BTW, not to fracture the conversation, but Start8 is deffinately a nice add-on for a bad UI! At least now I can easily access my start menu without hacking the registry...

TanKCR ....this is called the 'Support Forum.'

Typically that means it is a venue for official and community assistance interaction with queries.  The FORMAL and SPECIFIC "Support" avenue for Stardock's applications/games is [email protected] , not here.

This thread pertains to the imminent release date/timing of Windowblinds 8.  The query was answered long ago, however the thread is here still simply because others ask the same query, nothing more.

Nowhere was it a dissertation on the expected methodology of Customer Service or any other such 'aside'.

Whether or not an individual is satisfied with the time-line associated with a product update or release does not alter that timeline.  If a person chooses to change Operating Systems when it suits him it is NOT reasonable to expect everyone else to adapt and develop to suit HIS timeline.

The issues you raise here are borderline 'trolling' - looking for an argument/response.

I think you NEED to accept explanations for why YOU are waiting, because it is a fact of life that the world revolves around NO-ONE ...;)

I probably need to clarify that, too.

Stardock's appointed site Administrators determine what can be said and what 'tone of voice' is acceptable.  The reason for that is to limit the propagation of mis-information and to prevent trolling/argument/personal attack.

It is why [nine times out of ten] Stardock's sites/forums are a nice-place-to-be...;)

I personally wish to take this op to thank those, like Zubaz, and Jafo, that work hard to make this forum a good place to be. And they do this regardless of what personal strife they have to deal with. So, a little sarcasm/humor is ok by me. Keeps things fun.

Just my 2 cents.

RedneckDude, love your work, great stuff!

For me this must be that 1 time out of 10, because to be honest I am extremely frustrated. I understand that software releases are what they are, and not everyone is going to ever be fully happy with it. The conversation has long since devolved from that. As far as a disertation on customer service, well, that would never have needed to occur if you guys actually practiced proper customer service. Ganging up on a paying customer because you don't like his opinion is far from proper! I started out my first post with a concern and opinion that I felt was valid, after recieving continual beratement from you I honestly re-consider any monetary contribution I make to this company! Wether you want to think about it or not you are a retail company and I am a customer, maybe you should get a little training on how to treat paying customers!!! Then when you have decided that you have had enough of it you try to degrade me to the status of trolling, really??? I have no history of such activity on here, or any other forum, and though I may enjoy a good debate, degrading someone or something just to cause a rise is not my style.

Right or wrong my opinion is that Stardock is a little behind the cusrve with their releases, it would have been so much easier just to apologize to your customer and say that they are working as fast as they can and they hope to have it out as soon as they can. Wether you are sick of hearing this complaint or not, that would still be the proper aproach by a paid support agent to a paying customer!!!

If you honestly could care less about how you treat me, then refund me my money for my recent subscription and I will be on my way and you will never hear from me again, otherwise learn how to deal with disgruntled customers because your current approach sucks.

TanKCR ...please read the preceeding 4 pages [on this thread alone] and you will see several references of exactly that.

However, for some it appears that 'as soon as we can' is not good enough, no matter how many times it is reiterated and in how many different forms.

Again, Windowblinds 8 will be released when it is ready, and NOT before, whether that upsets [some] people or not.

It is beyond both yours AND my influence to accelerate.

Meanwhile, and again, this is not the thread for complaints re customer service.  If you wish to complain the correct avenue is [email protected] or perhaps [email protected]

I trust this is now clear for you...;)

Here is mine....I think you are blowing things entirely too far out of proportion. Relax.

Here's where we're at with Object Desktop on Windows 8:

• Start8 (obvious works)
• Decor8 (Obviously works)
• DeskScapes 8 (new version supports Windows 8)
• WindowFX 5 (supports Windows 8)
• IconPackager (works on Windows 8)
• Fences (v2 works on Windows 8)
• Tiles (works on Windows 8)
• ModernMix (obviously works on Windows 8)
• IconPackager (works on Windows 8)

That leaves WindowBlinds which is proving very difficult on Windows 8 because Microsoft eliminated Aero.  And I don't just mean the assets, they actually eliminated the underlying UX engine that used to do nice things like blur windows and such. 

