Having a lil problem. Trying to install Impulse, but I get this error;

"This product requires at least Windows XP. Setup cannot continue."

I tried both the web and full install. Same thing. Obviously, I have XP. I have my Windows services cut down to a bare minimum, I'm thinking that may be the reason... Anyone able to assist on this?

I never really had much interest in WindowFX, until I tried the 3.00. The 'Window Tiles' feature is what I'm really interested in. I tried Microsofts scalable fabric way back when, and I really liked the idea but the program was far too buggy for my liking. So I was really happy when I saw that Stardock took up a similiar idea (and it works a ton better!). I do have a few suggestions for it, that I think would be great additions.

I see that it scales from the top-left corner, I'd like to see an option to have 'minimized' windows' tile go to the sides of the desktop (based on what side it's closer to).

Also, it'd be nice if it saved the tile sizes for processes.

And lastly, and I'm not sure how feesible this is, if there were a hotkey to raise all the tiles to top. Not so much as a hotkey toggle for the always on top option, but a keystroke that puts it on top for as long as it's being held, a la alt+tab.

A few days ago I got an IM from someone about Dementaecon. Anyhow, this conversation made me finally get around to fixing the icon package. There were serveral icons that for some strange reason were black silhouettes at 128x128. Anyhow, this made me take notice to how long ago I released Dementaecon. That in combination with this person's very flattering words made me want to start another package. I'm not sure if I will at this point or not. I really don't have time for hobbies at this point in time, especially when they aren't very fun. When working on something I think I spend 90% of the time flipping out at my computer trying to process things. I'm limited to my laptop, which I don't even like to consider a computer, it's more like a type writer with a monitor. I've been meaning to get a real computer for awhile now, but just haven't had the money for it.

So why did I decide to start-up a JoeUser account... well... it's 6am, I'm on a typewriter with a monitor, and am stuck using 56k for the time being... so that should be sufficient reasoning. I do semi-regularly pop on WC and check out some of the featured articles. About two weeks ago a fluke happened and explorer shell opened, this along with me just reading a few articles gave me some drive to start one of these blogs...

Anyhow this was the first time I had seen the explorer shell on my computer for over 2 years. I thought to myself "hey this is really simple, and doesn't seem as sluggish as I remembered it,". I started wondering where my quest for efficiency spun wildly out of control. The 10% of the time I'm not cursing at my computer, I'm making menus and hotkeys to try to make it more effective. Over 2 years ago I found myself unsatisfied with the windows launch bar, I wanted something that could more easily open programs. So I started using a program which if I recall correctly was called "go!" which was a launch bar on steroids. I found this to be too bulkly, and there was no way to quickly open/dismiss it without using the mouse; laptop = touchpad = forget that. Then I came across Serenade Shell. Great shell replacement, my only gripe with it was that it wasn't the best with multiple monitors, and well it seems to have been abandon which is a shame.

Serenade was highly configurable, it was something entirely different that most other shells I came acrossed, as most are just beefed up explorer shells. There were times I'd just spend days at a time entering aliases(word?), reconfiguring the interface, making skins, etc etc. Until I had it perfect. It was so incredibly fine tuned, and so very effiecent. Problem is at this point it was about as functional as brick would be as shell. Again, laptop... that brick might actually be a more effective computer... So I had the option of slimming down my Serenade config, or going on the hunt for a new shell.

This brought me to BBlean, a BlockBox port for windows. It's blackbox so you know it's sleak, it's light on resources, and adds functionality to windows. Great! right? no... now I found myself missing all the extras I had in Serenade, the countless custom menus. So I downloaded every plugin I could find for BBlean, and found BBinterface. While BBinterface is great once you have everything set up to your liking, seting it up is a bit of a pain, at least when compared to other shells. It actually took a few days, not hours, until I was finally happy with the set up. Now at this moment I was running both Serenade (with a lighter configuration obviously) and BBlean, and finally I decided to set BBlean as my default shell and rid of Serenade.

