WinCustomize 2K5 Roll-out: Phase 2

Getting closer..

from JoeUser Forums
We've been making more and more tweaks on the site as we get closer to the December 7 date for launching the full site to everyone.

Here are some comments and issues we would like your opinions on:

1) Ads. Right now, there are banner ads in various places around the site. When we launch, most of those will go away for subscribers. So if you're a WinCustomize subscriber and the banner ads annoy you, especially the Stardock oriented ones, many of these will go away.

2) The color. Some people feel the site is too bright. If anyone wants to send their own color concept to me ([email protected]) I'll check it out.

Let us know of other things you would like to see changed and how you like this new site. Remember, the comparison is compared to the current WinCustomize site, not some utopian ultra site that doesn't exist. ;)

Thanks in advance!
9,331 views 21 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Maybe it isn't up yet, or I just missed it; but, would like to be able to adjust in personal preferences the WinCustomize Library same as on the old site.

The first thing that I noticed on 2K5 is how fast it is. Big plus!!

Skinning related ads are OK. But would rather not see personal hygiene ads popping up. :LOL:


The color is fine, though not a favorite, but can live with it. If there is a consensus on a different color I will go along with it.
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Another opinion (we all know what opinons are worth) :LOL: Stationary adds are ok with me, ya have to pay the rent as we all know. Jusst please not the ones that keep flashing in your face. You're adding modules every few days, like your thinking at the same rate as me. Keep up the good work, and thanks!
CursorFX - Customize your Windows cursor
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Could do without the ads.

Some different colors to offset the white might be nice.

I definitely like the speed difference.
:LOL:
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
When using the forums...having a Return to button at the bottom of the thread and when you open up a thread you have read before, you go back to where you left off....just like the old site :)

Also I miss having access to the full libaries, the about, edit account, links....the stuff on the left and right columns from the old site. Most of it's here on the home page, but once you get off the home page it's no longer there.

Eliminating the ratings minimum for new items when you are looking at the newest additions in the specific library. Objectdock and wallpapers come to mind. If you look at it now the latest 20 items objectdock, they go back to 9/18/04. I can still see keeping the rating minimum on the main newest page though.

Site appearance....site's not bad looking and probably a good design for speed, but I figured there'd be something a little more "WOW" about the appearance of the No.1 customization site.

Speaking of site speed....I understand the thing about the caching, but it's really hard to tell if there's a new comment in a forum thread or just that it was you that made the last comment, if it always shows "New Comment" icon

An easier way to tell if there are any new comments on your skins other than going back to "My Skins" link on the old site, or clicking on the individual skins in your own gallery

Definitely could do without the ads, though the small WC/Stardock box in the upper-right hand corner is good, because it reminds me of the new software and suites y'all put out :)

A clarification on what's happening with titles.

Sorry about the long list :)
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
personally, I like the new colors. Easy to read, nice contrast.
I would echo Essencays idea of an easier way to see new comments, not only on skins, but on blog articles as well
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I guess the word "mellow" comes to mind regarding the new color scheme. I liked the Theme Manager on the old site...is there a way we could get Mormegil or Treetog to throw together some new stuff for the new site? I'd appreciate even some sort of color manager...

On the other hand, the speed difference is rather noticeable on dialup!

And just a thought....the light purple in the logo doesnt look terribly good.
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Just to focus on a few of the more recent updates...

I feel that there's some sort of trick hidden up Stardock's sleeve that they are going to pull for the final release. I doubt that this yellow will be the final version of the site, and just the update with those buttons are a big improvement.

As for today's updates, I LOVE the Newest/Popular layout. The emphasis on articles is nice, since I'm more of a fan of writing about this stuff than actually skinning...but that's yet to come hopefully.

Anywho, i'm very impressed with the goings on thus far...keep up the good work!

(the speed is impeccable too :D )
Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
~ I don't think site skins are a necessity but I agree about having a color manager. If everyone could set up the color scheme how they like it, I believe that would make everyone happy.

~ Other than that, I am highly impressed with the progress being made.

~ Also, I like the Site Meter at the bottom of the page. Makes for an interesting read.
Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top
2 things
1) Allow us to set some default sort criteria for our searches. For instance, by default, I like to sort by rating. Currently this means if I click on the left to get to a section, I have to change the sort order and click Go again. This is a 2 click op that should really be able to be done in 1.

2)In adding a comment, I wasn't brought down to the bottom of the page where the comment box was, so it looked like when I hit the button that nothing happened. Not a problem for a first post, but for post #9, it can be confusing for people who don't know to look for it.
Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top
If someone has an idea on colors, SEND ME a MOCKUP. [email protected].
Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I'm not a subscriber (yet) and I am curious..

It would be nice to have the ability to arrange the 'elements' (what and where) that make up the individual pages. For instance if we wanted some data from the 'Newest' page to show up on the main 'Home' page we could set that 'element' to appear on the main page in our preferences.. I seem to remember hearing something about this a while ago - is it gonna happen for subscribers? Could it happen? Cause with the design spread over so many tabbed pages now it would be nice to have everything immediately essential in view on the first tab and this will be different for different people.
Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I don't mind the colours at all. The newest/popular tabs are good. I would like to be able to restrict my libraries to the ones I'm interested in like with Skinbrowser.

As well, I concur with Essencay re the comments navigation.
Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I THINK THE NEW SITE IS WONDERFUL! I AM GLAD THAT IT IS BRIGHT. I DON'T HAVE GOOD EYESIGHT SO THE BRIGHTER THE BETTER. YOU ARE DOING A GREAT JOB AND I LOVE IT!
Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I also think the new site is excellent. The speed difference was definately noticeable. And I really like the colors. I like the tabbed interface as well. Man you guys are doing a great job.
Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I don't know if this has been asked about elsewhere or not. It would be nice if when visiting a thread on the forum and returning to that same thread, that you would end up at the point in the thread where you left off. Hope this makes sense.
Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I think everything is looking great. I have to agree that some sort of color manager would be nice.

I was hoping the forums would have some sort of pm feature with it. I know there are people I would like to privately contact, and finding out how to contact someone can sometimes be difficult.
Reply #17 from WinCustomize Forums Top
For me personally the white background is murder on my eyes. The lighter colour of this site would do.
Reply #18 from WinCustomize Forums Top
So if you're a WinCustomize subscriber and the banner ads annoy you, especially the Stardock oriented ones, many of these will go away.


The Stardock one's don't annoy me....it's the other ones.
Reply #19 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Good looking site. Very fast...

One small pet peeve...

I run my monitor (17 inch) at 1024x768 (because getting old and vision is not what it used to be) and if you could have pages shrink to width would be nice. Most pages do that, but some don't. Thanks
Reply #20 from WinCustomize Forums Top
The new site is okay but its still early in its developement and I am not sure whether I like it better than the old one. The brighter colors are a big plus over the old site. The number of viewable skins per. page is way too short. If my library of skins were not already built I would never browse a complete catagory to see what it contained. Bernie D:
Reply #21 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I think the new site is great.
Here is something I would like to see on the new site.
I would like to have Icons next to the skin name on the my skins page.
That way it is easier to tell what library the particular skin is in.