"i Don't Like Desktopx"

Well, it's time for a zombie rant. I think it's been over a month since the last one, and I was planning on laying low until I received a reply to a front page news story I put up this morning. The story refers to an excellent thread by Frogboy, in which he and other developers come together to compare and discuss the state of desktop widget apps for Winddows. Its a great thread, very informative, and even gives a few glimpses into the future of what the Windows interface has in store.

In a nutshell, it's worthy as a news item.

The reply I received to the news story was simply, "I don't like DesktopX". This got me to thinking, "Why doesn't this guy like DesktopX?". Maybe DesktopX had gone downhill since I last tried it out, and it just SUCKED now. Hey, it happens sometimes.

So I downloaded the Freeware version of DesktopX and decided to give it a spin. Two words: SIMPLY AMAZING.

Within 2minutes DesktopX was downloaded and installed on my machine. I immediatly started downloading DesktopX Widgets from WinCustomize. Since I figured none of the nicer widgets would work on the freeware DesktopX, I downloaded them anyway. Pac Man arcade widget (which includes a variety of classic games), Asteroids arcade widget, Longhorn clock, weather widgets, iTunes controllers... all the good stuff I could find. Everything worked smoothly. Smoooothly... within seconds I was chomping away at blue ghosts, in the smoothest PC version of Pac Man I have ever seen. The brutal vector lines of alien ships trying to take me out in Asteroids were no match for my triangle of death.

Do you understand the above? The freeware version of DesktopX gives you ALL the widgets you would want, AND it lets you play classic arcade games. Thats right, I had multi color post it notes going, bouncing icons, clocks, controllers, search bars, 3 weather apps, 2 mail checkers and ARCADE GAMES running on my desktop within 15 minutes of clicking the Freeware version of DesktopX. If I spent half the time on this app that I spent on AveDesk 1.1, or even the time I spend choosing what wallpaper I want for the week I could have a completely interactive array of widgets going to meet my every need. Hell, I'll run it just for the cool games... you can't beat freeware arcade thats top notch quality.

Whats even better is that running a few of my newly found DesktopX widgets in conjunction with my favorite AveDesk 1.1 theme I found my system was still snappy with no noticable reduction in response time. Response time is important to me because I work with large files, heck, it's nothing for me to go through a few Gb of format conversions in my work. And when your converting 125 30mb files every second you lose adds up quickly... a few minutes can turn into wasted hours before you know it. No worries here, DesktopX and AveDesk 1.1 play fine.

So to the guy that replied "I don't like DesktopX", and for every other person I've seen write that statement over the past few months, perhaps you need to give it another look. I did, and I was surprised. If you don't you're only cheating yourself.

#204245

/me goes and dls DX

#204262

Some people just don't like it DZ, at least not at the moment. I am one of them. Call me old fashioned, but playing games on my desktop isnt my number one priority, infact, I prefer playing games in their own application.

While I'm glad that this feature is attainable, it sits among the thousands of useless (imo) widgets and objects for desktopx. As frogboy noted, because the objects are so easy to make (an advantage I'm sure), it's hard to find original, well designed objects and I think in a way this is desktopx's downfall for me anyway.

#204264

Originally posted by deadzombie@Aug 19 2004, 04:40 AM

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

ah.....okay thanks for the info....I still prefer ave desk+Kapules combo....it's the best.

#204269

The point that was missed by a lot of people is that DX can do anything all the other widget utilities can, but it can be done by amateur level users.

This way you could design that 'iTunes widget I've always wanted' yourself! Even if its just porting graphics from one to another and using a predesigned script.

Not aimed at anyone, just a general thing I notice in [request] threads. A lot of them are painfully easy if the user could just be bothered.

#204286

Well said, however to me it seems that people will still quickly write it off for what they currently use without even trying it as they are so loyal to what they use.

I myself have edited up my own dashboard itunes for DesktopX and it wasn't too bad of a process. In fact now that I learned stuff from that I can do lots of other stuff. I have to really mention though how I really like how with DesktopX you can easily export as a dxpack which installs with just a double click or a .exe which you don't even need DesktopX to be running just installed.

All DX needs is more people interested in making mac like widgets for it.

Anyway I'm not saying one is better than the other. All I'm saying is that you should try the software objectively. Who knows, you just might like it.

P.S. I usually mostly just use IconX though as I get tired of having any type of widget from any program on my desktop. I like how IconX has all the features of a normal desktop icon system but with things such as thumbnail for images on desktop (which I suggested and they put in), full control over the shadow on the label and icon (shadow height, depth, sharpness, etc. which DX does in general), being able to have the icons on the desktop a different size than in your folders. And if you wanted you could have all that change depending on what state it is, animations, etc. All it needs is skinnable label support, file folder count and size count for drive shortcut (I was told that was going in sometime) and some kind of drive mounting support. I have been using Avedesk for the drives and IconX for the rest of my icons on the desktop since Avedesk doesn't handle icons like a desktop it's just a docklet on the desktop application.

