WindowBlinds 4???

from WinCustomize Forums
Hey all, Im knew to this who idea of skinning windows. I am running windows 2000 on my computer along with window blind v3.3. I see a lot of downloadable skins that say they are only for window blinds 4. I went to download.com and could only find v3.5. Whats the deal with this V4.0??? Is it worth the upgrade...why?? and where can i find this mysterious v4? Thanks for your help

8,624 views 55 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
It's still in Alpha. The skins are actually for Windowblinds 3.9 which is 4 in alpha.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't WB 4 XP only?


With Object Desktop, you can download the alpha.
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Gauch: Windowblinds 4 isn't officially released yet. Only available to Object Desktop Network customers for now. I think it's scheduled for official release in March. So, you won't have too long to wait.
Galactic Civilizations IV
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
You can use those skins that are made for WB4, you just won't get the new additions skinned. They are called Shellstyles. They WILL work for you though, so go ahead and download them.
Version 4 is still in Alpha. If you have an Object Desktop subscription you can get it now, otherwise you will have to wait until the first official public release candidate.
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
WB4 alpha is Windows XP only. But the official release is supposed to support older versions of Windows.
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Whoa! 3 answers all at once! Glad we all said the same thing!
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Is it my imagination or does WB 3.9 have trouble with some XP skins? I'm speaking specifically about Makinarama. Since I upgraded to 3.9 Makinarama doesn't run well on XP at all. Is there something I need to tweak?

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Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
i truthfully believe WB4 won't be much of a jump for windows 2000, me, and 98 users... accept for the perfomance enhancements... but for XP users... we reap all of the benefeits ... I can't wait to see the good stuff Stardock is gonna do for Longhorn... I will have renewed my subscription again by then

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Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
It is my understanding from what Brad said in the news groups that the first release of WB4 this month will be for XP only. Then there should be a release next fall for older versions of Windowblinds.
Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I meant older versions of Windows. Need more coffee.
Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Really? Next Fall only? As 6 months from now?
Wow. This is a first.

But I guess I agree, WB4 probably isn't that interesting for non-XP users.
Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top
It is my understanding that the word is Windowblinds 4 will be as quick/almost as quick as the original XP skin.


Impatiently waiting .
Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Actually I heard that it is faster. It uses the native skinning format plus it adds acceleration that XP doesn't use. So a basic skin would be faster in WB than the MS XP skins.
Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top
"Only available to Object Desktop Network customers for now."

What about Windowblinds-only customers? I didn't want the whole package..
Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top
TheGuest, Object Desktop customers have, as they always did, exclusive access to beta the programs. As a Windowblinds customer, you'll have to wait until the final release is out. Which shouldn't be long, as it was said.
Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Wow Dave, that's what I'm talkin about.


I'm anticipating it even more. Thanks for the info.
Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top
well I like WB4... it's faster than any other version... and way faster than Windows xp's default Luna Skin... it uses a new technology that some say is faster even than.... Windows Classic... which is windows before the luna... so it's fast... I like it alot though

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Reply #17 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Well, for those interested, the latest version 3.9g fixed my problems with Makinarama. Way to go Stardock

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Reply #18 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Yeah, well thanks to this crappy piece of junk alpha WB4, I now have to completely reformat my hard drive and start everything from scratch... way to go... just call me a guinea pig... no more testing your shoddy, bugridden software alphas and betas for me....!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See ya in a couple of days maybe after I reload everything from scratch...

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Reply #19 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Jam...those are the risks you take when running alpha's and beta's.....

Huury back...we'll miss your whining

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Reply #20 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Whoa that sucks Jam. Can't you unload Windowblinds and go back to a restore?


What is the problem?
Reply #21 from WinCustomize Forums Top
oh yeah.

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Reply #22 from WinCustomize Forums Top
bye bye jammy lol lol lol

Come back soon
Reply #23 from WinCustomize Forums Top
"just call me a guinea pig."

Well - not that I really want to contribute to this - when you consciously make the choice to run a beta, or even worse, alpha level program, that's exactly what you are. When you choose to run software like that, you /have/ to realize that Bad Things (tm) can and every likely will happen. If that's a problem, or you can't handle it or anything - you don't run the software until it reaches a stable, release level. ^_^
Reply #25 from WinCustomize Forums Top


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