Stardock says: "Please note WB 6.x builds are not compatible with the Windows 7 betas."

I think it will be a safe bet that you won't be testing WB7 before the public release of Windows 7 itself.

So....

Step 1.  Determine when the release date is for Windows 7.

Step 2.  Add a little time.

Step 3.  Enjoy....;)

Man you killed this thread early, Jafo. You could've toyed with him a little first......

I've been a Stardock customer for a long time and Window Blinds is what has kept me around more than any other software.  But I really like Windows 7 and the lack of any WB product or even some clue as to when we could expect it is very discouraging.  What I'm learning is that I don't miss Window Blinds -- or Icon Packager or anything else -- as much as I did at first.  And the sarcastic attitude shown by some people about those who inquire about WB availablity just makes it worse.  I paid my annual fee around the first of the year and since I've been using W7 since it became available, that money has been pretty much wasted.

I'm still checking Win Customize on a regular basis and checking the forums here occasionally but I won't do so forever without some indication that Stardock is moving toward a release of W7 compatible software.  "Shut up and wait" is not an acceptable or respectful response.

Black Cat 77, I really don't see a Shut up and wait response.

You have to understand that Windows 7 is not a finished product and while it is out in beta form I would not expect Stardock to release a version of WindowBlinds for an unfinished / incomplete operating system. If they did, they would only be asking for trouble with endless support requests.

While I'm enjoying Windows 7 myself, I do not feel that Stardock owes me a working version of thier software for a "not ready for prime time" OS.

As for others attitudes, they're just kidding around...If you hang around the forums enough you'll get used to it and rather enjoy it.

Nobody gave that type of response.  Windows 7 is still a beta product, and the final version will most likely not show up until towards the end of the year from reports from various tech outlets.  We have stated several times that WindowBlinds 7 is in development, and that the beta will not show up for another couple of months.

There is this: https://www.wincustomize.com/articles.aspx?aid=348932&c=1, but not much else has been released in regards to WindowBlinds 7 yet.  It's coming.

Black Cat,

I agree, although "shut up and wait" was not actually said in those words, but some of the posts I've read certainly implied "shut up and wait".  Now, as far as waiting for the retail release before stardock begins making a Windowblinds for Windows 7 doesn't make sense, IMHO.  Stardock could have released a Windowblinds 7 beta weeks ago, and it would have worked fine with the RC and the retail version.  I would like to see a technical reason why it would not.  Initially when Windows 7 beta was available for public download the Windowblinds for Vista was not compatiable with Window 7 toolbars.  Well, that was months ago and millions of Windows 7 downloads later.  I'm not convinced that Stardock couldn't have come out with a Windowblinds 7 Beta a couple of months back.  People would have understood that it was a beta and some later tweaking would be necessary.  Now it appears we'll have to wait until sometime next year before Windowblinds 7 is available and even then I'm sure tweaking will be necessary.  I'm sure, Black Cat, countless of others, including myself, have wasted a years subscription.  Stardock, tell me I'm completely wrong in my assessment, and that you could not have issued a Windowblinds 7 beta a couple of months ago because it would not have been compatibility.  The fact that Stardock wants it to be "perfect" when it comes out is appreciated, but even Microsoft can't have a perfect Operating System without many updates.  Furthermore, to have a near perfect program feedback from users is essential  in beta and final versions.  Regards. 

spook, your completely wrong in your assessment. If you want a version that is useable on RC 7... wait for it... like everyone else.

I don't recall anyone stating WB 7 was going to be out earlier than what SD has already stated.

So how has anyone wasted a subscription.? Its not ready, when it is... you and everyone else will get it.

I can almost garauntee that when it is released, people will complain its not useable enough.

vStyler,

I've seen your user name a few times before.  Are you an SD employee, a spokesperson for SD or an SD user?

1.  Ok, so I'm completely wrong in my assessment.  Why am I wrong?  The post had nothing to do with having to wait like everyone else.  My point was I felt WB7 could have been out sooner.

2.  Believe SD stated WB7 would be out sometime after the retail release of Windows 7.  Microsoft has stated that Windows 7 would probably be out sometime close to the holidays.  If that's the case then WB7 release would probably be early 2010.

3.  Those that retained Vista on their computers can still use WB, but many downloaded Windows 7 over Vista, thereby making WB useless.  When I renewed my subscription in the beginning of the year I wrongly assumed WB7 would be out within 3-4 months.

4.  No matter how perfect WB7 is there will always be some complainers, but if you consider useful feedback as complaining then that's wrong.

