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Will you do it?
Published on June 11, 2008 By Zoomba In WinCustomize News

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!


Comments (Page 3)
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on Jun 12, 2008
Thanks so much....it was as simple as that


Cool Zakai! Didn't know that either!


on Jun 12, 2008
Make sure it doesn't have the Stardock name on it anywhere, Phoon won't be able to use it.
Funny man! Fortunately, Impulse is only open long enough to do updates and advertisements aren't staring at me every time I look at other areas of my system.  
on Jun 12, 2008
I've seen this statement in a couple of other posts and not sure why people are just not opening WinCustmoize from withing Impulse

Just because Impluse doesn't work with IE6   
on Jun 12, 2008
no skin browser, also doesn't show my wincustomize apps i get for being a WC subsrciber
on Jun 12, 2008
no skin browser, also doesn't show my wincustomize apps i get for being a WC subsrciber

WC subscribers don't get any apps. The WC subscription is for the content (unlimited downloads, no ads, up to 100 skins per page, discounts, personal photo album, 12 free StardockDesigns skins a year, etc). The ODNT subscription gives you the programs.
on Jun 12, 2008
Did he maybe mean the WC Tray and Browser?
on Jun 12, 2008
Isnt' the WincustomizeBrowser only available to subscribers.  It's a nice (if dated) app for skin and forum browsing and IRC chat.
on Jun 13, 2008
Isnt' the WincustomizeBrowser only available to subscribers.  It's a nice (if dated) app for skin and forum browsing and IRC chat.

No apparently there's a free version too.
on Jun 13, 2008
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.
Another vote here. I'm using SDC until they pry it out of my cold dead hands. Far too many issues with Impulse so far, and it's way over complicated and gussied up. SDC kept things very simple and clean, and easy to both navigate and use.
on Jun 13, 2008
it's way over complicated and gussied up. SDC kept things very simple and clean, and easy to both navigate and use.
I think Impulse is FAR simpler to use.  Few buttons and the big one lead the user to what to pick.  The UI has more graphics and color but that doesn't make it complicated, it jsut make it look like it wasn't written when NT4 was released.  

V2 is going to rock our socks I bet.  
on Jun 13, 2008
ok, well, i get 2 apps that come with my subscription, the wincustomize browser, and wincustomize tray. also, if you don't buy the wincustomize browser, you can't use the SDC skin browser. so yes, u get apps with your wincustomize subsription.
on Jun 13, 2008
No apparently there's a free version too.
so where is this free version? u can't use SDC Skin Browser without the subsription. i don't use the skin browser anymore, since it got to the point where stuff just wouldn't work right with it. if someone uploaded a file zipped up, u couldn't apply from SDC, object dock icons/backgrounds never got integrated, as well as some other apps. development just seemed to stop, but at least i know why. impulse is great, pretty buggy, but very promising. just wish they would finally put everything into 1 spot, i mean, why not?
on Jun 13, 2008
Few buttons and the big one lead the user to what to pick.


Actually this is precisely where I disagree. First, the "one big button" doesn't even LOOK like a button. If it did, do you honestly think that you would see so many posts in this forum asking where/how to change Impulse's preferences? Users do not recognize that the round thing in the top left corner which looks like an icon and is placed exactly where an icon would be for the past 20 years of Windows applications, is, in fact, a button!!! Second, the user purchases a product from Stardock. In SDC, there are items in the simple list on the left hand side equating to most of those products... it is very intuitive to click on the item you purchased, to go and find the actual product, download or update it. In Impulse, however, they must think... is what I purchased a "Desktop" or a "Tool"? To me this is VERY confusing to both the experienced user AND the new user! I fail to see how anyone can think that this design is simpler/easier! Please go and read some books and guides on user interface design, and you will discover that practically everything about Impulse is WRONG.
on Jun 13, 2008
Actually this is precisely where I disagree. First, the "one big button" doesn't even LOOK like a button. If it did, do you honestly think that you would see so many posts in this forum asking where/how to change Impulse's preferences?
I wasn't talking about the Orb (but agree with you, I suggested an arrow be added to the orb to indicate it wasn't a logo).  And I doubt that JoeUser will ever have to use that.  Joe user will use teh Purchase, Download, update, Run buttons.

I think you are "familiar" with SDC and that makes it seem simple.  Those unfamiliar with either SDC or Impulse will find Impulse fine I think.
on Jun 13, 2008
switched at birth and never looked back..
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