Skinning for the Windows 7 World

from WinCustomize Forums

Since this was a hot topic in the Object Desktop 2011 thread, we can continue the conversation here as not to take away from an important topic.

To sum up what was said, many people have argued that apps for Windows XP should be discontinued, not supported, etc. as it is a legacy OS at this time, and that Stardock should move forward with Win7.

Some disagree.

My opinion is that XP just needs to be let go.  It is an ancient OS, and all focus should be on Windows 7 and upcoming OS's.  WinCustomize gets millions of visitors each month, and Windows 7 alone is nearly beating XP and Vista visitors combined.  On several of our other sites, Windows 7 has already taken a great lead.

No doubt that XP still has a strong user base, but eventually you have to say that it's time to move forward and support just the latest and greatest, which is Win7.

In these hard economic times it is hard to say this in some way, because not everyone has the means to acquire a new PC or an OS upgrade.  However, there are several ways to obtain OS upgrades legally, and for far less than retail.  In the coming weeks I will highlight some of these ways which some might find useful.

 

 

5,407 views 21 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top

The XP OS will not change and there are already mature products for it. It's up to the skinner's if they want to skin it but I don't think any new application development is worthwhile. Vista doesn't have a sufficient user base to make developing for it worthwhile either.

W7 x64 should be the prime target for development now.

Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I strongly agree with you both. I need XP for my business equipment only because I can't get it to run in XP mode on Win 7. I don't worry about skinning it, it is business only, bare bones OS to me.

Now, I'm a fan of SD if there ever was one, but SD is behind the times as we speak. Looking backwards isn't going to help that.

I say look forward, make everything SD has to work on Win 7, and then the future.

Galactic Civilizations III
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top

LOL , I never used XP since my high school days :rofl:

Vista was great just for Dreamscenes ;)

But on a serious note, now it's time for Windows 7 :thumbsup:

Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Win7 is the future and should be pursued as a skinning platform (apps and skins).

XP is a strong base that pays for WC and ODNT.

I'd bet that since teh beginning of the year 50% of teh traffic to WC was XP  that the other half split between Vista and 7.  In the past few months I'd guess that XP and 7 have even about around 40% and XP has 20%.

Stardock has to be forward thinking in new apps but it has a market of XP users who want Win7 features along with the other enhancements.

I've got more than a few PCs at my house and they all have differnt OSs.  I upgrade those machines that need it as needed.  I run Mepis (linux), XP, Vista, and 7.  I want to skin them all as much as I can.

Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Have all the Window Blinds developer taken a look at how theirs or others recent blinds for Win 7 react to IE9 that came out today?  I can get the basic Aero blinds to look good with IE9, but all my purchased and collected blinds don't fair so well with IE9.  Since I and many users spend so much time in IE, I'm afraid there are going to have to be some changes in Stardock software to acccomodate skinning IE9; although at least IE9 works much better with Window Blinds that it has in the past.  Good luck to all :S
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Being that the first beta of IE9 just came out hours ago, I don't expect everything to be working correctly.  It is a beta, and it will take time to check out any issues that come up.

 

Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Stardock should continue to supply EXISTING XP support, but all apps should be working on 7 32 and 64 bit and new apps should not be looking back. After getting all apps 7 64 ready and working, adding backward compatability could be addressed.

The NOW is Win 7 64 bit. Cutting edge has always been a claim by Stardock. Current software does not reflect that.

Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I'm really glad that you guys are advocating for XP users. These are tough times, and although W7 has been my choice, others seem to find XP can do pretty much all they need.

I apologize that your first thread got sidetracked, I.D.

My own OS's are W7 HP x64 and W7 Professional x32. I do believe the future is 7, and 8 but I'm really glad XP folks won't be abandoned. They're loyal folks.

:thumbsup:

Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I apologize that your first thread got sidetracked, I.D.
End of quote

It wasn't sidetracked.

Wanting focus on Win 7 rather than 'legacy' OSs is a DIRECT reply/response to Brad's topic/question.

