Antsnest

Join Date 07/2003

Objectdock? Another OD Splitoff?

I've been using Object Desktop for years, since its OS/2 days (in various incarnations), when the new annual subs started I paid them, it's not a huge sum and I use a few bits regularly.

In recent years everything I use OD for seems to have been sidelined while everyone gets busy customising their desktops. I may be odd but I don't really have any urge for my desktop to look like the Starship Enterprise. I'[ve no problem with those who do, I'm quite impressed with some of the themes I've seen I just don't personally feel the need.

I did have a conversation with SD a while ago expressing the opinion that my particular requirements (Control centre and Tabbed Launchpad mainly) were being neglected in favour of the new stuff, wondering if it was actually worth my while carrying on, maybe I should just stop subbing and use what I had? I was assured that while priorities had changed (of course) I wasn't being left out to dry.

Now I find that ObjectDock (which looks rather interesting, Tabbed Launchpad I use, a lot) is a new product (but I can get a discount, well, $5 off).

So, why I wonder isn't this an upgrade to the Tabbed Launchpad and therefore covered by my OD sub? It looks like an upgrade, a few new features and a new interface but instead it's a 'new' programme.

Sorry, I'm starting to feel that I'm being taken for a ride. The cost isn't a factor, I can afford it, I just don't like the feeling that every time something I use gets upgraded it's going to be called a new programme and split out.

There's certainly no point in my continuing my OD subcription when it comes up for renewal (January as I recall), $34 a year to save $5? I think not.

I realise that SD need to make a profit but not by making a fool of me. I'm quite sure I'm about to get a tirade about it being a completely new concept etc etc but I'm sorry, it looks like a new version of Tab Launchpad (a very nice one!), if it walks like a duck and it quacks like a duck it's probably a duck.

Tim

objectdock

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Koasati

Join Date 07/2001

+21

I think ObjectDock was developed independantly, and aquired by Stardock, much like CursorXP (which was originally called CursorEX). (but I could be wrong..... )

There is a new 'beta' version of Tabbed LaunchPad, but I don't know how much has changed, as I never cared for the app, so never used it much.

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Thanks, I know, I have it.

There's nothing significant in the beta and it hasn't been updated for a considerable time. The date on the beta is 2 years ago. I must admit I thought it was more recent than that but my memory was never my best feature.

My point (which may not have been obvious as I rambled on) is that OD is becoming irrelevant as the useful bits are split out rather than released as updates.

Tim

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Daiwa

Join Date 07/2001

+351

The "useful bits" for you, perhaps, but others might disagree. And that accepts that ObjectDock is indeed just TabLaunchpad repackaged, which may or may not be an accurate conclusion. Nothing otherwise has been "split off" from ODN, though certainly apps have been added to SD's menu that are not included in the ODN subscription. I don't see the trend you see, at least not yet. Further, a version of ObjectDock is available for free.

I'll agree that there is frustration with Stardock letting certain apps languish which I wish they would update (e.g., ObjectBar for Win2K, one I've been vocal about) but those are business decisions we have to live with, like them or not, and consider in making our purchasing choices. The choices you make will be the "right" ones for you.

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I thought it was obvious that I was talking about my use of OD, obviously I can't speak for anyone else. That's why I specified the parts I make significant use of.

I also addressed the question of ObjectDock being 'effectively' the same as tabbed Launchpad, it really doesn't matter if it's an upgrade to the current system, a rewrite or a completely new programme brought in from elsewhere. If it does the same job (which it does) with new facilities (fancy graphics, system tray etc) which it has then it 'looks like' and effectively is an upgrade, as far as the user is concerned (that's what the 'if it looks like a duck' line was about, common usage over in the UK, sorry if it didn't translate).

I accept that Stardock will make the commercial decisions they have to, if they hadn't switched to Windows they would have died off years ago, I'm sure they also made the correct commercial decision to concentrate on the fancy graphical stuff (which I personally dislike but then again I don't play computer games, which is also a huge market. I never claimed to be in the mainstream as far as computer use was concerned, most of my time is spent programming.). I regard the fancy interfaces that seem to the the thing these days as a modern trend towards presentation over content but if that's what people are prepared to pay for then that's what companies are going to produce.

I'm sure that the loss of $34 per year for my OD sub (offset by me probably buying ObjectDock which looks as if it's rather nice) won't make a significant difference to their turnover, I'm probably in a very small minority, I felt I had a point which needed airing so I aired it

Effectively it'll save me money, I'll buy the few things I want, I won't pay annually for what I don't use, to be brutally honest I've really kept it up for the last few years out of a combination of laziness where I just carried on as I had and a vague warm feeling towards Stardock which originated when they supported my OS of choice (OS/2) in the mid 90s.

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Daiwa

Join Date 07/2001

+351

Meant no argument with you, Antsnest, except for your implication that this represented some sort of trend - I don't believe that is a fair conclusion. Aside from Tab Launchpad not being updated, what other "useful bits" have been split out?

Your points otherwise are very valid & I respect your opinion & choices. Makes the world go 'round & all that.

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After I spent so much effort rewriting the original post to make sure it was fairly objective (or as much so as it can be) I failed to check the title

I have no idea where the 'Another' came from, I don't remember writing it and I have no idea why I typed it in the first place.

You are quite correct, there isn't as far as I'm aware a trend, I should have used 'A' rather than 'Another', that I withdraw witgout reservation.

Mind you, having played a little with ObjectDock it does seem to work rather well (although the swing mouseover effect I found a little disorientating), even the zoom effect which seemed so odd at first is starting to looks useful. I'm doing a rebuild of my OS on a seperate partition so I'm off to purchase the plus version to replace tabbed launchpad, hopefully I can use it to replace the taskbar as well (a test version of the tabbed version would have been nice but on past SD performance I'm sure it works).

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