At this point in the game, I imagine that You at stardock must be finding our concerns tedious, as your position and policy of "wait and see" is fully stated regarding Windows 8. It is backed by sound reasoning and I concur.If you can not commit on your plans for the new OS, please let me state my concerns and fears for your development and licensing considerations. I am aware that I am a unique individual and by no means represent your customer base.I renewed my subscription to Object Desktop less than a week ago. I also have licenses for CursersFX and ObjectDock. I understand that these purchases were made for products developed for OSes preceding Win8.Object desktop is a rather big suite. I'm worried that it will for the most part be rendered useless in Windows 8. Whether support problems are a result of Stardock or Microsoft will matter little, the result will be the same for myself as an end user. As a new purchase, this point is of major importance to me.I'm already behind the times as I currently run Vista Home Premium x64. I have started to experience limitations in what can be expected to run with other software companies, and I expect that this will only increase as Windows 8 launches.Microsoft's upgrade package is so appealing that it's hard to imagine it not becoming the most commonly used windows variant very quickly ($40 upgrade to PRO from any previous version of Windows - XP to current)Am I going to find myself in a position of needing to make a choice between using an antiquated OS and currently licensed Object Desktop products?Further, Although OD is a subscription, it is based in the current OSes. I worry about this. It would not be unlikely in my viewpoint to see Stardock abandon software development for current applications within Win8, in response to the different needs within the new OS. It would make better sense to develop a completely new suite of software to better address the radically new environment.This would mean a new License.This direction would be a fair decision on your part.Now let me tell you how individual I am...I am inflicted with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. The World Health Association lists it as one of the top ten most debilitating diseases. One who has it must expect to spend the majority of life unemployed, save in rare cases. One of the main features of the disease is a driving need to control environment. This is what has made Stardock such an important part of my life. You have done much to help me cope with the day-to-day stress of my condition. Manufacturing controlled environments within my OS makes it possible for me to sit at at my computer and do constructive work under conditions which are stress free. This is a rare boon for me.My budget is so close however, that even $10-$15 upgrades will often force me to choose between addressing these needs and having to down-grade my diet. There really is no additional room for what the majority of the world would consider as the purchasing of luxuries.These are my concerns and fears: That I will not be able to keep up with the trends and technology of all software developers and the public in general, further isolating me from general population. That Win 8 will not be customizable in appearance and use to an extent that would satisfy the conditions of my disease. That I will not be able to afford any solutions that are presented.Again, I understand that my concerns and needs are unique in their nature - That it is not Stardock's problem to "fix" my problems for me.I simply ask that you consider these points, even briefly, when deciding on the direction you will take your software and the licensing practices you will employ.And although it was likely unintentional on your part, I'd like to thank you on behalf of everyone with OCD for providing the perfect tools for addressing a disease at it's most needful level.
https://www.stardock.com/products/odnt/
It doesn't get any clearer than that.
You know perfectly well that nobody reads those types of texts, and so does Stardock. Nobody with a life has time to read software licenses, extensive FAQs and similar.
Therefore, since Microsoft is the leading OS vendor., since Win8 is their latest OS and since Stardock is running promos towards Windows 8 users, the sensible thing to do is to larly warn users that Object Desktop is not yet ready for Windows 8. For example with a warning sign in a prominent location, or a popup. Standard stuff, does not take long to implement.
The more lame excuses of this nature I hear, the more i lean towards requesting that Stardock postpones my subscription so that it becomes active when Windows 8 is supported, at least in Beta.
If anyone reading this feels seriously irritated about the situation, then perhaps you should write to the Support address at support@stardock.co and request that your subscription is postponed to start whenever Windowblinds, iconpackager and the other core offerings are compatible with Windows 8.
If this is important to you, then the response wilil show once and for all how much Stardock values subscription customers.
Not true. There is a difference between "doesn't work" and "not yet supported".
Here are things that work for me on Windows 8.
https://forums.wincustomize.com/432321
I know perfectly well that SOME people do not read those. You being one of them, obviously. The information is there. If you choose to ignore it, then who's fault is that?
Say no more, that about covers everything.
Hello. Support here. Object Desktop subscriptions covers all the products in the suite at the current level of OS support and all updates for a year. All the apps have trials . .so there's no excuse for "I didn't know". Each app says what it supports. support is available pre-sale if there are questions about products.
Stardock has done their part. It's too bad you're not happy about. Feel free to start your own business and show us how it's done right.
Well if that's the attitude, I certainly DO feel cheated and when this subscription is up I'm done with Stardock. I won't "trouble" this company any further.
I've had 3 installations that have been more time consuming than I EVER experience with any other paid for software and that includes the insanely messy Audible Manager which is a hate object online.
Add to that, failure to notify about lack of support for Win 8, not offering a refund, cancellation or postponement in light of this, then finally "start your own business then, if you don't like it".
Well there's n`o need to start my own business, I'll simply spend the time on researching the lesser known alternatives, do the manual hacks or whatever.
When I pay, I pay for a smooth experience and good service. That's just not been my experience and I've tried to be polite about it since 2005 or whenever it was I first became a Windowblinds user.
No likes from me. Clearly this is more about selling software and running a draconian license scheme then creating good software and offering a positive user experience.
At the time of an on-going SUBSCRIPTION service [Object Desktop] the CURRENT OS is supported. The current OS of your Subscription was/is WINDOWS 7. Stardock is NOT responsible for you changing OS to an as-yet not full supported version.
ALL of Stardock's products have system and/or OS requirments/compatibilities, and SUPPORT is FREELY available to people possibly STILL unsure whether to wait to adopt the new OS version or not.