5.  FYI: Wouldn't you say by your response it is implying that I "shut-up and wait"? (See above post by Black Cat)

Not an employee. He is a Master Skinner with a better understanding of windowblinds than most. He EARNED his title and the priviliges that come with it. * I had to come back and add this...How in the hell do you complain about anything to do with windowblinds, say you love it and you love them all, and NOT know who vstyler is? I mean..come on. You MUST have at least one of his skins.  Where do you people come from?!?!?!?!?!?!?  You remind me of the guy that thought Jethro Tull was a person.

That was their choice.  Niether SD or MS stated the two would be compatible.

'Assuming' will get you almost every time.

Just like when XP came out and then Vista. But let's not forgot how much of a fubar the realease of Vista turned out to be. SD is doing the responsible thing. They have customers who would prefer to wait for the most stable version of w7 and wb. Not to mention their reputation. Go to downloads.com and look at most poular desktop enhancements. SD has almost cornered the the top 10.

Also, those who have downloaded w7 may not be purchasing it or the actual upgrade when it is finally available due to money or whatever. There are still a lot of die hard XP users out there to back that up.

I get tired of folks who act like SD 'owes' them something just because. You got what you paid for. When you buy the software or renew there is nothing that even guarantees they ever will or have to upgrade jack . Yet no one ever gives them credit for the quality of their product or the fact that they do respond and stay on top of developemnts in WIndows and other apps. It's always just' gimme, gimme, gimme'.

I don't believe I have ever seen SD say 'Shut up and wait' or even imply it. They have always been very forthcoming with what they are doing...perhaps not in the timely fashion desired by the instant-gratification- generation is accustomed to. I don't know. No one is saying that anyone has to 'shut-up', but don't expect a warm response from anyone when you complain, either. Those people don't  have to 'shut up and listen'.

Sorry if that sounded harsh.  I just get tired of opening a new thread and it's more of the same. I've only been here for  a few years but I remember a time when there was less whining and more praising.

quote-I remember a time when there was less whining and more praising-unquote,

      Three years I've been a member. In all of that time I've a total of one...count 'em one...problem and it was solved to my satisfaction in two days time! When will all the whiners out there realize that when a new OS comes out there's a certain amount of time involved between a beta, RC version and the full fledged system. What is so damn hard about waiting until the OS is complete, as in ready for the public to buy, and then allow those who develope the apps for it to put together a stable version. One that will BE COMPATIBLE. Stop with all the bashing nonsense! If you're going to complain so much maybe you shouldn't have it to begin with. Seriously...Stardock is wracking their brains out to bring you a decent product for you to enjoy and this is how you show your appreciation? Get Real!!! My two cents and who don't like...tough shit! 

I think PoSmedley covered it about as well as anyone....

There is a fundamental difference between such programs as Windowblinds [and other shell enhancements/and/or replacements] vs something, say, like Photoshop.

The latter, if not quite 'stable' within a Beta OS - crashes.....it means you can't draw something.

If something which interfaces between the OS Kernel and the user - crashes....the likelihood is you cannot continue to interact with the OS at all.

How often have you seen  a system lock-up due to an un-responsive Explorer.exe?  The OS shell has crashed and your computer will have "lights on but there's no-one home".

Most users are not going to be comfortable with killing the shell process and accessing the kernel direct ... or, alternatively.... a hard reset and losing whatever work/etc that was happening prior.

Microsoft [rightly] plays with all sorts of 'bits' of their Beta OS during this current phase of Win 7's development....and no-one here, OR at MS would be able to guarantee that system lockups, etc will not happen through any such 'deviations' of compatibility.

Stardock is being sensible holding back with any WB7 release as their only real commercial obligation would be to guarantee an on-going compatibility of WB with FINAL-Release Operating Systems....such as Vista, XP, and perhaps what are now 'legacy systems'.

Win 7 is not [currently] a commercial product that 'requires' support.  If current [WB] users choose to experiment with Win 7 that is their choice, not Stardock's.  If that means they have a product [WB] that they cannot subsequently/currently use on the new OS then that too is their choice.  Arguably there is no difference were they to now be playing with a Mac OS and have no option to use WB....other than knowing that when they have an OS that they will be paying for...they will likewise have a WB that can be applied there-to.

This query/request/complaint is not new.  As far as I can recall it has happened pretty much with every new OS beta/release as Microsoft Windows evolved with its GUI.

