Stardock Tracking Order Status

I've been using Stardock products for 2 years now. Namely Fences and Curtains but sometimes I switch out Curtains for Blinds and also like to use Start10 from time to time. It's very easy to manage what I want to use and what I want to uninstall with their Object Desktop app. I've also used CursorFX, Soundpackager, IconPackager, Groupy, and Deskscapes. I love customizing my desktop, but I've found alternative apps that I like better for replacing my cursor, icons and system sounds. As far as Deskscapes and Groupy, they're great apps, but I'm not big on having animated wallpaper or tabbed explorers. I think everyone could find something they like from their line of software, but everything they offer isn't for everyone. Like I said, after checking out most of their products I ended up consistently using Fences and Curtains. I can't do without Fences at this point. I'd go crazy without it. I could live without Curtains, but I don't want to. It's a quick and simple way to make your desktop look very unique. It will make your friends and family ask how you achieved such results if they're not wondering if you're using some version of windows that they don't know about. Haha. Anyway, I'm just sharing my experience with the company because I came across this page by chance and was shocked when I saw the negative reviews. I know for a fact that having a bad experience with this company is not the norm by any means because of the active online communities that are dedicated to sharing templates for their products. Check out WinCustomize com and see what I mean.

I don’t understand why so many people are having issues with Stardock software. They’re very transparent as a company. I have experienced zero issues with their software and I’m currently running several items to include Fences, Groupy, Start11, Curtains, and even DeskScapes. Sure, I have a decent setup, but I’ve also had no issues. Seriously, none! You’d think it would at least be somewhat stressful on my laptop’s resources, but it’s not. The issues that I’ve read about sound more like miscommunications as I personally never had to contact support, but I am of the understanding that the current trend has moved to online support across the entire software industry. That’s how prices stay somewhat reasonable and I for one am okay with competitive pricing! It may take a day or two to get an answer via e-mail, but that’s everywhere unless you’re paying extra for premium support, something that’s actually almost never necessary in the very first place! In summary, I have to say that both their software and transparency policy are worth five stars. Their pricing seems fair to me as I enjoy being able to still purchase perpetual licenses. I have never dealt with their support staff, but their support policies do seem to be inline with the rest of the industry. Finally, I think it says a lot about the quality of their software considering that I’ve never had a need for support!

I got the Fences as i need it a way to organize easy access on my desktop to a large amount of programs. As i started out with a laptop and one external 4K display i had a few issues like the positioning getting lost on the external monitor. After i added a 2nd external 4K monitor it got worse as now some drop downs completely disappear. Also when you have to reboot your system regular for updates be ready to rearrange the Fences dropdown as they might show up anywhere on any of the monitors depending which comes up first. Like i said the concept is good but the product is bad, wonder what version 1, 2, 3 was like if 4 is that bad.

Stardock has been around forever and has what SEEMS to be numerous AMAZING desktop enhancement tools. The PROBLEM is that some of their programs (AND their Customer Support) are a bit hit-or-miss. I have been a customer for over 14 years and have invested in several of their software programs: WindowBlinds (it was a favorite); CursorFX, Fences; SoundFX and IconPackager, Descapes... Now, IF these programs worked as intended, with no glitches or crashes or interfering with other programs (i.e. paint.net) it would be wonderful, and Stardock would be a more-commonly known name. IconPackager only changes a few icons then starts glitching. For each new icon you change, a few that you have changed in the past, pick up random icons, so all your icons become one big muddled mess! You either have to supplement with, or rely on, other icon-changing programs, or revert to the default icons (which are supplied, almost as if knowing they will be needed). I cannot tell you how MANY DAYS (weeks?) I spent trying to get IP to change more than just a few icons. Additionally, there are only a very few/limited ATTRACTIVE pre-made icon packages to use with it, and the worst part is that again, "support" is ... sparse. CursorFX crashes sometimes if you try to adjust icon settings or if you try to add trails (mostly with the more animated icons), but of all their programs, I would say it is the best. There are HUNDREDS of pre-made free icons to choose from, but the better cursors of course, are not free and range anywhere from $5.99 to $19.99 each. A bit rich, not because of the sticker price itself, but because who wants just ONE cursor and there's no way I am spending $78+ for all of the ones I'd like. The SADDEST thing I find, is that there are NUMEROUS support inquiries (mine included) asking for a "How-To" or just help in creating ANIMATED cursors, and there is ZERO support for doing so. (You'd think they WANT more people making cursors other users can use). In fact, responders seem to ridicule people asking, or seem to want to steer people away from learning to do so. Since, again, many of the available cursors are for sale, and there is an affiliate program (where there are kickbacks from the company) that most of the old "OG" users seem to be in on, it's not difficult to understand that they want to limit the cursors to the ones they create and sell. WindowBlinds used to be great, but many old creators fell away with only the core group of affiliated creators now churning out blinds (it was my favorite). There are a couple of notable/standout creators, but the price on their themes are high. I have NO problem in supporting the creativity of skinners (in my free time I create high-end "designer" 3d models and content for different popular games), I believe these creators wish to make a living off of these sales and somewhere forgot that for the normal USER, upwards of $8 or so is a BIT much for ONE theme. I mean, at $3.99ish, sign me up for quite a few! I think too that Stardock certainly getting a %, factors into not only pricing, but the closed circle of mass produced themes we are now seeing. SoundFX is inexpensive, but I did not find a lot of use for it, at least not without investing precious time in tweaking. Deskcapes is great, but it takes up a lot of your computer resources (depending too on your system, of course, and what "Dream" you're running) and after a bit they all look the same - and there is no support as to how to make our own to share. *The latest version doesn't even work on my ASUS* - I get tiles. In short, Stardock could be HUGE, were its business principles centered around actually TESTING, FIXING and standing behind their products (software) BEFORE MARKETING, and if in trying to make money, they realized that the way to do so is to allow equally or more creative minds to further and grow the base of utilities (icons, cursors, etc.) that their software USES, instead of offering the same, 20-year-old add-ons. It boggles the mind that they can have so much of an imagination to dream up tools to make someone's system prettier, cuter, appealing, but cannot use that imagination to see their products to glitch-free fulfillment, or to grow their company as big as it could be.

I decided to try Stardock’s Start11 app, because I disliked Windows 11 ideal of a Start menu. It’s OK but yes the support mostly comes from back and forth through forums or social networks. I don’t know what they charge for their other products? But unfortunately support costs money to hire competent people. I eventually decided against Start11 mostly because it did not go far enough to fix what I did not like about Windows 11. I also am sort of cheap and $5.99 to fix what Microsoft messed up seems ridiculous. I will probably just go back to Windows 10. At least StarDock offers trials for 30 days with Start11.