How Stardock served the skinning community in 2007

A sequel to last year's "How Stardock failed the skinning community"

from WinCustomize Forums

A look back

Exactly one year ago, I wrote an article about how Stardock failed the skinning community.  It outlined 4 key issues that needed to be addressed this year.  So how did we do?

Challenge #1: Make it easier to create "stuff" for our software

This past year we saw the development of SkinStudio 6. A complete rewrite of SkinStudio from scratch.  It's still not quite done but it's in usable form and skinners seem to really like the direction it's going. 

In addition, the WinCustomize Wiki (wiki.wincustomize.com) project was begun this year to make it easier for skinners to learn about this stuff.  It's still in its infancy but it's a step in the right direction.

But overall, documentation has not substantially improved.  Stardock has brought on a dedicated technical writer to begin addressing this issue more thoroughly.

In summary, a lot of progress has been made but there is a lot more that still needs to be done.

Challenge #2: Organize support for Skinners

I don't think any real progress was made here.  DesktopX 3.5 is still in beta due to problems with Windows Vista SP1 compatibility.  Microsoft has taken a beating this past year with Windows Vista and a lot of it is pretty deserved.  They crippled a lot of software with their "security" initiatives.  As a result, a lot of things got delayed far longer than we expected.  Windows Vista has not been kind to the shell communities.

The challenge of having dedicated people working with the skinning community is a simple lack of funding.  The kind of support we envision for skinners is expensive.

Challenge #3: Get more involved in the community

Zubaz, a leader in the community, has helped out quite a bit. Island Dog has been making lots of good articles. And Stardock support is more present on the forums.  I have increased my presence too this year and have been pretty brutal at times in coming in and squashing exclusionary cliques. So I would imagine some people may wish I wasn't as involved as I was.  I plan to increase my presence further this next year as my other projects clear up some.

I am not sure if enough has been done though in this area. What are your thoughts?

Challenge #4: Lead by example

This is one area I think we have been pretty successful with.  Stardock Design has come out with a lot of stuff this past year. Nearly 40 skins of various categories were released this past year.  From DeskScapes animated wallpapers (Dreams), WindowBlinds skins, Sound Packages, gadgets, and so on.

In 2008, this will get a lot better as things really only started getting going in the latter half of the year. The big issue that needed (and still needs) to be resolved is showing off what can be done to serve as an example to others.  I think this has been pretty successful.  Even if you don't use SoundPackager (you should at least try it out) the fact that it was released with several sound packages provided by Stardock Design is a major break with the past where Stardock would simply throw a new piece of tech out there and hope people made stuff for it.

Similarly, WindowBlinds 6 shipped with several brand new skins. This was a marked contrast with the past where Stardock simply bundled popular skins from the community.

For Next Year...

So what does Stardock need to do next year for skinning?  Here's my list:

Resolution #1: More freely available skins from Stardock Design.  We have Aero Executive, Aero Graphite, and Elegance nearly ready to go. We had intended to release Elegance before the break but there are a couple of little buglets that need to be fixed first.  But overall, there needs to be more examples of how to do X from Stardock Design.  I think Stardock Design did well with the Dreams (animated wallpapers). This pattern needs to be followed into other areas.

Resolution #2: A new GUI Championships. We need to have another multi-site contest. Windows Vista will be mature and so will the software.  The contest needs to have more promotion than last time and have more forewarning.

Resolution #3: More documentation. We're trying in this area but it's difficult to do good documentation. Especially at the price points a lot of this software is.  The tough reality is that if we want to provide more services to customers, the price of the software is going to have to go up to cover it. I.e. If we bring in a full time technical writer dedicated to writing tutorials, manuals, documentations, user guides, etc. then that salary has to be paid for somehow.

Resolution #4: More polish on tools. You've hopefully seen that the over polish quality of Stardock's software has significantly improved this year.  Whether it be WindowBlinds 6, TweakVista, SoundPackager or CursorFX, there's been a significant level of polished brought here.  Similarly, SkinStudio 6 is quite polished and we'll be attempting to do the same with DesktopX going forward too.  The idea is to try to broaden the appeal of these things.

But if there are things you'd like to see us concentrate instead, comment below and let us know.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

20,439 views 40 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
For 30yrs in the military I had to be goal oriented. I'm not they why anymore. I appreciate everything that Stardock does to keep it's software current and reliable and as bug free as possible.

Anyways goals can get into trouble, too low, you ain't working hard enough, too high, you appear to not be able to handle or get the job done. I do understand that a company does need goals to measure how good they are keeping up with the ever changing tech world. It also serves as a means of measuring the capabilities of the employees.