No-one here is saying 'shut up and wait'.  They are saying 'please be patient'.  I too have Win 7 [in Vmware] but do not have it skinned....I don't have the in-house WB7 either.... but I know that when Neil and the guys are happy/ready/ and confident that the final of Win 7 is to be no different to what is in the wild ...I'll get my 7 ....and so will you...;)

Nope, Just a mere Master skinner, who talks to the developer of WB, Neil Banfield quite frequently privately, have helped in some part in improving SKS 5 and 6 over the past 4 years,  have released over 35 wb's, do have access to the pre-release of WB 7 and Win 7 64 bit MS gold partner edition and yes, also contract freelance work for Stardock.....

But don't listen to me, I'm obviously not qualified to give advice. 

Now that thur is funny

He also does karaoke.

   you mean....he's not the lead.....nvm.....

very good point Po'...was thinking the same thing....

only a few.....   ...you really haven't been around here much, have you.....

Thanks for all the comments -- especially from Jafo who seems to have the sort of knowledge of the development that I'm interested in learning more about.  The wall of silence is what bothers me and all insight in welcome.  Maybe you could post something once a month or so with a couple screenshots just so we'll know what's going on.

What I am really hoping *not* to see is the sort of attitude that Creative took toward Vista.  Perhaps it was "responsible" to hold off until Vista was finally, finally final but that policy left a lot of their customers in the lurch, including me.  I recognize that until W7 goes gold, no 7-compatible WB can go gold either, but that doesn't preclude doing the best you can with what MS gives you to work with.  Odds are that the RC is pretty close, so -- speaking as a non-expert, so take it for what it's worth -- it seems to me you could develop a stable beta, maybe even releasing it to a select group of testers ( I volunteer!) and see how it works.  When 7 is RTMed, you could probably finagle a copy somewhere and be pretty much ready to go when the product is made available to the public.

I like Window Blinds -- I wouldn't have been around for as long as I have if that wasn't the case.  I just like to know what's going on.

Thanks again to everybody.

  ...Back from hibernation...
Beta OS? No, it's not, it's RC, which means [everybody knows, whatever] Release Candidate, and they told me there will be no RC2. So Windows 7 status, right now, is RC, not beta.

Jafo said:

while I,too,would like a WB version compatible with Windows 7 I would also like to be given the chance to beta test it also.

while I may not be a master skinner around here( as I have no artistic talent)I feel that I have been a subscriber long enough for that to count as something-eh?

and by the way- some of you need to check this out

do a wiki search for Jethro Tull(agriculturist) he indeed was a person.................and I do like the band.........

Without really wanting to argue semantics, if you are freely given a MS OS ....and it has a predetermined expiry date WHEN you will be required to uninstall and replace with either a new 'candidate' or the publicly released and purchased Win 7, or 'roll back' and reinstall your Vista/XP/whatever then it is definitely not a final version.

Yes, MS goes through development stages, each to be tested via appropriate 'levels' of competency ...eg. Internal Alpha....External Beta...Release Candidate....etc., but none of those is 'RTM' [release to manufacture] so, for want of a better word they are all 'beta' where beta means 'not Gold'.

I am sure MS finds themselves with numerous 'beta testers' out there in the wild who really shouldn't be testing it/them as their expectations may often be 'this SHOULD be working right...and it isn't', rather than 'hey look, I found a clever new bug/issue that seems undocumented...I'll pass it on...'.  However, MS also really wants as much user feedback as possible to help fast-track its development....and that's fine for them, but that same feedback means there's going to be a lot of disparate revision/modification that gives third party proggy devs more headaches playing catch up.

Someone mentioned somewhere else that Norton's ver for Win7 expires every two weeks...probably just to force/ensure the users are updating/revising the AV proggy frequently to keep abreast of the OS changes....;)

What? He isn't a real person?

Hmmmm, guess that's why I've never received a solitary reply to the hundreds of letters I wrote him each year since 1967.

1: vStyler? Never heard of him.

2: Vista a failure? It may not of been "The Next Great OS" as planned,but it is being used by millions of satisfied customers,I being one of them.

3: IMO we purchased our softare based on the system requirements published at time of purchase.Nowhere in those requirements does it state that SD would go OS chasing and/or guarantee us future compatability.When and if SD makes ODNT fully functional with a new OS it will be a bonus,not a right.Just my 2 cents.

This is where opinions differ.

You have not paid for a version for Windows 7. No where in the product description does it read that it is compatible with Windows 7.

for crying out loud!! win7 rc has been released, not the final product. we'll get wb7 when brad and the rest of the stardock product people think it's ready for public use. stop the whining, kids. would i like to be using wb7? yes. can i? no. why? it isn't ready for public beta testing yet. good lord, people, grow up!!