Uh oh

winstar you use to be able to right click on your desktop and choose gadgets and click on get more gadgets. That would take you to a page where you could chose and even search for a wide selection of gadgets. Now all you have to choose from is about 20 or the most popular gadgets (Popular according to MS).

In their on words as you can see they have done away with that because of Windows 8.

It seems Microsoft is heading in directions many will not want to follow.  While early news regarding Win 8 seemed encouraging, the recent preview was disappointing and rather ugly, according to most.

I'm usually queuing up for the 1st public beta of a new OS, but in the case of Win 8 I'm not at all enthused.  Unless MS has a major rethink about making Metro the default UI I'm unlikely to want to purchase their new offering... because having to hack the registry to enable a regular desktop is not my idea of a good start to a new [OS] relationship.

As for MS Gadgets, well I never use them, but this ruthless abandonment makes me somewhat nervous as to what else MS might decide it will no longer support.  While XP is dated, over the hill and should die a natural death anyhow, Win 7 is relatively new and I would hate to be forced into Win 8 because MS has decided cancel support for previous versions to focus on supporting Win 8.

I thought is was good that MS had a web page for people to make suggestions during the development of Win 7... and that MS actually listened and implemented a number of feature suggestions.  It seems, though, with Win 8, MS has reverted back to telling us what we want/need... and that is a step in the wrong direction if it wishes to claw back reputation and market share from Apple. 

While yuppies, the now generation and 'app junkies' may be early adopters of this Metro train wreck, the majority will avoid it like the plague and it'll be an epic fail. 

I have no real use of MS gadgets because the ones i need/use are incorporated in the Winstep suite of apps, but I can surely see where you're coming from. The fact that MS is willing to abandon the default desktop everyone is accustomed to says it all for me.  Change is one thing, but a complete abandonment of all we are familiar with in a desktop is another.  This train wreck named Metro belongs on a mobile phone.. not a PC, and I'll be buggered if I'm going to embrace it.. or be forced into using it.

Anyhow, JC, all the best with your gadget search.  I hope you find those you're seeking.

@ JC.I have to be away from the computer this morning but I'll look for your clocks in my collection when I return home.

I use Winstep and DX but there are still some sidebar gadgets that have no equal in either of those programs. A lot of people put time and effort into learning how to make these gadgets and share them with everyone and now MS wants to sweep them under the rug. Shame on you, MS!

 I agree with starkers, who and what else are they willing to axe in the name of "progress"?

Thats great Wizard and thanks.

Jr. wrote "winstar you use to be able to right click on your desktop and choose gadgets and click on get more gadgets. That would take you to a page where you could chose and even search for a wide selection of gadgets. Now all you have to choose from is about 20 or the most popular gadgets (Popular according to MS). In their on words as you can see they have done away with that because of Windows 8".

Jr. thanks for the update. I found this site with a nice Gadgets Gallery (at least more extensive than the one on the MS site).

http://www.thoosje.com/vista-sidebar-gadgets-gallery.html

That is exellent winstar4. I will check it out now.

First off, it's not pirating when they were free downloads and are not being publicly redistributed. I highly resent the accusation, which if you felt that way should have been handled by a Moderator or Admin. You are NOT the forum police, DC.

 The old gallery is gone and no way left to contact any of the makers. Imagine if WinCustomize decided to purge all the galleries here of ALL content from the XP era and before.(YAY!)  There are a lot of  skinners that have changed nicks or moved on with no way to contact them. Would it be pirating to share for personal use only something from your personal collection? (as long as they were not paid or Master skins)

I think not. 

 What I do think.....I think you owe JC an apology

Now why do you want to go picking on will ?

Sorry for that.

Funny thing, I was going to mention that [which is why I came back in] but I see you beat me to it.

Never mind, so long as the suggestion is out there.