WC Poll: How Are We Doing?

Grade WinCustomize

https://www.wincustomize.com/webpoll.aspx
from WinCustomize Forums

It's time again for a new WinCustomize poll.  But before we launch into the new poll for the week, let's take a gander at last week's results.

Last week, I asked how often you changed your desktop skin, providing a range of options from constantly to never.  We saw a fairly decent turn-out on the poll, here are the results:

How often do you change your desktop skin?
Several times a day! 3%
Once every day or two 24.89%
About once a week 30.9%
Once a month 21.03%
Every few months 15.45%
I don't remember the last time I changed skins 4.27%

Based on the results, most people here go through at least once skin change a month, with only a small percentage either changing their skins constantly or never.  The sweet-spot seems to be once every week or two.  But a good question remains of why they only change when they do.  Is it because of a lack of perceived quality?  A lack in volume?  Or is it simply because that's as often as people feel the need to make a change.  I don't know exactly, but if you'd like, please share your reasons in the comments below.

Now it's time for this weeks question: How Have We Been Doing?

WinCustomize 2007 went live just over 5 months ago, and we've seen some significant improvements in speed, stability and functionality.  However, the technical aspect of the site is only one aspect.  On the other side of the coin we have site content (news, polls, articles, contests) forum & skin moderation, and administrator & moderator interaction via forums/email.  Since the launch of the new site, all of these have been top priorities for us as we work very hard to make the site both more welcoming, and more useful/interesting to users both new and old.  What I'd like to know now is how you think we're doing, overall, in running this site.

The poll this week is the typical grading scale, from A to F (no plusses or minuses).  So give us some feedback on how we've done this half of the year.  Take all factors into consideration and don't judge based on just one aspect.  If you have specific comments on improvements, please leave them in the comments.

14,471 views 43 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
A+ for content and ease of use.

F- for lack of free chocolate or pizza...  

   
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
The reason I almost never change my skin is because of several reasons.

1. There arent many good ones

2. Once I get things to look a way I like....why waste time changing it over and over to something I probably wont like?

3. Now that i'm using vista, who needs skins? none of them look as good (smooth, natural and un-obstrusive) as Aero.

(written from work PC....XP Windows Classic skin)
TouchTasks - Access tasks with ease on Windows touchscreens.
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
actually that was last weeks poll on changing your desktop. comments section was here ...WWW Link


this is this weeks poll on how WC is doing as a whole....
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
As for Me I voted on the option "Once every day or Two".

It honestly ranges somewhere between once a day and once a week ..but I tend to change daily or stay a week or two on one of my favorite blinds.

The reason for this is my personal choosing. I change when I want to and thats about it. I LOVE the library Stardock has of Blinds, Themes, wallpapers and More.. I think Stardock is doing great with Support and all the programs they offer.
I enjoy my huge library of stuff I have gotten from this site and honestly I just change what I want when I want.
I think the great thing is having the OPTION to change what I want when I want

Great work

Anne
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
A+ for layout & function
A+ for staff both paid and unpaid
A+ for content
A for spam blocking
B+ for logon/logoff
B+ for page rendering time (click to "Done")

F for pastel colors............please fix this............
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I spend over 14 hours a day sat here at my pc, so i often change blinds for a "new feel"..... dont get bored with the basic layout.

As for the site, i think the layout, ease of use is fantastic.

BUT, i expected more stuff for subscribers.......... this led me to not renew my account. I was under the impression that when they had the big "push" for members, it was mentioned about "member only skins/ change the look of the website ect...."

And also skinners seem to be quite at the moment (use to nearly have an icon package every 2 days) ..... mind you, ive had a go at making a blind, but the quality of some of them at Wincustomize is just fantastic..........i wouldnt put up "shite" just cos i made it... i would find that an insult to the truly fantastic artists from here.

But just my 2 cents.......... i would be in tears if you guys were'nt here!



Keep it up.
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top

For me (in A-F alphabetical order):-

A for the site staff
A for the community members
A for the skinners and all their hard work
A for the content - no better skinning site anywhere
C for the website - it desperately needs a overhaul
F for the spam I get on the e-mail address I use solely for WC... grrrr!
F for the tennis elbow this place caused me to get  
FFF for the person who nicked my effin chocolate    

Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I sure gave it an "A" I think the site is running great! the site hasn't been down since the new WC was launched (or I haven't seen any) and the layout is great! it's very nice that WC, Stardock and other stuff have the same layout and I gotta say I haven't had any problems with this new WC. Also moderation is faster now hehe and the staff is great!    
Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top
My only site layout related niggle is that the header of the forums and the galleries and the personal sites are *almost* the same.  Id' like to see them consistant.