As far as I'm concerned, keep doing what your doing and along way if your are able to drop a few goodies to the subscribers, all the better. :CONGRAT: 



Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Wasn't their meant to be a replacement for Stardock Central in 2007? Although it still does thee job it really is showing it's age
Start11 - Customize the Start Menu and Taskbar in Windows 10/11.
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
There is something coming to replace Stardock Central, it's in internal beta.
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I think Stardock has done a superior job this year, some things I think need to be fixed but I wont harp on them.. I'm sure their already in the works.. congratulations on a banner year and I wish you all the best for 08!  :CONGRAT: 

Looking forward to the GUIC this year... I'm thinking about entering it..  :D  ;p 

All in all, well done.. look forward to a REALLY kickass year in 2008!
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
To me this has evolved into a sort of Jekel and Hyde sort of thing. On one hand there is talk of community while on the other there is the need to make a buck. Personally I'd concentrate on making a buck. You are never gonna make everybody happy, some people will always feel slighted, there are and always will be cliques. I've seen examples of people's work being treated unfairly, sometimes good work with bad ratings and sometimes crap with good ratings. It's obvious who gets favored around here and who are the red headed step children. Some of the best don't even come here anymore. Difficult when people's feelings/egos are involved.
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I haven't been a SD subscriber that long, but I love what I see. You folks are doing a great job, and while there might be a few kinks to work out here and there, I'm fairly content. Just keep doing what you're doing and I'll be happy.

And Chasbo is right...you can't make everybody happy. But I'm glad to see involvement in the community. That helps keep (most) paying customers happy! It's tough to balance out buisness and community, but i think you are doing well.....

Keep up the good work!

Season's Greetings, and have a safe New Year!!!!
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Oh , I forgot one thing.. I love Neil like a brother.. but puuurty please.. with cherries on top..stop adding features and make the current features ...work.. 100%.
Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top

On one hand there is talk of community while on the other there is the need to make a buck. Personally I'd concentrate on making a buck.
End of quote

Making a buck is great, but it always has to be weighed against the impact it has on the community.  We could go 100% corporate, make a ton of money on the site, but what would that do to our community?  Sure, there may be an initial surge of cash, but if it drives folks away, that cash bump will be temporary at best.

We always have to strike a balance where we are making the most money we can while still making this a site everyone wants to come to nearly every day to be a part of a great community and to download/share great skins.  And that's not about making everyone happy either, it's about making decisions based on what we have learned about this community over the many years serving it.

Serving the community well is the smart business decision in the end.  But that doesn't mean we don't do things to make more money.  We are working on changes that will be mutually beneficial to both sides, and that it'll work out for the better in the end.

Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Serving the community well is the smart business decision in the end. But that doesn't mean we don't do things to make more money. We are working on changes that will be mutually beneficial to both sides, and that it'll work out for the better in the end.
End of quote


I agree completely. It is necessary to keep customers happy. When I was a kitchen manager, I gave my employees a slogon to remember....a happy customer is a return customer. SD has been very up front about the needs of the community as well as the needs of the buisness. For example, the discussion about having a site sponsorship program (which was very well handled, IMHO). Most buisnesses would not have asked customers what they thought, they would have just done it, for better or worse. And in the end, I think SD deserves a big hand for that kind of effort.

Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Considering all the software you guys create/supply for community members as opposed to other sites I see I think you guys are doing a stellar job. Even with bugs here and there other sites don't even compare with WinCustomize as far as what we can do to customize our PC's.

Sometimes though I think your trying to hard to please everyone rather than concentrating on things like updated documentation or bug fixes. For example, Objectdock does things that aren't documented in the "SkinningTheDock" text file. Little things like that make big difference in knowing what we can and can't do. Then there were things we/I knew we could do but then new folders were created that broke some things with no fix for them. Having the .dockzip file for example was a nice idea but not really necessary since everything worked fine before...but it broke things in the code and all the extra work that was done in some docks went right out the window with no explanation in the documentation so that people could still use the extras.

As far as making money....its obvious that you have to do this to continue survive...so you have to do what you have to do and people will have to understand this. And there will "always" be someone screaming corporate greed and "where's my free stuff?" But your priorities have to be on surviving or not only won't there be anything free...there won't be anything at all.

As far as the community...speaking for myself...I'll be here regardless of what you do...which reminds me...I have my addiction meeting soon. But seriously...as long as I have a way to contribute I will.

Besides....where can you go to get everything you guys have provided us? Of everything I have purchased on the net...I honestly can't think of anywhere that gives us so much.
Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Besides....where can you go to get everything you guys have provided us? Of everything I have purchased on the net...I honestly can't think of anywhere that gives us so much.
End of quote


Not to sound like just a follower, but that is a very true statement. Think about it.  ;) 
Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Besides....where can you go to get everything you guys have provided us? Of everything I have purchased on the net...I honestly can't think of anywhere that gives us so much.
End of quote


Not to sound like just a follower, but that is a very true statement. Think about it.
End of quote


I'll risk sounding like a follower. I agree completely.
Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I've been using all the Stardock software since as far back as I can remember. I may not be on the boards much anymore...but I still read them and visit WC on a daily basis. Stardock and WC are the only software and websites I have used continuously since I started surfing the web. All the rest have come and gone.