UIS0, which was designed to skin Aero, is gone completely. 

UIS2 skins will work via WindowBlinds 8.

As far as how people can behave on the forums -- these are our forums. There is no freedom of speech here. Someone's purchase of a product doesn't entitle them to be rude to us. And if someone upgrades to a new version of Windows, they don't automagically have programs work on the new OS.  Talk to Microsoft about that, they're the ones who break stuff.  All we can do is try our best to solve the problems Microsoft created.

A user who purchased Object Desktop and went to Windows 8 has been able to get some compelling and often unique tools to make Windows 8 better.  Start8, ModernMix, Decor8 to name 3 programs that were developed specifically for Windows 8.  

Which is why I wrote

However, it matters not. No matter what I say or how I say it, it would appear that you will respond exactly the same way, over and over. Thus there is really no purpose to continuing this conversation.

Thankyou....;)

Please note the preceeding comment to your last [#83 ].

That really 'should' cover it...;)

Well said Brad, and I am certainly glad that UIS2 skins will work with WB8 as that is all I design now!

Frogboy, I do not believe that I was rude to your folks, in fact I felt that their handling of my initial comments, and those following it were rude to me. As far as the rights of a customer, I suppose that is entirely up to your company, though there are unwritten rules of thumb to that. Typically a retail company would try to turn a frustrated customer into a satisfied customer, within reason, some customers will never be happy. I am not one of those. My initial complaint about windowsblinds was quite minor in my mind, I really wasn't hugely concerned about it. The way that Stardock "employees" have responded however, is much more concerning and frustrating to me. As far as I can tell, you and your employees could care less about how you treat your customers, as long as you have each others back, that is all that matters...

I would agree

But that's only your interpretation of 'events', much of which is due to the vagaries of the written/Internet communication...across both distance AND cultures.

If it were purely 'Aussie' a response here would end up as 'fair suck of the sauce, me old china....you're scarin' the missus...'

Unfortunately some 'glib' remarks can be interpreted as 'snide' or 'sarcastic' to the overly sensitive...but there-in lies the rub.  It's the 'overly' that prompts references to 'trollishness'.

Nothing, repeat, nothing was even remotely 'sarcastic'.  The response you seem to want to take umbrage with was purely an alternative suggestion.

If someone simply cannot wait for a product then simply do not buy it.

The way I look at it if I may. If you don't like the way StarDock employees talked to you just don't come back. I've read this whole thread I seen nothing to get pissed about. I do not think joking around with someone is disrespecting them. I've never had any issues with support or the moderators. But like I said it's simple

If you don't like the way you are treated just don't comeback or buy the software. As for me I am a happy camper.   

Ha ha ha, I have no idea what that means but its sounds funny...

TechNoWeb, I am not pissed, it is a matter of principal more than anything else. If a customer misunderstands a joke, or sarcastic remark that an employee makes and feels slighted, and or offended. The best approach is always to just apologize to said customer and move on. Instead what we got was a whole lot of people, several employees as well, defending the remark and attacking my frustration. As I see it this only compounded the issue. Eventually the individual remark was apologized for and explained (which showed it to be quite harmless), but others couldn't let it go and had to keep up on the offensive!

Can we stop discussing how people may or may not interpret humor/sarcasm and let this thread get back to pestering SD as to when WindowBlinds 8 is coming out?

Just one?

ha ha ha, stating the obvious is worth a thousand when a conversation is circling the drain!

Obviously, yes, as he doesn't want to click the karma button five times since the forum updated.

Nope. No reason for an apology, also:

Rule #6: Never apologize — Its a sign of weakness.

To translate nto English...

[loosely]

Don't exaggerate, man, it's insane.

....;)

Believe me, I'm very conscious of the vagueies over the written word. I've had sarcastic responses used as "evidence" in lawsuits. So I can definitely appreciate how difficult it is to communicate online.

My only point is that the forums are here for people to chit chat about whatever the topic is at hand. It is most definitely not a place to expect a lot of "We apologize for the inconvenience" type support people responses. For that, you have to contact support.