I actually fail to see the need for THIS thread.....;p

Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Island, reply 6
Being that the first beta of IE9 just came out hours ago, I don't expect everything to be working correctly.  It is a beta, and it will take time to check out any issues that come up.

 
End of Island's quote

And Win7 Service Pack 1 Beta is loose. But it puts that damn watermark on your screen.

http://www.downloadsquad.com/2010/07/13/windows-7-service-pack-1-public-beta-now-available/

 

 

Edit:  Guess I hadn't paid attention, this is old news...lol.  :blush:

Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Needless to say, that watermark sucks, and is coming off. If I can't find a way to remove it, the service pack is going.

I spend too much time customizing my rig to have a watermark on my screen. Judging by the Sept. Screenshot thread, you must not mind it, Jafo.

 

Sorry if this is off topic.  O:)

Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Well...what ever you guys decide...I'd appreciate it if any bugs in any XP apps get ironed and finalized out before they get kicked to the curb. XP may be considered a legacy OS in terms of money...since they can't very well sell you new stuff if they continue to call XP viable...which like it or not it still is...I still consider it a very viable and current OS. The only reason I've seen so far to move to 7 is because it's there.

I would also like to be informed when any development for XP ends since I don't wish to be paying for something that has nothing to do with my current OS. ;)

Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I spend too much time customizing my rig to have a watermark on my screen. Judging by the Sept. Screenshot thread, you must not mind it, Jafo.
End of quote

Doesn't bother me...though it's removable....and I'm sure there's a removal method for the beta 'watermark' too.

In most things 'skinning/modding' Google is your fiend ....;)

Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Google may be my "fiend" but I found a watermark remover, supposedly just for this, didn't work. I searched and searched for one when beta testing 7 and never found anything to work.

Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Google may be my "fiend" but I found a watermark remover, supposedly just for this, didn't work.
End of quote

Hey Jim! I found one! It's called XP! XD

Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting WebGizmos, reply 15

Google may be my "fiend" but I found a watermark remover, supposedly just for this, didn't work.


Hey Jim! I found one! It's called XP!
End of WebGizmos's quote

You're funny Giz...lol!!

Reply #17 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting RedneckDude, reply 14
Google may be my "fiend" but I found a watermark remover, supposedly just for this, didn't work. I searched and searched for one when beta testing 7 and never found anything to work.
End of RedneckDude's quote
Just put a piece of duct tape over the watermark, duh! And you call yourself a redneck.:P

Reply #18 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Posted in the other thread before seeing ID's request:

With deference and gratitude to the single individual most responsible for my interest in skinning (Jafo), abandoning XP support would likely result in a lot of folks, such as me, abandoning Object Desktop.  There would be no reason to renew - W7 is not in my future for at least another year, probably two.  The market base for Master Skinners would likely contract considerably, too.

Perhaps there will be enough W7 users to replace us, perhaps not.  0.02

End of quote

For clarity, this assumes there would be no further development of existing versions of XP-compatible apps, of course.

Reply #19 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Wizard1956, reply 17
Quoting RedneckDude, reply 14Google may be my "fiend" but I found a watermark remover, supposedly just for this, didn't work. I searched and searched for one when beta testing 7 and never found anything to work.
Just put a piece of duct tape over the watermark, duh! And you call yourself a redneck.
End of Wizard1956's quote

If he was a blonde, it'd be whiteout. ;)

I wonder what a blonde redneck would use.... white duct tape?

Reply #20 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Daiwa....

I'm pushing the radical/brutal approach to OD's/skinning's direction to promote discussion.  Getting all touchy-feely with the status quo doesn't incite/invite debate.

That said, it's still a real issue that on-going support/development for 'legacy' OS versions distracts from forward development.

Whether anyone likes it or not, XP's days are numbered as a major player, and anyone who IS still on Vista probably really SHOULD dump it in favour of 7 as the latter is essentially Vista-that-works....;)

Seven is guaranteed to be the most 'successful' MS OS to date....as it's the first one to actually WORK ....;)

Reply #21 from WinCustomize Forums Top

To every thing there is a season... ;)