Ah, I'm sorry. I didn't realize that this thread was meant as a self affirming moment for Stardock, WinCustomize and its long time customers.... customers that won't pay the price for these changes. I was under the illusion that opinions were welcome when in fact they were not. At least not ones that do not match your own. Please, feel free to raise the price all you want without further complaining from me. I won't be submitting either. I will be sharing this experience however.

"After 6 months" I can presume that many of you are full of yourselves and not open to criticism. If you cannot respect new members and their opinions, it will hurt you in the end. Especially with a 40% price increase. You don't give a damn, so I don't either. I'm not going to lose any money with these changes. My sites will not suffer & I do not rely on "good will" submissions from people - who's opinions I will ridicule in return. I no longer believe this price increase is a bad idea. I think this increase will put these sites right where they need to be financially & submission wise.

From this point on I will only take, not give. That includes deleting my submissions.
(Only 2 so no worries from me.)
Maybe now you can put that shotgun away xscorpx

Happy New Year to all of you.

A few years back I downloaded the demo version of WindowsBlinds and loved it. So I purchased OD. Initially I got a lot of use most of OD's components, but as time passed and after multiple PC upgrades my usage patterns changed.

Since Vista the only components I still have installed are ObjectDock, RightClick and Keyboard LaunchPad. This suites me find and as I said for me there's now 'wow' factor in OD 2008.

I think someone needs to reply to this as you appear confused and your statements are misleading people. We have so far as a recap:

1) Current users of Object Desktop will be upgraded to Ultimate free
2) Renewals after that will cost $4.95 extra
3) If you renew now, you pay the old price

If you choose not to renew now, the future increase is just over 12% - very low over a period extending from 1996 to 2008, and not taking into account all the extra applications now included in ObjectDesktop which didn't exist in 1996. Sounds like excellent value to me!

As for not accepting criticism or not respecting new members or their opinions, that simply isn't true. Go ahead and criticize all you want. The problem is, you are presenting opinions based on false facts. You can't really expect that to go unanswered, can you? 

I'll assume you accept I am entitled to an opinion? Object Desktop, to me, still represents the best value for money of any software I have bought.

It must be truly baffling and disheartening for the folks at Stardock to read some of the comments made in this thread. But I'll assume they expect, as a business, that some folk will stick the boot in regardless of what is said or done, and carry on. There's not much else you can do in that situation.

At the end of the day if you don't think its good value or you're not getting anything out of it, buy something else! Its your choice, no-one is forcing anyone to do anything

No....go for your life....knock yourself out...opine to one's heart content. "Go for it", even.

Just don't categorize all those respondents who both understand the news/upgrades and are happy to see it is all 'good' as something/one akin to arse-kissers.

They are not.

Frogboy did nothing more than announce what's in store for OD users/subscribers.  If anyone cannot follow it's a simple process to ask for clarification, however attacking one another for different views is not an ideal survival trait.... not here, or anywhere.

To those still following....'6 months' or not, everyone's entitled to a comment.  If such is perceived as naive or uninformed then do the 'right thing' - enlighten.  That's how we all learn...

ok all I see is their offering 2 package deals,, one will be more $.. but hey why aren't these guys allowed a little raise? SD hasn't raised a price in what ever? Not to mention over the years the content levels have gone up, as well as the quality/stability of the programs. They are willing to upgrade most of use who are already Subscribers for free,or at a reduced rate to reward our past loyalty.

But yes lets begrudge them a few bucks a year, and throw a tantrum.



shakes his head as he walks away. **how sad**

*nods in complete agreement*

well said HG

You are entitled to your own opinions. You are not entitle dto your own facts.

Your complaints are based on a false premise. The Object Desktop of today is going to become Object Desktop Ultimate and ODNT users will be migrated to that version free of charge.

There is no foundation for your complaints.

Me thinks you bene hangin garound with Zubaz a bit muhc... Zubisms are creepin gin.

Please note 'Zubish' is the correct term.

I got kicked from IRC for inventing it...

What part of the following statement DON'T people understand? Are they not reading it or are they just blind to it? I've been a subscriber for many, many years. FREE is good. Thanks Stardock. I'll stick with you til the internet (or skinning) dies.

I get the feeling that this post has gotten to the point where we just need to let it go and move on. What do you think?   

Maybe. If the message hasn't sunk in by now then it's a case of...

But it's always good to let people have their say    

This is the same business model used by cable companies and satellite TV.
Start a new tier and remove content from the first one and add it to the second one.
I started with direct TV with their top package. Over a few years I ended up at the bottom tier with 30% of the best channels moved to the new tiers. They just eliminated my package and asked if I wanted to subscribe to the new bottom tier at a higher cost. Its just another way to increase costs by deception. No one selling a service wants to just be forthright and openly say they need a reasonable price increase occasionally, they feel the need make it look like a benefit to the buyer. Remember the old days when one purchased software? Now you rent it. I like OD but I do not like the idea of adding tiers. It always gets out of hand. Cable TV, Satellite TV and Cell phone companies are prime examples.

So what you are saying is that if you are or were a current subscriber to Object Desktop when the update comes out that a free upgrade to Ultimate is not sufficient and the a projected increase of $5 in the cost at renewal time is too much?

That's okay, you don't have to renew and you still get to use the version of Object Desktop that you have. You just won't get any updates for the programs that are in it.

The new subscribers are the ones that will have to decide on what tier that will purchase.

Bottom line is it is still your choice.

Now if I have gotten anything wrong, Stardock will correct me and I'll get a hit on the back of my head.   

I have been a subscriber for quite a while and will probably eat a "projected" $5 increase.
I am just saying that I have seen these trial balloons sent up before and am concerned that this will evolve into a multi-tier system that will end up frustrating subscribers
in making decisions on whether to pay 10 or 15 bucks for that one application that was removed from their tier. I have seen this type of marketing happen over and over again and am disappointed that Stardock chose this path. I have also noticed that even with an annual subscription fee that there is an incremental increase in the proliferation of " master skins" at additional cost. Is there a possibility that someday we will pay the subscription fee and a price for every skin too?
I am not complaining, just watching the changes. They have the right to change anything they want. Free enterprise. They will find the point where returns diminish and people start opting out. Watch for a year or two and then compare to 2005 and 2006. We'll see if they grow or ruin a great product.
Anyway, Have a great New Year all.