Brandon Andrews

Join Date 04/2003

Will Windowblinds Survive Vista?

WindowsFX will hopefully come into its own, as it now has a decent graphics system to work with and the default Vista animations are pretty subdued.

However, I am concerned for the future of Windowblinds. Is there really a need for this program now, since Vista's default appearance is not nearly as offensive as XP? Many recent Windowblinds themes were even poor Vista clones. A certain segment of the population will always get bored using the same theme, but I don't foresee as great a demand for Windowblinds, and I may not renew my subscription.

Thoughts?

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Fuzzy Logic

Join Date 05/2002

+493

Quite the reverse. I predict there will be an increased demand for WindowBlinds. Vista has so much more to offer than XP with regard to skinning a whole new era is about to begin.

Skinning XP to look like Vista is just a bandwaggon fad. The same thing happened when XP came out - remember all those XP clones? The first thing I did to Vista was skin it to get rid of that ugly Vista look. I think it's a look people are already sick of.

The future for skinning is looking good

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Many recent Windowblinds themes were even poor Vista clones.

...others [read: Kol's] were so good, it ruffled feathers in the upper echelon at MS.

I have to disagree with your view about WindowBlinds fading into obscurity though. I believe that more than a minority percentage will [eventually] grow tired of the Vista themes, and actively seek a different 'look' for their computers.

As far as your subscription ...only you can decide whether you'll re-sub

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At the moment...[transition to Vista/new OS] there are two types of aspirants....

Those who wish they had the new Vista...but have WB to look like Vista...so they can go 'look at me'....

and...

Those who already have Vista ...who go 'look at me'...

Once many/most have Vista the 'ho-hum' factor steps in and people will be looking elsewhere for faddish/modding/individualistic appeal.

Again Windowblinds [and its skinners] will come up with the goods...to revive that 'jaded' look.

The possibilities within the new OS [Vista] will likely see a much greater interest in skinning [and thus also Windowblinds] than less thereof....

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Z71

Join Date 08/2001

+76

The first thing I did to Vista was skin it to get rid of that ugly Vista look. I think it's a look people are already sick of.

You don't even know how much of an understatement that is.
Would have been fine if a few people had made a "copy", but there are so many now, I lost count at a thousand.
Anyone been to DeviantArt lately? I just call it the Vista clone site now......

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Island Dog

Join Date 06/2003

+1048

I agree with Fuzzy. Some people will be happy with the Vista "look" just as some are still happy with Windows classic. Once people see how great Vista looks with WB 5.5, the ball will start rolling even faster for Vista skinning.

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many like to change skins now and then, wb makes that easy as like xp i doubt there will be many freebie skins thats easy to install, xp had that patch and that was bout it which i did like cause it didnt use as much resources so i think wb and others will be around for vista

hopefully objectdock will follow as well, i prefer to use it instead of windows bar for that mac os look,much cleaner and visually appealing that doesnt grow as tiresome
anyone know if objectodocks even works as good in vista as it does in xp?

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Island Dog

Join Date 06/2003

+1048

anyone know if objectodocks even works as good in vista as it does in xp?

ObjectDock 1.5 is compatible with Vista and works quite well. I believe the only current issue is taskbar support.

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I.R. Brainiac

Join Date 05/2003

+281

The Vista clones have put me off the Vista look before I have even tried Vista.If I had Vista I would use the default look for just long enough to see how everything was supposed to look and work...then I'd skin it alive!

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unclerob

Join Date 08/2006

+40

Brandon, you're assuming that everyone will upgrade to vista - I don't think that's accurate, alot of people will continue using xp for quite some time and those winxp user's who have windowblinds will continue to rely on this site's impressive collection of windowblinds themes to skin their xp os.

SP3 for XP won't come out till sometime late 07/early 08. WinXP will be alive & well for sometime after that as well. Plus the windowblinds section of this site sees some of the greatest download action of any section on this site, that to me is an indicator that the demand for windowblinds is alive & well and will be for quite some time.

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Deja vu.

This topic, almost word for word, came up when Windows XP was released (why get WindowBlinds when the XP UI is so nice?)

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Z71

Join Date 08/2001

+76

I'm getting - Vu jade.

A strange feeling, this has never happened before.

If I had a knickel every time this is brung up in one way, shape or form.......

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alot of people will continue using XP for quite some time

Must agree, my buddy saw my WB & thought i was running vista, "man" he said "i wish i would have known about this, i have to deal with all the bugs of a brand new operating system."

Personally I'll wait tell all the little bugs are worked out and its smooth sailing. But even then WB will be onto something new.

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This might not be quite on topic but:

Does anybody know wether the Stardock products work on the 64bit versions of Vista?

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