I also have tried Samurize and Kapsules and even that Deskblox thing and I found I don't like those. But that's just my opinion.

#204309

Originally posted by deadzombie@Aug 19 2004, 12:40 AM

...give it another look. I did, and I was surprised. If you don't you're only cheating yourself.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I think this is where the problem mostly lies. Previous versions leave a not-so-good impression and unfortunately, that impression sticks. This is evident in a sister software - WindowBlinds. It's getting better, but many still hold the misconception that WB is slow or takes up large resources.

#204357

DZ your last rant was 5 days ago here .

Everyone is going to have their own opinion on each program. I happen to use avedesk, and that's only to place a shortcut to my external hard drive. Other than that, I find most of these programs useless.

#204358

heya.. long time no see guys... if some of you still remeber me that is

its good that you, deadzombie, point out that DX is really worthfull to try it out.. but i just tried avedesk yesterday and i was really happy with it. everything works really great, so there is just no real reason for me to try DX out.

if it aint broken why try to fix it

-doofy

#204364

Smoke,

Can you explain how you get Avedesk working with IconX? I tried using both concurrently but the Avedesk widgets seem to get hidden under the IconX desktop.

Thanks in advance,

Rod

#204371

My rant against Kaos AD was more of a personal attack because Im tired of the damage he's doing to the community. It's ok though, I had permission to post that. It seems 'my rant' is actually a popular opinion within the community. Still, thats off topic.

I still don't understand this "us vs. them mentality" when it comes to widget apps. I LOVE AveDesk 1.1, and I anxiously await release 1.2. I actually spent as much time playing with AveDesk 1.1 yesterday as I did working for my clients.

Yet that doesn't keep me from trying new things, mixing and matching whats useful. Once again Im a DesktopX user, and once again Im looking forward to version 2.2. Heck, Im probably going pro.

#204383

DesktopX has the advantage and disadvantage in that it was first.

When it first came out, Windows 95/98 were the norm and we had to do all kinds of ugly things to get it to work. And many people who used it used it on that platform.

Windows 2000/XP, by contrast, are a very different animal and a lot more good things could be done.

If you downloaded DesktopX 2.1, just wait for 2.2, it is MUUUUUCH better. We've been doing nearly daily builds on it for months tweaking this, fixing that.

And I've assigned Stardock's game team to make DX widgets so that there is better content.

#204396

DesktopX also has the advantage of having professionals behind it right?

I dont think any of the other widget-apps have a dedicated team, except Konfabulator maybe.

#204400

Originally posted by CodF4ther@Aug 19 2004, 08:09 AM

Smoke, 

Can you explain how you get Avedesk working with IconX?  I tried using both concurrently but the Avedesk widgets seem to get hidden under the IconX desktop. 

Thanks in advance,

Rod

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You have to set the window Z-ordering on the avedesk docklets to normal. When I did that they no longer get covered by the IconX desktop.

#204418

Since DZ is ranting, i think i have the right to one. What is going on here is in fact a big company going after the underdog. I can`t justify this marketing offensive by Stardock before the release of DX 2.2. As a businness studies student i understand the reason for it, but i can`t justify it. i was a DX user 2 yrs ago but i gave up on it when mem & CPU usage went through the roof. A year ago i started bugging a guy with the alias AndreasV to write me a docklet for ObjectDock (i`ve been using it constantly since the begging, still am very much in love with it)(he had some fantastic docklets on wincustomize). Soon we started chatting on MSN and a month or so later i got a PM from him asking me if i would like to test a program he was going to make. Since then i watched AveDesk grow from a nameless test to a full fledged program with thousands of users and incredible features and options. I don`t want to tout about the time testers spent testing AD but i need to mention how much time Ave spent writing it and making it the way it is now. I need to emphasize that all this is a product of the effort of one person and he`s free time and good will (if i forgot someone please forgive me). DX on other hand has couple of years of development, not several pple, several TEAMS and a very famous and well standing company behind it (not to mention R&D cash). I was very supprised with the scale of DX promotions these past few days. I respect Stardock and it`s staff (especially Jeff and Brad) but i think all this fuss is needles. If DX is THAT MUCH BETTER than all other widget programs why touting it so much? If it`s superior to AveDesk won`t it be obvious? I understand Stardock's need to make money on it`s programs but doing it this way. I`m not saying that SD is doing anything wrong (technically) but i feel that morally it`s not the right way to do it. I am not by any mean unbiased in this matter and i`m not trying to say i`m right but i just had to get this off my chest.

rant over

PS i`m tired and don`t care about typos, make fun of it if u really want to.

