Actually the response by Neil was much more straight to the point, thus much more coherent

My opinion is that the biggest issue is communication.

It hasn't been the games that has distracted us. It's been Impulse. And now that it's found a new home, we can get back into the groove.

Though there is still some transitionary stuff with Impulse until mid Fall so it's going to be gradual. But *I* have more time.

Another reason why communication is important (and something I'll strive to improve) is that there are a LOT of other things going on in our industry that affect the desktop enhancements.

For example, when we first started, on Windows, our business model was to find developers who wanted to work on cool stuff in their spare time. They'd get a royalty and users would get a neat little program.

That's because most desktop enhancements don't make anywhere near enough to live on.

But today, it's hard to find new people who want to do that because those kind of people want to make iOS stuff.  As a result, only the developers who went on to become full time with us have been able to keep improving the programs they were involved in because those programs were sufficiently popular to sustain development.

When we got started, if you were a college student or a day-time developer looking to make some extra money at night, you'd make desktop enhancements.  Today, you make iPhone stuff.

Yea, we're a dying breed.  I'd love to work with you, Rabbit. You doing C++ / C# yet?

Yep, still here.

Yes, I have read most of the posts.  Entertaining.  I figured I'd get some responses but not so many.  Thanks to those who defended me from the pike of the "observer." 

It does look like something is happening to OD and I'm glad.  I didn't like impulse and didn't like it even more when GameStop showed up.  They aren't a favorite of mine anyway nor is any big corporation.  So, I'm glad that's gone.  That's also why I referred to Impulse as a scam.  After all, I wanted OD and nothing else pushed on me.  The sale itself is not a scam though so I hope stardock can gain from that and develop more new neato programs and modify what they have.  By the way, when I was programming regularly, I loved their plain text editing program.

Anyway, I still use the programs!  They do make the desktop nicer though in the transfer over to a new computer that nice animated Dragon theme disappeared.  I wish I still had it.  Very good skin that.  But I did stop paying for the updates so, of course, I don't deserve them.  That is the capitalist way, when it works, and I agree with it.

I will be waiting to see what nice programs pop up and hopefully can either renew or purchase again the full Object Desktop.  Honestly, instead of 34 or so dollars, I'd be willing to part with $50 for the pleasure of supporting good programming.  I know that's not much but neither does my job pay that much these days after many years of level funding (even with promotions).  I will want to put it on my home computer and maybe my work one, which it's still on, but I'll let the licensing decide that.  I am very protective of programmer's rights not to have their stuff stolen, being one, at least a one point, before becoming more sys admin.

Someone asked about the old links I referred to.  They are the ones in the "Recent Community Posts" and "News" section of https://www.stardock.com/products/odnt/.  Being an off and on webmaster, I can appreciate when something gets missed but that does look bad to have the "recent" stuff listed as 2009 on the first page after the click.

Again, thanks for the offers of help and I will keep an eye on things because I really do want to get the package again.  But I will wait and see.

There!  See, Smeagol was reasonable and not that snide, though I did have to calm down after Jafo's posts who I seem to have ticked off.  By the way, I love the Blue Thunder reference.

Hopefully, I will be repurchasing O.D. in the near future.  Oh, and by all means, let the XP support go.  I use Win 7 and only XP to run my son's FunKeys.  Win7 is my mainstay and will be unless I (continue to) fall in love with Linux.  As a sys admin, I have to use linux, os/x and win 7 and still xp but can't wait 'til I don't have to.

Do you mean one of these (Dragon and Molten)?:

https://www.wincustomize.com/explore/windowblinds/6427/

https://www.wincustomize.com/explore/windowblinds/6568/

Don't have Win7 versions, might be a little funky but better than nothing if you really like it.

All I was trying to say Drzues is essentially this;

Stardock is a private company in which the CEO (Brad/Frogboy) will only be doing it if it is what he wants to do and enjoys doing it. Suggestions are fine but insistence is not. That is a fine position to be in that most of us would die to have and I congratulate him on achieving that status/freedom.

So.. breakdown... Brad is THE HEAD of Stardock and while he cares greatly about customer satisfaction there is a firm line in the sand and he will do what makes him happy. If someone does not like it ( and is in any way rude about it) then he will gladly show them the door. 

I know from experience on that. 

Overall, Brad (THE head of Stardock) is not going to put out a product that he himself is not happy with just to make a buck. Stand by and wait until he feels fairly comfortable with the results and be respectful in the feedback is about all he asks..

(Brad if I'm wrong in this assumption I apologize) 

Been awhile since I stopped by this forum.  It use to be one of my favorite places to visit.

I suppose one can call me a "longtime" Stardock user.  My purchases date back to 2005.  I stopped buying from Stardock about 18 months ago.  My purchases stopped when I was forced to install Impulse to purchase/install/update anything.  While I understand the company's need/decision to distribute electronically, what I don't understand is the "attitude" I received from support when I explained my position regarding Impulse.  It was much like Jafo's first response to the OP.  

IMO something happened to Stardock as it grew larger.   A once fun and enjoyable company to deal with stopped being fun and enjoyable.   It will sadden me to hear the flaming responses this post will generate, but I understand.  I'm just one lost customer in a sea of many customers and the stark reality is no company can please everyone.  I've thoroughly enjoyed the Stardock software I purchased.  Everything worked as advertised and was fun to use.   I wish the company continued success.