I imagine Vista will impact quite a bit on Stardock's GUI modding proggies....all positively....

Well, given that Brad has referred to a project between MS and Stardock, the fact that Stardock is forging ahead with applications/proggies for Vista, my guess is that Vista will have a positive, rather than a negative effect on Stardock's GUI enhancement programs.

Of course there will always be the desire to modify.

Yes, and it is this desire that ensures Stardock will remain a viable and innovative skinning entity. MS' Design Center, if anything, is likely to foster a broader interest in GUI modding, but it is highly unlikely to surpass or supercede Stardock apps because MS tends to make usable apps but does not go the extra mile, whereas Stardock creates innovative apps that are constantly evolving.

I think it's great that MS is creating a more customizable OS that's more aesthetically pleasing on the eye than the 'Fisher Price' look of XP, but at the end of the day it will not be enough to satisfy the 'hard core' skinning element, even some of the uninitiated, perhaps, and is more likely to serve Stardock's interests rather well.

Thanks for your replies, I agree with you as to Stardocks "innovative apps that are constantly evolving".

so if im hearing you right your saying that microsoft is not going to allow users to tweak and build widgets or do any 'GUI modding' (new word for me) within microsoft's own software or platforms, but they are going to do the creating them selfs and then let the windows users download these items at a website is this correct?

so if im hearing you right your saying that microsoft is not going to allow users to tweak and build widgets or do any 'GUI modding' (new word for me) within microsoft's own software or platforms, but they are going to do the creating them selfs and then let the windows users download these items at a website is this correct?

I think MS will most definitely want to maintain a degree of control and corner a portion of the 'modding' market, but I do not see 3rd party devs such as Stardock being squeezed out...simply because they specialize in skinning apps and have already cornered a market share with a strong client base.

Also, I see MS offering Vista users alternate themes and toys via its own website, as they have done with XP, but it's unlikely to be anywhere near enough to unseat major skinning sites such as WC and etc. If anything, MS' foray into customization will have a snowball effect on these sites because people who hadn't previously discovered or considered skinning before will see its potential and want to explore the possibilities further....well that's what I'd like to see. There'll always be, of course, those who'll never explore the customization possibilities within Vista and be quite happy with the default look they get at first boot, but here's hoping anyway.

If Microsoft's Vista theme customization effort is anything remotely like Windows Plus Pack (the only time I’ve truly felt ripped-off by Microsoft) or the handful of pitiful themes and “fun packs” they offer for free download, I’d say Stardock has nothing to worry about. In fact, as others have said, the tantalizing yet unfulfilled potential of Vista’s GUI would probably generate even more business for Stardock.

However, just a smattering of quality, easily managed GUI customizations could spell trouble for Stardock. That’s because, in my opinion, Stardock and WinCustomize still cater mostly to a relatively small, but devoted group of enthusiasts. This should probably be in its own separate post, but here goes...

I think the typical Windows user (Vista or otherwise) would love the ideal or goal of skinning, but only the afore-mentioned select group of enthusiasts is ever going to put up with what it currently takes to chase that ideal. I don’t think the typical user is ever going to purchase--separately or as a package-- 19 different components, plus several more free add-ons with paid full version upgrades, premium suites, subscription fees, other add-ons and wade though 5000 slightly different clocks, calendars and other objects in order to change the way Windows looks. To a skinning enthusiast this amount of power, flexibility and choice is nirvana.

Setting aside the large group of Windows users who don’t care about customizing at all, there’s probably a larger group of users who’d love to choose from among a personalized set of Windows themes just by clicking a button. THAT is the ideal for this more typical group of users. The current state of skinning would overwhelm this group in terms of cost, time and complexity. What you may think of as an adequate solution--premium suites--only reaches part of the way to the ideal.

Scoff if you will, but the skinning ideal that would appeal to tens of millions as opposed to hundreds of thousands is probably something along the lines of selecting Display Properties/Themes and then choosing from among scores of comprehensive themes that instantly appear in your list after download for free or starting at 99 cents each (economies of scale) from numerous independent theme sites.

If Stardock can provide something approaching this ideal before Microsoft, its business would grow much larger than it is now. Millions of custom theme consumers would drive hundreds of thousands more to the now more lucrative hobby/career of skinning.

That’s my theory and I’m sticking too it; unless of course someone offers a different analysis that I like.

thank you all for sharing you thoughts. Im not real involved with that side of things though i do spend some time structuring my system i never got into window blinds and such. i mostly use object dock heavily. so i was curious. Yes it does seem like people are taking an interest more and more into skin. Your comments gave me a lot of good info,

there’s probably a larger group of users who’d love to choose from among a personalized set of Windows themes just by clicking a button

That would be something. very much like selecting a screen saver or wallpaper but with a few user friendly options.

Thanks a gain for taking the time to share your thoughts & ideas.

but my personal opinion is that over the past 2 years stardock could have redoubled its efforts in spreading the word to somehow get more people using there product. At this point windows vista and ms design center will shortly take the many unclaimed, untouched, or unaware gaget/wiget pc users. In addition i think object dock will continue to go strong, but could absolutely use more advertising of some type to get it out to the public. i also imagine windows blinds will do ok, depending on the direction Microsoft is going. Im not saying anything like this is the end of Stardock or DesktopX, im just saying, i think Stardock could have taken much better advantage of the last 2 yrs while Microsoft was dead to skinning and dashboards. But Stardock still has a great products.

I also think building a windowblinds is a big project for one person & if stardock could create some sort of site or something bringing user(s) together to collaborate & some how get them to team up on [a] windowblind, Stardock wouldn't be copying Microsoft vista or any other gui, but designing & setting the standard.