Stardock is ALSO NOT responsible for a person's inability or unwillingness to bother with checking those same requirements and subsequently having issues on a NEW OS.
None of your contributions to this SUPPORT thread is of any value or relevance other than to demonstrate your inherent animosity, and none answers the OP CORRECTLY.
It is SUPPORT POLICY to simply expunge any/all comments of irrelevance to the issue/rtequested support.
Any such further input will be deleted.
If you feel that you are too lazy or too important to be bothered with such trivialities as reading clearly posted requirements then I am sorry to have wasted your time and mine by looking them up and presenting them to you.
Do let us know how this brilliant idea works out for you.
Having nothing further to add that would be helpful or support related, I'll say no more.
It's all over the forums. You are expected to research a little, that is normal.
Even a car has an owner's manual. The forums serve that purpose for the software you get from Stardock. Hand holding isn't part of the deal.
It does not list Windows 8 as a supported OS so I would have checked prior to making the purchase before buying it. I remember when Vista came out that there were compatability isssues with software and there is a lot to be said about try before you buy and forum research. It also makes sense to have a good disk software program and to image your system prior to adding any new software. This has saved my bacon so many times.
For grins, just ran the Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant on my XP desktop rig (Vostro 200).
Voila! Microsoft says Windowblinds is compatible! It makes no comment one way or the other on the other SD apps I use.
No plan to 'up'grade - just curious.
I'd like to think that the release of Start8, arguably the world's most popular Windows 8 specific product, is a good start for Object Desktop users.
Decor8 is about to be released. DeskScapes, WindowBlinds and WindowFX are likely to either be released or show up in beta in the next 60 days.
Windows 8 has only been available a short time and their betas kept breaking things every build they put out (we had WindowBlinds working several different times during the betas only to see it broken). Microsoft even removed Aero from Windows 8 (not just the "skin" but the underlying code behind it). There's not even a blur API anymore in Windows 8.
I'm pretty sure IconPackager works on Windows 8.
Brad, will WindowBlinds8 give us Aero back, despite MS removing it?
That is my experience.
Just a quick correction here.
WindowFX 5.1 which supports Windows 8 came out last week!
I was just about to renew when I checked Win8 compat. See windowsblinds in not working. Searched the message but I don't see anything clear about it being worked on to be compatible? Since it was the main reason for my OD subscriptions, I want to know if it just isn't going to happen? Thanks for the years it did!
Here's a tease. https://forums.wincustomize.com/436075
Amen cordelia0507, Amen. Had I had a clue I was paying $50 for something that simply DOES NOT WORK. PERIOD with Windows 8, I wouldn't have allowed myself to be 'ripped off'...VERY disappointed.
Joe, man, what's all the crying about?
No one got ripped off.
There are at least 10 Stardock apps that work with Windows 8. The rest will come.
See this.... https://forums.wincustomize.com/432321
There are/were clues all over the place. You chose to ignore them or simply didn't bother to seek them out. All you needed to do was ask in these forums or email sales or support. The time you have taken to complain on multiple occasions would have been saved or better spent by asking questions about compatibility before your purchase. Again, that was your choice.
As for OD not working "period" you have been informed as to what currently works on Win 8. ODNT is a suite of apps, some are now compatible, some will be in the future and sadly, there may be some that don't make the cut. There are some new programs that are Win 8 specific that work very well, so obviously Win 8 users are not being ignored.
I am sorry you are disappointed with your purchase but you were not "ripped off" as the products you purchased work as advertised for the OSes listed in system requirements.
joehandy2 ...parroting cordelia0507 isn't doing your credibility any good at all.
5 comments in 2 years...and all on this thread...and all ill-informed.
2 years ago there WAS NO Windows 8. Your purchase was/is compatible with your OS.
IF you change your OS to something outside OUR control that is your prerogative.
In the meantime Stardock's software is being upgraded to conform with Windows 8 which I should add is SIGNIFICANTLY different to all previous versions and thus some products are a 'challenge' typically worth their wait.
Other than that, cease with the trolling within the SUPPORT FORUM, thankyou.
This is very good to hear, thank you for chiming in. I too "upgraded" to Object Desktop subscription recently having been using Fences for quite a few years. With all the ads about Start8 I did fully expect that things like WindowBlinds and DeskScapes (the two Object Desktop features apart from Fences and Start8 I was most interested in) to work under Windows 8. They did not and given that the subscription is time limited, I felt that I'm not getting value for my money. (And although some of the Stardock posts here in this thread sounded that this should totally be my fault, I don't think that what they really meant). What I came to this forum for is to find an estimate when the features I'm most interested in are likely to be implemented. Until I saw the quoted post above I could not find this information. Now I know. So once again, thank you for clearing things up.
Jajo - They have a good point, and you can be sure that plenty of other people feel the same way. For myself, I went to buy Start8 and was presented with Object Desktop as an alternative at a discount , As Start8 is a windows 8 only product it didn't occur to me to check that all the bundled apps would work with windows 8, nor do I recall seeing the disclaimer that is now there on the page. Who in their right mind would bundle incompatible products for two different OS's in one bundle?
I was even less impressed when in the forums the standard line of "we'll release more information closer to the release date" was still being trotted out to avoid any sort informative answer AFTER the release of Windows 8.
I've had a soft spot for stardock since OS/2 days but I consider this to be decidedly sleazy and from a customer support view a debacle and has left me with decidedly jaded feeling towards Stardock and I'd be very wary of buying or supporting them or their customer support in the future.
To argue "caveat emptor" and all that is fine and true, but doesn't avoid the sleazy after taste , I don't consider it surprising at all that people are upset.
There are many great features available to you once you register, including:
Sign in or Create Account
