From technology to politics to video games; these are the random thoughts of a geek with too much time on his hands

As 2007 winds down, it's time to look back on the year that was and chat about all the great things that have happened.  To start this off, I'd love to hear from people in the community for whom 2007 was a year for some kind of skinning "first".

Was 2007 the year you finally registered on the site?  Was it the year you started skinning (either for the first time, or picked up a new tool)?  How about the year you finally subscribed to WinCustomize, or bought your first skinning product?

Share your story in the comments below.


Comments (Page 1)
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on Dec 18, 2007
Everything in my skinning world was new this year!

This time last year I was making new icons on my first computer (I got it for free with Windows95 on it). I didn't like the ones that came with it, so I downloaded an icon making program. I would occasionly send them to my brother to show them off...(as I look back at them...they were not so good). He was encouraging, told me they were nice. He also told me I should stop by this site called WinCustomize. I didn't at first.

Then my computer crashed. I took it to my boss, he fixed it and gave me WindowsXP and more memory. That opened up a whole new world. I could use .png files!! Woo hoo!! I could download all that cool stuff on the internet I've been seeing!! My brother told me again that I should go see that site called WinCustomize. This time I did....

I registered and downloaded a few wallpapers and icons...(I'm sure you know where this is going). I decided to try my hand at creating things to UPLOAD. So, I made a couple walls and I was so suprised at how well things went. This is where the addiction started.

I bought a subscription, started to make comments in the forums, downloaded another program to play with, uploaded...and so on.

So, here I am now..I've done wallpapers, icons, Rainlendars, Sysmetrix, Docks, and Cursors. It's hard to believe that all that happened this year. I'm kinda stunned and proud of my progress so far.

I'm looking forward to next year. I'm going make the leap into Windowblinds. I know I'll be asking for help every now and then, and what's nice is, I know I'll get it here.  



on Dec 18, 2007
I subscribed to wincustomize and purchased object desktop, but have steered away from skinning as of yet. I guess I think it is too difficult.
on Dec 18, 2007
This was the year that started it all for me. It began by attempting to find some high resoultion wallpapers to dress up my dull and sloppy looking desktop. That quest led me to Wincustomize on a referral, like Xiandi's, from my brother. I got plenty of top quality wallpapers.

The first program I experimented with was objectdock & was amazed at what a differece that made to my desktop. Then I purchased Icon Packager and WB, afterwhich, I was completly addicted. I became a subscriber and set up my personal site. I began uploading and so far have uploaded only screenshots which I very much enjoy doing and approach it as an art form. I want to test the waters of "skinning" but find the process overwhelming. I hope over the coming year to upload some projects other than screenshots...but one thing I know for sure is that this time next year I will still be a member of the WinCustomize family.
on Dec 18, 2007
but one thing I know for sure is that this time next year I will still be a member of the WinCustomize family



I think that pretty much says it all!!

Whooo! What a year for me , I have to say it has been wonderful and I have had too many first to list from sheer number of downloads 237,953 all but 10,000 came this year(kinda proud of that) to 2 great community projects(Easter & Halloween),but I guess subscribing and then making wonderful friends online here at my home W.C. would be #1

Looking forward to 2008
Harley

on Dec 18, 2007
I've been a Stardock patron since 1999, but this year I finally subscribed to WinCustomize. Gee, if I'd known how much I'd enjoy it, I would have done it a lot sooner! Still too cowardly to try making skins with no instructions from someone who knows how, though, but maybe this next year I'll see if the Wizard will give me a brain....
Jymmy (citizen)
on Dec 18, 2007
This year i took the plunge and made a few icons for the first time. After watching mormegil's tuts on icons i decided "hmm interesting" So i created SE Files, mainly an assortment of file type icons, then i created SE Interface for iconpackager..Geez, some nights i was up to 4am workin on them, while my girlfriend shouting "GET TO BED!"   
I really enjoyed making them so i guess i was hooked. So really i havent looked back since...Im eagerly awaiting SS6, so i can get into windowblinds  
on Dec 18, 2007
I joined in Oct. 06.

I tried a couple of WBs in early 07 and boy did I screw those up! Finally released my first window blind this summer (I'm either gonna delete the ugly thing or rebuild it from the bottom up). The next 2 weren't so bad. As of today, I have about 33,400 downloads, so I guess I don't suck too badly

Recently I've been learning to do splash logons. That's a first for me I've also been allowed to contribute to the coolest community suite (everyone knows which one I refer too). It's really exiting to produce something out of the ordinary and I'm honored to be a part of it

Goal for next year: Get promoted! (oops did I say that out loud?)
Looking forward to 2008 with new challenges and good times
on Dec 18, 2007
i finally bought a sub this year and bought skinstudio,bought windowblinds,iconpackager and cursor xp last year.
attempting a skin when sstudio6 is final
on Dec 18, 2007
Haven't done much, maybe I'll get off my ass in 08!   
on Dec 18, 2007
Haven't done much, maybe I'll get off my ass in 08!


Yeah you're useless!
on Dec 18, 2007
Haven't done much, maybe I'll get off my ass in 08!


Ha ha
on Dec 18, 2007
I bought my first subscription to Object Desktop back in 2003 and have been coming here for great downloads every since. For many years I made wallpapers for myself, friends and family. Last year on New Years Eve, I sat down and made a wallpaper for my stepson, with him watching over my shoulder. He encouraged me to upload it here and that was the start of my obsession! I have enjoyed almost 38,000 dowloads over the past year and am thrilled everytime I make something that others find good enough to want on their desktop. I love working with graphics and look forward to the day I can retire my aging computer and get enough RAM to run Photoshop without constant freezes! I bought my first subscription to Wincustomize this year and plan to hang around as long as you guys make me fell all warm and fuzzy! Thanks for a great year and Happy Holidays to all.
Frankie
on Dec 18, 2007
First year for Dreams.
First Cursor XP skin.
on Dec 19, 2007
Been lurking here for years, this year I not only bought a subscription, I also renewed it to help a cause and purchased windowsblinds 5, then later purchased OD. I even tried my hand at a wallpaper, some bootskins and jumped head first into a WB which turned out to be much more than I can handle at this time,but I'm not giving up! There will be a Kylie theme WB, it just may have to wait a bit.

Dave
on Dec 19, 2007
This year I bought Windowblinds, then Object Desktop, then ObjectDock Plus. I have enjoyed all three immensely. I have not tried skinning yet, but I did create 29 screenshots https://www.wincustomize.com/skins.aspx?acid=2847002

It was great fun doing them, as is being a part of this community. I hope to learn skinning next year. I wish for everyone a happy, healthy, prosperous, successful new year
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