Weekly Poll: The Impulse Switch

Will you do it?

https://www.wincustomize.com/webpoll.aspx
from WinCustomize Forums

We're quickly coming up on the full launch of Impulse, our next generation digital distribution, software management and community tool.  Impulse, as pretty much everyone should know by now, is the successor to Stardock Central, and will eventually replace the aging download tool entirely (though not immediately, it's going to be a phased retirement).  Since early this year we've had first a private group of testers hammering on Impulse, and then the larger community in an open beta to try and iron out as many kinks as possible. 

You all have provided a lot of feedback that has helped us refine the tool and make it even better.  Now with the full launch approaching, I'd like to know if/when everyone is thinking about upgrading.  Will it be immediately?  Will you wait for a later version?  Are you going to hold out until the very end no matter what or have you already switched?

Results up next week!

33,515 views 46 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
While there are features I wish would migrate over, Impulse has work very well for me and I haven't launched SDC in a very long while.
I'm really looking forward to what Stardock can do with it in the near future.
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I wish there were one more field "I've already switched but keeping SDC in the wings till full version is here"
That's what I'm doing, though I have to say I have only opened SDC a few times, mostly for information I had stored within, since Impulse went from alpha to beta.
Fences - Organize your desktop icons today!
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Haven't once used SDC since I installed Impulse.
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I like what you have done and what you are showing will be available. It's different than SDC and takes a little getting use to. I've been using it since you made it available to us to test. Good work by all.  :CONGRAT: 
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Whats SDC... ;) only used Impulse since released.
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Sorry, can someone help me? Cannot find Impulse...
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I wish there were one more field "I've already switched but keeping SDC in the wings till full version is here"
Doing same thing here because every once in a while impulse does not show all updates. I use impulse fist no updates then check Stardock central and there is an update.
Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
http://storage.stardock.com/files/Impulse_setup.exe
Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top
It's turning out more in favor of Impulse than I thought after reading slam after slam in the forums . . .

But I guess those of us who are content and pleased with it (and eager to see what other goodies come into play with it) aren't as vocal.
Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Haven't once used SDC since I installed Impulse.


Ditto.
But I guess those of us who are content and pleased with it (and eager to see what other goodies come into play with it) aren't as vocal.


Vocal or not,it looks like we outnumber the complainers by a wide margin. ;)
Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top
the only thing left for me will be to give users the option of where the start menu shortucts are created. It's workable the way it is as I can move the shortcuts manually if need be. It would just be nice to have that feature back.
Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top
It's shiny and new and appealing, sort of like My Colors on steroids. But, it's not easy finding the Gallery of new uploads and it errors out on updating any of my installed applications. Try quickly finding the most recent Window Blinds or Wall Paper uploads as an example. It's a slick new way to find out what is for sale, but I'll stick with SDC or the wincustomize web site until Impulse puts the newest uploads up front and a little less emphasis on sales.  :( 
Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top
There are no immediate plans to add skin browsing capabilities into Impulse.  If it is added, it'll be added much much further down the line (and that's a big if at the moment)
Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Thanks for the clarification Zoomba. Probably why they have no plans to kill off SDC anytime soon. It's a shame really, Impulse is a nice GUI and if it just had all of the features of SDC, I'd switch to Impulse in a heartbeat.  :NOTSURE: 
Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I think this will give a good idea on how quickly to "phase out" SDC.
If 90% have already switched, I don't see SDC staying around very long...;)
Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I think this will give a good idea on how quickly to "phase out" SDC.
If 90% have already switched, I don't see SDC staying around very long...
I'm a bit confused by something here. I know for a fact that a new subscriber is not given the option to use SDC and is instead directed to use impulse. Why would this be happening if impulse was not already out of beta and in full release? It's no wonder the numbers are so high with impulse use.
Reply #17 from WinCustomize Forums Top
As much as I like the look of Impulse and it setup, I very much like being able to browse for new skins and SDC has that, Impulse doesn't and doesn't appear as though it ever will according to the reasons I have seen why it has been excluded so far from having a skin browser. So as things stand I will be using SDC until I'm forced to switch. I can browse the galleries on the webpage in a browser or even within Impulse but I find it tedious and just not to my liking. Also I was curious about the Neowin Impulse that I read about. So if we want Neowin's we have to have more than one Impulse program? Perhaps there is no way to integrate them fully, but I'm hoping there will be some way to do that as having more than one Impulse would be redundant. I know this one is for Stardock and the Neowin is a more broader product but still sounds redundant.
Reply #18 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Personally I prefered SDC because its simple and did just what I needed it to...something to keep my stuff updated and chat....thats all I've ever used SDC for. I could do without all the bells and whistles of Impulse. Don't get me wrong...Impulse looks pretty and all that...its just that I like to keep it simple. But...since we won't be given a choice I guess I'll have to use Impulse. But it would be great if there were a lite version that just handled the software and chat. That would be cool. And then..I woke up. ;p
Reply #19 from WinCustomize Forums Top
no tally for "i never use sdc and never plan to use implulse"?
Reply #20 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I like impulse a lot but would really miss the ability to be able to search the skins library. I use SDC for that more that anything.

Reply #21 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Personally I prefered SDC because its simple and did just what I needed it to...something to keep my stuff updated....thats all I've ever used SDC for. I could do without all the bells and whistles of Impulse. Don't get me wrong...Impulse looks pretty and all that...its just that I like to keep it simple


ditto  :p 
Reply #22 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I like impulse a lot but would really miss the ability to be able to search the skins library. I use SDC for that more that anything.


I've seen this statement in a couple of other posts and not sure why people are just not opening WinCustmoize from withing Impulse. I have done this since Impulse was made available to us to test.

It's really very simple. When I open Impulse I sign in, click My Desktop, on the right hand side (no matter what desktop item you are on) you see options. I click forums, it goes back to the Community page and in a second or two takes me to the WC forums page. From their I click Home. Guess where I wind up.  ;) 
Reply #23 from WinCustomize Forums Top
The thing that bugs me is that the Title Bar, Window Frames and Buttons do not get skinned. They have their own design. Stardock is all about skinning you desktop, so I have always wondered why they have forced their design for Impulse on us? I think it's functionality is great, but it makes me cringe when I start it up because it doesn't match all my other windows. I know you can skin it yourself, but this is rather missing the point. It should, Title Bar, Window Frames and Max Min Buttons, match whatever skin you are using.

The latest version of IconPackager does this, so why can't Impilse?

For this reason I'll keep using SDC

(oh, and it does seem a little slow to connect...)
Reply #24 from WinCustomize Forums Top
liquidguru: Stardock Logo>Preferences>Disable Custom Skin ;)
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Reply #25 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I personally liked Impulse but the program right now is still kinda buggy. My Impulse still have a hard time connecting to the servers to download product updates. My old reliable SDC on the other hand does what Impulse cannot, and that is updating all my Stardock programs. So until the developers of Impulse had fully cured the program of bugs, I'll hang on to my SDC which is hassle-free.