes into what is created here at WinCustomize. It should not all be given for free. Most sites I visit have a free section (mostly teasers) and a subscriber section. If you want the really good things you have to pay a fee. Isn't that the way most things in life are? I do not skin yet I am just learning and finding my way around here. But I gladly pay my subscription fee just to see and use the great artwork made for WinCustomize. The price of a subscription is not much for all you get and I feel if people want the great programs and the things that go with them they should pay the small fee. This is the most friendly place to spend some time and to learn from all the great skinners here. Think of all the things you by for the same cost as a subscription that you don't really need. Keep this place going and SUBSCRIBE......

Gregory2001

on Oct 25, 2005

One should not be able to access Wincustomize if one is not a subscriber.

Bichur

on Oct 25, 2005

One should not be able to access Wincustomize if one is not a subscriber.

I can understand that, but then how do you attract more subscribers if people can't get in to see that it's worth subscribing to? That's why I think a general section where you can see all but only download very little based on either total download size or a few select few skins and the subscribers section where the party is.

Nick Blade

on Oct 25, 2005

i like the public and members idea. they could see all the skins, themes, walls and the like but only get one of each a month. and get teased with the things members get any time they want!

Cyberworld

on Oct 25, 2005

The situation should stay as is...but with non-subscribers privileges should be less.

ethsza

on Oct 25, 2005

The reason why I have purchased Object Desktop (and renewed it) and purchased ObjectDock+ is the fact that I have found wincustomize 2-3 years ago and thought using these skins are fun. As time went by, I only use my own ODP skins, and the 60+ WB skins I had are deleted, having no more than 6 skins (perfect ones BTW) installed. Months go by without anything I'd fancy to download.
If wincustomize weren't free, I guess not just a WC subscription, but not even ObjectDesktop will attract people.

I go further. If WC won't be free, people (hmm. me at least) will go to other skin sites to get the skins. The skins that are free work from their authors. To use with software I was paying for. I'm not paying for my webbrowser, why should I pay for my "skin browser"? Or why should I pay for more, if I'm subscribed to another big community, that offers more interesting downloads, less restrictions about the types of galleries, (for example section for my sonyericsson phone themes) and actually the WB skins I download here are uploaded there as well by the same authors.

Well, not for the premium skin I get. It's nice, it's a lot more precise work than 99% of the skins uploaded here. It must have consumed a lot more time to do it to be this perfect than 99% of the skins uploaded here. But it's not my style.

I won't pay for a popupless site neither. What's a popup? I haven't seen many since I've been using firefox prereleases. Should it crash for some strange reason, my sessions are restored.

I stop before this comment is deleted, however none of the benefits listed mean anything to me, I'm not writing this to insult Stardock. I love the applications, I will renew my ObjectDesktop subscriptions, but IMHO this is not how the site should be kept alive.

What about financing the site with ads? (Not that I would see them. My browser must have a bug. It does not download ads.

But people who get attracted by the lack of popups will download them.)
What about giving up WC hoping that Stardock apps will sell without it?
What about ganging up with DevianART or other skin sites?

Don't get me wrong. I respect the people from Stardock. I respect (and pay for) their work. I respect their so far successful community building approach. I respect that they host my other favorite, samurize.com. I just don't understand whining about a business that --observing out of context-- generates loss.

Again. Don't get me wrong. I'll feel sad myself if WC would be down. But I won't feel guilty.

joetheblow

on Oct 25, 2005

I can understand that, but then how do you attract more subscribers if people can't get in to see that it's worth subscribing to?

That is why I think there is going to be a major site design change. The site is gotta show how or what your missing if your not a subscriber.

I still think some downloads should be allowed, maybe a special password system for those who want to share their work with friends (for the links).

One problem I see is that there are truely 4 levels of people here. The passing by crowd, the signed in crowd, the OD/Stardock crowd and the subscriber crowd.

What do people just breazing by see? The first page of everthing? Can they download? What if they go to the user page sub-urls? How much can they view from there?
What do people who sign in and create an account see? Wil they still be able to work their way up to a statis where they can see more if they contribute skins or help in the forums?
What of those who bought a Object Desktop? Does the site become no more to them than someone who saw the site while browsing the internet and signed in? Are they going to be redirected to sites that crash their browser with pop-ups? if OD subscibers or no different than a sign-in user, does this mean that Stardock wil limit the amount of money it spends on WinCusto? What happens if another failure happens?
Subscribers... what can I say? They see everything.

I think this is going to be the topic of the skinning world personlly. When you look at the other sites, and even Deviant Art and its Jark episode... what does all of this mean? Even Deskmod went down the tubes because of funding, bandwidth and database situations. Is this the future of the skinning sites?

joetheblow

on Oct 25, 2005

To me, this presents a problem for StarDock. OD subscribers having this wealth of resources can not be undervalued. The reason why I keep re-subscribing to OD is because of the content. I aalready know the product is good. I don't struggle to keep re-upping on other items in the skin world until I know I can buy it otherwise i would just wait. But OD? I miss it because new skins use new dev builds.

I CAN'T OPEN DESKTOPx THEMES BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE THE LATEST SUBSCRIPTION!!

I couldn't pull the money and let it subside, but with new widgets and themes... even Icon Packager is back...

I don't know how many people renew because of the extensive library and messageboard as well as the new article writing abiliies (with tutorials!!!)

Lets face it, other skin sites can't handle the traffic, don't have the library or the community network. I just don't see how WinCustomize is going to separate the OD subscriber from the WinCusto Subscriber without an overhaul on how the site operates.

TYCUS

on Oct 25, 2005

just one question..., there going to keep going with the subscription contest?

-=TYCUS=-

(Happy birthday to me!)

on Oct 25, 2005

there going to keep going with the subscription contest?

Hopefully YES .... !!!!!

on Oct 25, 2005

And A Very Happy B-Day from me ... !!!!

joetheblow

on Oct 25, 2005

How many dang birthdays are there???
LOL

I wish WinCustomize had a community calender, inter-site messaging and a place to go to the bathroom.

TYCUS

on Oct 25, 2005

thanks BX!!!

-=TYCUS=-

(HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!)

Lantec

on Oct 25, 2005

I can understand that, but then how do you attract more subscribers if people can't get in to see that it's worth subscribing to?

I mentioned this before but I think a trial subscription of say 60 days should come with your OD purchase. After that you must make the decision to continue or be cut-off.

As far as the shareware versions go, they need to be time crippled. Give the shareware a half dozen 5 star skins and a version that dies in 30 days. If they like what they've seen they can purchase the product and get their trial subscription.....

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