#204440

I don't think Stardock is that big a company nor do they have that much money to spend on "R&D". You make it sound like they are some big brother corperation out to get everyone. Although I can imagine if people aren't trying a program to see whether it's better or not that they would want to put out information about it.

#204451

How is Stardock's "marketing offensive" any different than all those news items on the front page of Aqua-Soft about AveDesk widgets?

We *like* AveDesk. I've promoted AveDesk heavily on-line.

Why would you have a problem with DesktopX getting equal time? Or Samurize? Or Kapsules? We all are working very hard on our stuff.

Aqua-Soft is supposed to be neutral and I think that was DZ's point.

#204452

hmm

I can`t speak for my fellow newsposters, but i can without any doubts say that in my newsposts i (without any malicious and concious thought) never favorised any program/author/skin etc. I may have been overexcited about something but i can assure u i never did that with intention to bash other programs/authors. If u read my newspost, i always tried to be as unbiased as possible. I was always defending ObjectDock Plus (and SD's idea for charging it) and i`ve always been a OD fan and supporter.

I agree AveDesk was getting a lot of attention lately but u know that new and promising things get attention. I assure you that if i get the chance i will do a full tets of DX 2.2 and try best to write an unbiased review of it and post news about it.

And i will continue to write news in as proffesional way i can.

PS I`m an AD tester and Ave's freind and said in my previous post i won`t be trully unbiased in writing it. We`re humans afterall?

#204457

Unbeliever,

I guess what I'm getting at is that Stardock's attention to DesktopX 2.2 isn't driven by "money" but more of an excitement about something we've been working very hard on every day for months being nearly ready to be release.

I am sure you are fair and objective. That's not the issue, I'm just saying AveDesk getting a lot of news items is no different than DesktopX 2.2 getting a lot of attention.

As for memory, here's a screenshot of some of the things I'm running. DX 2.2 uses very little memory.

http://www.stardock.com/brad/dxmem.jpg

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// Seph

#204464

Brad, as i said, when i get time i`ll try to do a full test of DX 2.2 when it gets released.

And trust me, when people start creating widgets (or objects as u acll them) and we see high quality stuff being done on DX 2.2 it WILL get attention, just as much any other, exciting release got on the front page. I promise u that.

#204469

Unbeliever: I think you're being far too cynical here. I'm not certain if you actually read Frogboy (Brad's) thread found HERE, I think you'd see that Brad isn't saying which widget apps are good or bad, but that they each have strengths and weakness's. Heck, he even offered to host AveDesk 1.1 on the Stardock server, like the host Samurize.

Marketing ploy? I doubt it, more likely just consolodating the community once again, like Stardock has always done throughout the years.

[edit] I started this post about 40minutes before I was actually able to post it - phone calls, work and other trivial things interrupted - it looks like the community has a good outlook on this issue. [/edit]

#204475

And trust me, when people start creating widgets (or objects as u acll them) and we see high quality stuff being done on DX 2.2 it WILL get attention

But that's already not the case. The first iTunes widget for DestopX showed up on July 1. That's going on 2 months ago.

The weather widgets for DesktopX have been out, and very high quality, for a long time.

That's kind of the whole thing - DesktopX has been getting widgets for months that are high quality but get totally ignored.

DesktopX 2.2 is a lot better than 2.1 but the widgets for DesktopX have been coming out for months.

[DX Widget Library]

[DesktopX object library]

#204481

cynical, maybe, unbiased, not. trying to be unbiased? yes

i never said Brad was pulling a bad marketing ploy but i think a "[link] New DX widget!" here and a "[link] New DesktopX nearing release" post there would do much better than the curent way of promoting DX 2.2.

I see Brad's point with DX objects not being in the news but he must understand that newsposters post news about things on AQUA-SOFT. Things outside AS get front page only if the author posts a release thread here or someone posts a link to it. If we had someone posting links to new DX objects, i`m sure much more of them would be in the news.

For example i saw the iTunes DX object only recently but didn`t have time to go to WinCustomize and look for it. If the author cared about Aqua emulation or wanted his/her object to be noted by the emulation community, he/she would post a link to it on AS, or in some other way let the newsposters/staff know. If you find a good DX object feel free to PM me or in any other way, let newsposters know and i`m sure i`ll (and other NPs) will do something about it. But u can`t expect us to go and HUNT stuff for news when we`re hardly catching up with the news on AS alone.

#204488

Here's the history of the matter.. AquaSoft owes alot to Brad and Stardock, and I think we've forgotten our roots. Thats ok, it happens. I've talked to Timan about it, and a few changes will occur shortley to correct this minor problem.

As for news posting, I don't see why news posters cant go hunt down news. It's not that much trouble to do, unless you're the only one doing the news. But no worries, things will be better soon.

#204523

I must admit I'm impressed by the maturity of this thread, don't see it often in forums recently.

Meh... mindless post but I'm tired and anything constructive just left me.

#204528