I wonder the same thing when I'm in class and see people on their laptops with that horrible Luna, gah!!! Drives me insane...those poor ignorant fools. I think that's the reason...they just don't know...or are too damn lazy to figure it out for themselves without someone holding their hand an doing everything for them (sorry, spillover rant from something else).

When my aunt was here she was asking all these questions about how I did this and that on my desktop, I told her a bit about it, but I don't think she grasped it. She just got a new widescreen laptop for Christmas with MCE on it...told her I could make it look all nice but I can't really see her getting that into it (I don't even know what she uses the thing for). They aren't the kind of people to appreciate things like that (you should see their house...omg CleanHouse would have a field day).

Hi! Cplair here:

I actually teach a customization class through my e-mail. Most people who buy PC's and this is no insult, are usually computer illiterate. They don't know their mouse from their butts. So naturally they have kind of a fear of computers.

"Open your Windows Explorer and go to" "whats a windows explorer who?"

My small customization class teaches the sound fundamental of taking control and managing your PC through customizing and regular maintenance. That was my hook.

The line, everyday I had to challange this group to improve their skills which for some was culture shock, sort of keep up with the teacher if you can.

The sinker was when they saw my screen shot "Zippo", oh my god they flipped! They wanted to know how in the hell did you do that?

Well, out of my 5 students and 6 months later, only one didn't give up and drop out. He's now a WC member and has been putting out some really top notch screen shots ever since. And he learned everything from e-mails because we're 400 miles apart!

So check out some of the shots from Longdude0 and see how a person can evolve from technically challanged to slamming four and five star shots in a matter of weeks.

My drop-outs on the other hand have shown that this only works if the person is willing.

So what I'm getting at is, maybe that's why the rest of the world hasn't caught on yet either!

This is the link to Longdude0's WC personal gallery! And I'm pretty damned proud of him!

 WWW Link

Thanks for listening!  

Cp

I think most people aren't interested or find they don't have the need for it. When I show my stuff to my mom ie. she says it's pretty and fun, and while she uses her computer often, she has no interest in changing the gui, as it already does for her, what she sees fit.

You can compare it to other customization too, some like doing stuff to their cars, some are happy just the way it is from the factory. Some people enjoy expensive furniture with unique design, some are happy with standard furniture.

While I like to customize as much as I can to make my surroundings suit my needs and likings, I guess some are just satisfied with what's presented to them by default.

I'll throw a theory out there from left field (girlie, like Johnny Damon).

Customizing for the most part is free. Americans don't have trust in free stuff. There is always a catch. Americans love to spend money on customizing things.... cell phones, cars , bikes, houses, clothes, mailboxes, pets, trees (xmas time), etc. If skinning were expensive, might it all be different?   

You can see some evidence of this possible scenario by the recent download counts on new windowblinds. Since the introduction of premium skins, free WB skin downloading has had a dramatic decrease all around the community. This is no coincidence.

People are dull and unimaginative when it comes to computer use. There are even people who spend hours playing FreeCell   

Those GUIs are like blended whiskies, not good, but unlikely to offend. That makes marketing them easy.

The skinners here are the Balvenie and the Glenmorangie single malts.

hooked? addicted? nah! I can quit anytime I want!



Have been spreading the word...My students see skinning and skinning sites constantly in class, handouts, examples...Three co-workers have become skinning site members recently...I have a family member I have converted, and recently, My Pastor's son wanted me to show him how some of those "cool" wallpapers were made...

I Just recently puchased a newer Dell E-520 and it didn't have luna on it for more than 30 minutes after i turned it on

Bomp   

The drink or nationality?   

  ok.. you win

Why don't more people customize their car?

It's kind of the same thing and Brad had a good article about skinning a few months ago that explain it very accurately IMHO.

Basically most people are happy with the way things are. To most of us in the community we can't fathom this, don't forgot that both Apple and Microsoft but, a great deal of money and time into researching this to arrive at the most acceptable solution.

For some reason I'm thinking of the scene in "Fight Club" where the boss asks if he can get the icon in "Corn Flower Blue" which is really a good metaphor to the extent of most people's customizing desires.

some people do not customize because of contentment. not me!!! customize away!!!!