I'd also like little fairys to follow behind me and correct my spelling/typing.

Because the content is community driven I can't complain about anything Stardock has or hasn't done.  And I think the community is doing just fine, thank you. 
Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top

F for the spam I get on the e-mail address I use solely for WC... grrrr!

Since we don't publish user emails, or give out lists for mailers to other companies, this is probably because your address is being guessed at random by spambots who just bomb a domain until they get a good address, then add it to the spam lists.

I have accounts I never ever ever gave out to anyone, or even used for anything.  They were created just to see if I'd get spam, and I do.

Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top
If you take into consideration that all of us want just one more new thing or upgrades to current capabilities or that you try and understand what our priorities are, you folks get an A.   

I couldn't imagine anything harder to do than put out a product that has both paid and free components, try keeping it current and ccmpatible with hardware, OS's and other software upgrades along with keeping it's customer base happy.   

Thanks for all your efforts, can hardly wait to see the new stuff you have coming.   

Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top
FFF for the person who nicked my effin chocolate    




** hides hersheys bar**

Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Site management and team A
Community's members A
Skins and skinners A
Content Articles A
Website Layout A
Website Functions B
_____________________
A+ (note i'm bad in mathematic )

Seriously this site is great thanks for the hard work
The only thing, keep the improvement and to give us your best

Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I don't change my blind often and if I do, I usually change back to my fav in a little bit. I'm a simple kinda guy and like a simple kinda skin. Notice I haven't change my icons in, like, forever...same thing there, I've got a nice, matched setup and I like's it.
Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I don't change my blind often and if I do, I usually change back to my fav in a little bit. I'm a simple kinda guy and like a simple kinda skin. Notice I haven't change my icons in, like, forever...same thing there, I've got a nice, matched setup and I like's it.


Typical Jarhead! Your only a week late.....try to keep up.

You wouldn't see Navy posting off topic like this............
Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I change things every day or two, it's nothing to do with the quality or anything it's just that I unfortunately tire of things quickly.
Reply #17 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Wow I guess no one read the part of the post where Frogboy asked for comments on why people change their theme infrequently.
Reply #18 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Frogboy asked for

or Zoomba 

Reply #19 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Wow I guess no one read the part of the post where [Zoomba] asked for comments on why people change their theme infrequently.

I so rarely change skins it's embarrassing (that's why I didn't answer).  I find one I like and stick with it.  Oftentimes I'll only switch when a freind here asked if I've tried such-and-such.  I think I used DogmaXv4 for almost a year.  Sometimes I'll do a wallpaper or DX gadget and try to find a WB to match.
Reply #20 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I change skins whenever i see ANOTHER skin that really... "Captures" my attention and makes me want to try it out. If it's good - I stick with it, and so the story continues.

I mostly prefer skins that are EASY on the eyes, but yet stylish and simple.

Keep up the good work artists!
Reply #21 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I think the site's doing good.   

The news features are interesting; always love the "This Week in Skinning" articles by Island Dog. The site is as fun and friendly as ever. Getting to know more people in this my 2nd year.


I so rarely change skins it's embarrassing (that's why I didn't answer).


Not as embarassing as still using Luna XP!   I don't change skins because I usually don't have time to sit back and enjoy the look. Once I'm on my PC it's all work, quick browsing through my favorite sites, and then I'm off. If I'm going to use a different skin it'll have to be the perfect skin because I want one that'll last a long time.
Reply #22 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I still would like to see the site layout expand to take into account larger browser windows. I'm getting a lot less information per page now over the last site rev. If the right sidebar just automatically right justified in any browser, the main content frame could autosize between the left window edge and said sidebar. I'd get a good 50% more content in the same space.

My only bug/huh? comment would be that the galleries only display 8 items per page (if you are logged in) yet the grid is 3x3, so there is always a missing 9th item hole on every gallery page (unless you aren't logged in, and then you see all 9, haha). The behavior is the same Firefox and IE7. IMHO, it just looks really silly.

Otherwise the site is much faster and some of the elements are prettier (like the top/bottom graphics and this comment layout).

So, grade-wise? B-
Reply #23 from WinCustomize Forums Top
the galleries only display 8 items per page

When I am logged in, I see 4 x 12 skins.
I went to https://www.wincustomize.com/myaccount.aspx and set it at the bottom of the first "tab".
Give that a try.
Reply #24 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Subscribers see more skins per page, I think mine is set to 32.
Reply #25 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Since I have to re-boot my PC every time I change skins I do it once a week. If they would "FIX" MyColors, or give us the new version ( like they promised ) I wouldn't have this problem.