This is when, for a brief moment, the explorer shell could be seen on my computer. I was then reminded of why I rid of it in the first place: the launch bar. BBlean doesn't even have a launch bar... I'm still using BBlean, but it makes me question, what the hell happened? What am I doing? I've gone through so many various windows enhancement programs over the years... the only one that's really stuck is macromaker. I'd love to use Windowblinds, but my computer just can't handle it.

Moral of this story, sometimes we need to step back and take a look at the basics which we've deviated from to see if were still on track. For me, I left the basics because of a launch bar... one which I don't have right now. However after the pains of configuring all the BBplugins I don't really need a launch bar... though it would be nice. However it is lighter on resources than just about every other shell I've used, and it doesn't get confused by multiple monitors. I did eliminate a few programs, DesktopX for one. I had quite a few widgets but I'm not sure why... I realized that while neko the kitty is awsome beyond words when it's using 8+ meg of ram out the meer 192 you have it's not quite worth it ='( .

I've never seen the point of programs like Desktop X, Rainleander, Samurize, etc... Not because I don't think they have a purpose per sey, I mean who doesn't want 10 different programs that can display processor usage or take memos... er anyhow... My main thing is their location, which is on the desktop obviously. From personal experience, and observations of colleagues from work, school, or where ever: I can say that many, probably most, people haven't seen or made use of their desktop in years.

For example, right now I have, 10 windows visible, and I can ALMOST make of the corners of my wallpaper. When I'm actully doing some editing or work, those corners are no where to be found. And it seems the majority of people I come across have screens like mine, rarely do you see a bulk of the desktop or simply have one app maximized that can easily be minimaized to reveal the whole desktop.

Which brings me the the point of this post, why not a prgram like desktop X, but instead of being underlaying and attached to the desptop, be overlaying and on top of everything? Now the logical answer is they would get it the way. But with appropriate use of transparency and a 'pass clicks through' option which could be assigned to individual widgets or pieces of one, it would be very workable.

I don't quite see why so many people have process monitors and such, but perhapes that's because i have a low-end laptop and those processor monitors tend to keep my processor more active than I like... One monitor I do use is DUMeter, a little window which gives upload and download speed and such. I have it slighly transparent and always on top, though the fact that it doesn't pass clicks is annoying. I've tried countless programs like SysMetrix, only to get rid of them because as earlier stated, I don't see my desktop... so yeah any thoughts?

Awhile ago I started a holiday suite... I worked on it slowly because I thought I had al the time in the world, it seems that time is very quickly coming to an end now. I'm about 20% done, I figure if I work my ass off I'll be about 60% done around the time I wanted it released... ( note 20% completion of one of my skins is quite a bit more than a typical skin). Anyhow sort of at a crossroad, should I try even harder to finish, hold it over to next year (would be incredibly polished by this time), release it without the IconPackage (if i finish the IP I doubt I'll finish the WB, and visa-versa), try to find someone to take a part of my work load (ie. coloring).

Er... There's a little star next to ObjectBar in Stardock Central... What's it mean?

In general I use ObjectMedia, but it can only play about 75% of my MP3s. So when I'm listening to the ones it can't play I'm completely lost. WinAmp and Sonique randomly decide at times to use 60% of my processor. I can't stand MediaPlayer's interface at all, their whole playlist system and whatnot is idiotic. I've tried so many of the obscure players such as PlayNak, which would be well and fine if it supported drop and drag on the play list, or hell any way to add multiple MP3s to a playlist with out needing to browse through an endless directory structure everytime. Not to mention most of the lesser known MP3 players are incapable of sorting by track or hell even file name. I mean really is it asking too much for a player to be decent without being excessive, like WinAmp and the likes. I really couldn't care less if my media player has its own skinning system... Bah... sorry this is a bit ranty, but I'm fed up with this.

Forgive me if this is a stupid question. But is there a way for DesktopX to detect if the user is idle and for how long?

I was going through SkinStudio just now, trying to decide wether or not I should update Organix 3 with all the new features (toolbar icons, animations and the such). And I got to wondering what is there left to skin?

I know this isn't relevant to skinning or anything. But I figure this would be a good group of people to ask. Anyhow, what cell phone provider do you use and how satisfied have you been with them?