Why subscribe » Forum Post by Dan Dunn

I'm going to address this first:

I can get all of these programs from p2p for no charge. I see updates on p2p that only lag SDC releases by about 24 hours. Free is about the right price for what I'm getting.

Theft is wrong. You can justify it all you want but it's still stealing.

I show 20 apps updated in 2006-2007. That's pretty good in my book.

It's late, there's been lots of misplaced complaints today. Spend your money where you want. I'm sticking with Stardock.

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This is so apropos I just had to share this...

After writing the above message, I loaded up SDC to start archiving the apps I use. Under Object Desktop, I selected Component Tray and right-clicked it. As I did that a window popped-up and asking me if I wanted to renew.

Well, the menu window was open and no matter what I clicked on SDC was frozen...

Thanks for reinforcing what I already knew.

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For 1 getting legal Trojan & virus free programs.
2 paying for programs that cost money & time to make
3 paying to support this site, the bandwidth used to host skins you need to use on those programs

I'm sorry that 11 problems have been ignored. Contacting support@stardock.com or posting in the support forums usually lead to some help

There is also a great group of people here that bend over backwards to help others

It's My Secret

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Island Dog

Join Date 06/2003

+1048

So I ask, what am I paying for?

You are paying for a product and not obtaining it illegally from a p2p network. That would be the best reason. I would never be comfortable downloading something that has been chopped and cracked and who knows what else put into the program.

I can't speak for your reports because I don't know what they contained, but Stardock is the only company I have ever dealt with that does take the input from its customers seriously. If you are still having problems with a specific error or problem, I would suggest e-mailing support again.

I would hope you renew your subscription but advocating obtaining our products through p2p will not go far here.

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Jafo

Join Date 03/2001

+1845

You'd be supporting people here that you might just come to regard as friends.

You'd be able to look them in the eye and not be lying when you said "I do not steal your product, or food from your family's table."

You'd be allowed to continue accessing freely-provided skins for your purchased software, and not be denied access to skins/feedback/support....

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Theft is wrong. You can justify it all you want but it's still stealing.

You are correct. Taking my money every year and ignoring my bug reports (made by email to support@stardock.com) is theft. We agree on something.

For 1 getting legal Trojan & virus free programs.

You've been mis-informed (brainwashed). When a hundred ppl have downloaded something, if there's any kind of problem; the word gets around fast. I've had one problem like this in 22 years on the internet and my virus checker caught it before it could install.

3 paying to support this site, the bandwidth used to host skins you need to use on those programs

The bandwidth for the skin site is supposed to paid for with my Wincustomize subscription. This is a another area where they don't earn their money. When right-click and objectdock libraries were added to the website, it took more than two weeks to make them available to the PAYING wincutomize subscriptors. Besides your forced to use sdc for access and that is one sick puppy.

I would never be comfortable downloading something that has been chopped and cracked and who knows what else put into the program.

This is just more paranoid mis-information...

Still waiting for some good, valid reasons.

PS: I'm a retired programmer

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22 years of illegal activity... no matter how you slice it.

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22 years of illegal activity... no matter how you slice it.

Why is it when ppl disagree with you they are so willing to jump to conclusions, especially if those conclusions put you in a bad light. Where does this flamer Night Train get 22 years of illegal activity from what I wrote above.

Is accessing the internet a crime?
Is downloading software a crime?

You should understand that writing such as this is called LIABLE. You can be sued for LIABLE.

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It's a crime when you hop on the torrents to download cracked programs instead of doing the right thing and buying them to help support the developers for all their hard work. If it walks like a duck, talks like a duck....etc.

BTW, it's LIBEL not liable.

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It's a crime when you hop on the torrents to download cracked programs instead of doing the right thing and buying them to help support the developers for all their hard work. If it walks like a duck, talks like a duck....etc.

Where have I said I download cracked programs? I only said they were available as an alternative to waisting my money. Why would I download cracked programs from stardock, I already have a subscription. So again more wild speculation to demonize the person with the alternate view...

BTW, it's LIBEL not liable.

Thanks, it looked a little strange - I should have looked it up.

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You should understand that writing such as this is called LIABLE. You can be sued for LIABLE.

It just got alot stupider in here.

No matter what moronic jibberish you come up with next, you'll still be crying after being raped in prison. Thief!

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I have never had problems getting help from Stardock. Did you ever think it might be your attitude or possibly the bad karma you are paying for all your stealing? Wise up. What goes around comes around.
If you think you have problems with the legitimate copies of Stardock software and their service, wait till your computer is ruined by those cracked versions you're bragging on. They are full of trojans and all kinds of bugs, and eventually stop working and so will your computer. Then you will be left with nothing. Have fun.

Why is it when ppl disagree with you they are so willing to jump to conclusions

I think this said it all. No one here has jumped to any conclusions. You came right out and told us you're a thief. Don't you know that darkness will never overcome darkness. Geesh.

Where have I said I download cracked programs?

Any copy of a Stardock program not bought from Stardock is a crack. Tell me you aren't really this stupid.

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I can get all of these programs from p2p for no charge. I see updates on p2p that only lag SDC releases by about 24 hours. Free is about the right price for what I'm getting.

