DesktopX 3.1 a winner!

Now get back to work!

Published on July 19, 2005 By John Hamp In DesktopX

I've been fiddling with DesktopX since the very first beta over 5 years ago. I've been stalking Stardock since their OS/2 days and I have a confession, I didn't like DesktopX very much when it came out. I was hoping DesktopX was going to be the Workplace shell from OS/2 but on Windows. It's not.

It's restricted to just the desktop and most people seem to either use it to put a bunch of useless crap on their desktop. I mean really, do we need something to tell us what the weather is? Do I need another clock? Alternatively, other people seem to use it to make whacky looking desktops.

Not me. I use DesktopX to have a better Explorer experience than Explorer. I replace my common desktop icons with DesktopX objects. I've been using DesktopX regularly since the mid 1.x versions when it really started to solidify. I've never made a widget with it. I've stuck to enhancing my desktop objects with some Javascript to do things like tell me how much disk space is free or display the last time a site was updated as part of a website object's label. Nothing too fancy but USEFUL.

I wish Stardock could properly convey just how incredible DesktopX is. It is probably the single best desktop extender utility on the market today and has been for awhile if it's used properly. It pains me seeing Stardock chasing after the over-hyped, under-powered, over-blown Konfabulator cult when there's no evidence that people want widgets on any large scale. I think their "gadget" strategy is sound and maybe that'll start getting them to focus on what makes DesktopX special and that's eXtending the Desktop of Windows to have new functionality that behaves as if it's native.

Since Longhorn doesn't look to be doing mcuh for the Windows desktop, DesktopX is really our last best hope for users who want to have something more than just a bunch of useless icons on their desktops. Something other than a bunch of 'mini-applications' as well. DesktopX isn't a toy. It's the most productive enhancing tool out there when used correctly. Stardock, spread that message.

Comments

Frogboy

on Jul 20, 2005

I appreciate your comments. Really, DesktopX is designed to let you do whatever you want with your desktop.

Now, why have we concentrated on widgets? Lots of reasons, some personal (we really like them) and others practical -- the press, for whatever reason -- seems to like to cover them. Or at least, they seem to like to cover them if a Mac developer or Apple itself deems them interesting while selectively ignoring that user-created mini-applets as a practical reality originated on the PC three years earlier (but I digress).

But you do have a point - even with all the hyping, and I don't mince words, widgets have been over-hyped, I'm guilty of it as well, there is little evidence that they're a big deal outside of certain sectors.

I think part of the reason we keep pushing it is because we like Konfabualtor. I may not agree with Arlo's marketing tactics which seem to be based on implying that he's "invented" something we had years before him. But he has forced us to become sharper and make better software and get our ducks together. In the old days, we'd just bundle objects and themes made by other people randomly. Because of Konfabulator, we now put together our own stuff to bundle as well and we've started to carry this practice over to WindowBlinds and our other products. Companies need competitors, even friendly ones, to force them to improve themselves. After all, Konfabulator used to cost $25, now it's $20 and I suspec that's because of DesktopX.

And finally, the other reason for widgets is that we've been transitioning to gadgets. We get a lot of corporate interest for widgets but they dont' want to have to buy 1000 licenses just to run some internal network monitoring thing they've made. So that's why we're migrating to widgets. We're happy to sell them just a few copies of DesktopX Pro and work out a support agreement.

With all that said, this Fall we'll be moving back to making cool desktop stuff. Our game team resources will start to free up a bit and we'll be able to make some really neat desktop and objects.

fudoshi

on Jul 21, 2005

a good comment brad ,just one point please and a little help,in your preveiw recentley it showed a different interface for desktop x3 1 i am running on beta versions i downloaded new update to 3 01 and in sdc object desktop it is showing as 3 10 042 ?is thise correct please ,

Corky_O

on Jul 22, 2005

I just wanted to second the good review of the newest release of DX3.

The builder, client, and IconX access via the systray icon is a big plus - very easy to load things, and invoke the settings dialogs.

I use Konfabulator a bit, and have never thought of it as a sophisticated program in any way, unlike DesktopX which obviously has a lot of potential to be used by both the novice user to load some goodies, and by the true desktop developer who can create many fun objects/widgets/gadgets, as well as complete desktop assemblies to really show off the potential of the program.

Nice job on the update, Stardock.

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