I can tell you that things continue to evolve properly. Not too fast and not too slow. I think the company is a shining example of how to stay competitive, properly grow with it's environment and serve it's customers in the new millennium ahead of us.

Brad...keep up the good, I should say Great, work. Keep doing what you are doing and with the people you are doing it and great things will continue to evolve.
Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top
And for the record...I am a follower!
Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Really don't think you can do as a accurate an assessment as last year both because of Vista related development issues and some of your community changes didn't kick in until mid-year.

Personally, I think the community effort has both substantial and successful. So, kudos from me and to the whole gang keep up the great work.

Have had an idea for a few months or and just going to throw it out there for everyone to mull over. Not sure if it is feasible but, may be?

Maybe try adding a Rent-a-skinner section sort of like Rent-a-coder but, for gui work? Just a thought. Maybe Rent-a-coder would do something & kick back referral revenue from Wincustomize.

The main issue I think is it might possibly cause friction in the community if some people took a cut rate approach to bidding.
Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Sounds like a wikked new year planned.......cant WAIT for the GUI Comp next year....
Reply #17 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Challenge #3: Get more involved in the community
End of quote


I think as far as this challenge goes, you guys and gals have done a wonderful job via Island Dog's "This week in Skinning" and with the "monthly promotions" thread! It shows that your paying attention to the community and it means a lot!
Reply #18 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I think the documentation has improved a thousandfold over the last year. Skinsutdio 6 in particular presents a clean, easy to use interface that makes skin creation much easier to learn, as well as in practice.

The one thing keeping me from joining the ranks of Object Desktop subscribers is the fact that not all the (major) components support Vista x64. Admittedly, XP x64 was a trainwreck, but with Vista, x64 support is becoming much more mainstream. I believe IconPackager was the only app I really wanted that wasn't yet compliant last I checked.
Reply #19 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Brad . . I am honestly amazed to be recognized.  I really do think of Stardock and the members of Wincustomize as an extended family.  I'm grateful that I'm a part of this place.

There are so many people that have busted their ass to make sure that we didn't continue what you listed as failures last year.  Next year you can count on my continued effort.

None of what we have accomplished here could have be done as well without Mike Crasweller (Zoomba).  Mad props to him.
Reply #20 from WinCustomize Forums Top
On the whole I think there's a ton of good stuff, including, software, general support, atmosphere around Wincustomize etc..

The large community announcement posts have the capacity to confuse the heck out of me though. I see perfectly reasonable questions asked and not replied to, it affects the tone of a thread..... makes it easier for the usual partisan stuff to set in, until it begins to look like there's one group that are the 'Bashers' and another group that form the 'Emperors New Clothes' club, whose job it is to bash the 'Bashers'

Seems to me that if on topic questions were responded to and these big threads were introduced with the expectation of dialogue, rather than side taking, everyone would benefit more.

Reply #21 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Zubaz, you must be using spell-check......or you are paying your wife to type for you..... :LOL: 
Reply #22 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I tell everyone that works at my business that "there is something to be learned every day and part of what seperates us from the competition is our ability to recognize our lessons
and grow from them"

In that respect ,here we have the premier(skinning)software builder in the a world that is pumping out PCs left and right that is very interactive with the community!

In comparison I am an authorized dealer for a lot of the electronics you all have in your homes ex...Kenwood,Mitsubishi,Toshiba,etc...Last time I needed tech info from Toshiba it
took 2 weeks 4 calls and 1 disgruntled employee.

Last time I need tech support here it took 27min. No comparison.....and just for point of
reference my company has spent Over $300,000 with Toshiba and $100 here(personally)
I wish all the companies dealt with were as prompt and supportive!
That my friends is true support!!!

There is always room for improvement for the minute we stop striving to do better that is the same minute we quit growing and atrophy begins!

Looking forward to '08 and the GUIC!
Thanks for all you do!!!
Reply #23 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Thank you Brad for you great article.. I think that Stardock does an A1 job in all aspects of the its business.

Love the Products, software , Love the site and the support we get as part of this community..

The community itself is made up of some wonderful people and I personally have made some good friends here.

All ways looking forward to what Stardock has to offer. And appreciate you keeping your promises you made last year. We have all made out in 2007 and sounds like 2008 will be just as exciting.
Reply #24 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I think Stardock is doing a great job. I've been a paid subscriber for years, and will continue to do so.

You're right that Microsoft has been under a lot of heat for Vista -- and some of it much deserved. Consider Vista Ultimate Extras (or lack, thereof). What a catastrophic failure. You don't even hear about it much anymore, because people are tired of complaining. Clearly, Microsoft dropped the ball.

Maybe one direction Stardock can go is to supply the Extras that Microsoft has failed to create. You know, take advantage of all the WPF power in Vista that has really gone unused, to date. WindowFX could do a lot, including Concentration/Exposé-like effects.

Overall, I'm excited about the great things that Stardock will produce over the upcoming year.

Happy Holidays to everyone.