You've been mis-informed (brainwashed). When a hundred ppl have downloaded something, if there's any kind of problem; the word gets around fast. I've had one problem like this in 22 years on the internet and my virus checker caught it before it could install.

Maybe it's just me, but that seems to insinuate that you have done it sometime in the past 22 years and you're boasting that you haven't encountered any of the above mentioned problems that comes with downloading cracked programs. But whatever.

It really irritates me seeing all these people bashing Stardock (and these being the few but loud minority) because they aren't Olympian gods who can just snap their fingers and magically and instantly fix the little problems that crop up. Aren't they entitled to make mistakes like the rest of us humans? Aren't they allowed to have a weekend off and be able to enjoy with without a bunch of peons saying how awful and terrible they are for making mistakes like the rest of us? Sheesh! Cut 'em some slack. You could just not have the programs at all, but we should be thanking them for that instead of all this mindless whining and bickering. [/endrant]

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Fuzzy Logic

Join Date 05/2002

+493

I see updates on p2p that only lag SDC releases by about 24 hours

You convicted yourself right there The only possible reason for indulging in the above activity is to download unlicensed software...

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thomassen

Join Date 01/2003

+10

PS: I'm a retired programmer

And this should matter because?

Why is it when ppl disagree with you they are so willing to jump to conclusions, especially if those conclusions put you in a bad light. Where does this flamer Night Train get 22 years of illegal activity from what I wrote above.

You just said earlier that you could get the SD programs on P2P for free insinuating that you'd download the programs illegally because you haven't seen any results of your bug reports. You also describe how quickly a new release appear on P2P giving an indication that you monitor P2P for SD software.
You can call Night Train a flamer if you want, but you are nothing but a troll. A troll better left ignored.

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So I ask, what am I paying for?

for...

- Stardock support
- Community support
- Free ODNT addons (themes and goodies)
- Many ODNT discounts (Omega, Fortune,...)
- All apps included via Stardock Central (fast installation in one clic)
- Latest updates without any problems
- No crack and others virus included in the p2p/usenet packages.
- No buggy crack ( read this threat //neowin.net )
- Respect for all devs and skinners for hard works.

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Frogboy

Join Date 03/2001

+2419

If the software is so buggy and bad, what does P2P have to do with it?

If it's good enough to pirate, it's good enough to buy.

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Being the retired programmer, it should be no problem to create your own software and not have to use SD products whether they are legally purchased or ripped...quit whining and start coding.

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Skinhit

Join Date 11/2004

+516

In my opinion...if you like to spend time here...you should have a subscription and support that which you come here for

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Fairyy~

Join Date 02/2004

+49

I have had Object Desktop for about 3 years ..I will renew it when the time comes because I believe in paying my way. I have had very few problems with any of the software I use and if there is a bit of buggyness - I deal with it. Perhaps some of your problems stem from all the crack versions of junk you download. You seem to know your way around not paying..so why is this even an issue ? Are you trying to justify the fact that you obtain software illegally that the rest of us pay for ?

I fail to see why you even wrote this forum...the answer is simple - don't renew subscription.

The rest of us don't mind paying your way... ( insert poker face here )

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Uvah

Join Date 05/2006

+874

Here is my two cents...I have yet to subscribe. I will just as soon as I am able. In my view Stardock beats the crap out of all others...period. I have had issues regarding SDC and Stardock support wasted (not waisted, learn to spell) no time at all resolving the problem. For a former programmer you whine like a baby. If you are one

then you would or rather should have the expertise to correct certain problems yourself. Quit whining and do the right thing. If you can't...TAKE GAS!!! BTW...I'll stick with Stardock
until hell freezes over!

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Jafo

Join Date 03/2001

+1845

Still looking for a reason?

Here's the bottom line.

Once it is determined that a 'User' [downloader of Wincustomize.com skin content] is using warez'd SD software he/she joins the little select group of the 'recently departed.' It's fair and equitable justification for their removal from the site.

Skin content is provided here by skinners for properly licensed proggy users, not warez kiddies wanting a free ride.

Purchasing the software is a LEGAL obligation.

Subscribing to the site as well....that's just the 'feel good' part [not mandatory].

Doing 'your bit' for the community is a noble cause, however, if you wish to exist outside of these ideals then you can happily exist outside of this site/community as well...

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Well said Jafo.

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PS: I'm a retired programmer

So go program, already. Sheesh. Grab an oar or get off the boat.

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PoSmedley

Join Date 04/2005

+788

Why is it whenever I see a thread like this, a majority of the time the person says they are some sort of programmer, or someone in their family is, and they know more about these apps than the people who designed them?

As for being brainwashed about bad p2p downloads...If you've never been hit, it only means you caught them before they got in your system. The fact is, there are people out there preying on others who are looking for free versions of stuff and they put Trojans and such into the downloads. It's one thing to advocate theft (which is just simply 'wrong'), it's another when you misinform people about it and lead them to believe it is safe and a valid alternative. As a former programmer, you must have spent some time with noobies to know that there are a lot of people who don't understand ANYTHING about p2p and such and your just inviting them download all kinds of crap into their PC's and ruin them.

This is the second thread I have seen in an hour about hacking or theft, where someone who thinks they can do better or have done better has the nerve to ask for help or advice. The other guy has already screwed up his system, probably cause he took an uninformed hint from someone like this.

Can't we just remove such posts?

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