OK, maybe this was posted elsehwere, and I just didn't see it, or I didn't follow the link to the details, but I'll ask.

50 megabytes per what? Day? Week? Month? Year? Lifetime??

Also how is that measured? By the account I'm logged in with? IP address? A cookie?

Enquiring minds need to know.

I wanna know when the first user hits the 100 Mb cap. I think that's be interesting. I don't imagine I've DL'd 10 MB of zipped skins since I've joined.

It would be interesting also for users to have some sort of indication (think bar graph) of how much stuff they've DL'd. Especially if you need to (ahem) budget your DL's.

What think ye?

At the very least, in the account section there should be an indicator...just text would suffice, although it wouldn't be sexy.

I think we should all have it, even registered subscribers with apprentice or higher...as long as it didn't put too much strain on the back end. Speed is so much better these days, I hate to suggest any new features that could slow wincustomize.com down.

BTW, nearly everyone who has responded to this post has downloaded >100 megabytes other than Dangeruss (who has only downloaded <20 megs).

I can ask Pat to put it into ones account information. Bear in mind that if you have Apprentice access or higher you don't have to worry about the 50/100 meg download limit.

What if you're using shareware versions of all the skinning apps and haven't purchased a WC subscription or are a Stardock customer? Are those of us who are just skin-happy going to be neglected and limited to what we download? One of the things I love about WC was there was no limitation on what was downloaded.

I'm CONSTANTLY changing my desktop and trying different app skins. One of the things I liked most about WC was the fact that there were no download limitations.

If I, and others, HAVE to purchase a WC subscription or BUY the registered versions of the software, I think people will be less likely to visit the site.

Listen to Russ (and Ande).

Raistlin,
Not looking to get on a soapbox (which means I probably will), but you yourself used the reference "shareware", perhaps you should look it up. It is not defined as "freeware", it is defined as "use this software first, and if you are using it regularly, you can purchase it, otherwise stop using it." If you are that skin-happy, you should do the right thing and pay for the software you are obviously using so much and with such satisfaction. IMHO, WC and Stardock are just trying to give people who pay for it all they are due, and give a good "taste" to those who want to get an idea before they pay. I don't think you should use the word "screwed" at all.....

Rael, Thank you. You said that very well.

Yes, as we get our system completed we will be enforcing restrictions on people who have not contributed to WinCustomize or Stardock. What we are looking at is placing a download limit. We are not set in stone on what that limit will be but we are looking at putting a cap on downloads at 100MB. So if you are a citizen and have not purchased any products from WinCustomize or Stardock and you have downloaded over 100MB of stuff you will be asked to contribute before continuing to download.

Think of it like this. Lets say you go to a grocery store and they are offering free samples. You try it out. If you like it hopefully you will buy it. But what we have here is people are staying in line continueing to take the free samples but never buy anything from the store at all.

So as in the spirit of Shareware, after so many samples we are going to ask these people to contribute to the well being of the site by either purchasing a product or subscription.

Once we start enforcing this new system we will problaby have to tweak the numbers a bit to get everything working well. And remember, by puchasing a product or a subscription you will receive additional benefits. https://www.wincustomize.com/index.asp?cmd=subscription

I am happy i have lvl 4 ( i have downloaded a shedload )I have odnt, drengin, and skinbrowser, Not to mention i buy the cd's but when are these benefits coming into play ?

Galfant:
" beauty is in the eye of the beholder" I thinks that skins should only be moderated on technical issues. If a skin does not work properly remove it. Please note this is my opinion because I generally prefer to use skins that are not that popular such as my own and I offer them up here at WinC to those who might want to use them. IF you are worried about only the best then sort by d/l's or ranking. But be sure to remember that most of the skinz are rated or downloaded based on art work, not on useability..

Very good idea! I'm sure there are too many people accessing this site that shouldn't be.

Here's RB1057's post translated to somewhat crippled English:
"My English is not so good, so I'll write my opinion in German. There must be someone who understands. First of all, registering an American program in Germany is not that simple, especially when one doesn't have a credit card.
Besides that, I think the only result of this action will be a decreasing amount of visitors to WC. They'll just head on over to the other skin-sites that do not have these limitations. Trying out different skins is just part of testing the shareware program. Okay, it shouldn't add up to 50 or 100 MB.
But, nevermind, do whatever you like. It's your site after all ."