What is it about, then - what is this place build on ?! That is, the web seen through some virtual, biased and plastic glasses, and what we think we're doing here, in essence… propaganda, and also some formal stuff to get out of the way.
Blah if necessary.
..either in creating graphics, coding apps, figuring out ways to customize your OS, editing html, anything really.
That's one thing going on, on the web, seems worthwile to us. So why spoil all this by recommending expensive apps and/or a new default. Lots of creative people are just offering their stuff for free, cause they like to share... and since this whole customizing thing should be fun, it feels good to go for cheap, not dollars.
Besides, reality shows there's mostly a cheap solution for everything you think is a problem (read: challenge). In finding this, or letting you know it's available, we'd like to help.
So, even if there's a few dollars involved, it's no shop, where you pay and get lost. People give you their stuff for free or almost that amount, consider that. Most asked reward is a little response... can't expect them to continue without any of it, right ?
We've seen programs being coded because of a single request, and cool stuff die because of a lack of appreciation. Take notice of that before you take the - often abused - word 'community' in your mouth! If you want it to live, make it live. Ask, answer, use the messageboards around, comment, suggest, help otherwise, if you can.
Relation is a bit tense, sometimes. There's reasons for that. As we understand, the Mac had to fight to survive, and it seems they did: insert babble here, on design level as seen on most Mac pages compared to general standard :)...
We happened to buy a pc and run Windows (didn't know much else, then) and are quite content with it. A Mac user is quite happy too, we hear, and though the 'creative approach' seems a (great) bit longer existing on the Mac, we see no reason to be bickerish... much more fun enjoying stuff from the other platform, finding ways to exchange.
Part of the survival-construction on the Mac seems to be the denial of efforts made on the pc... this being strenghtened by the pc-side easily ripping and using graphics done on the Mac side. Can we ignore both, just fight it if necessary ? Our personal experience with people on the Mac side has only been very pleasant. Yes, sometimes we're looking for ways to get their stuff over to the pc. No, not without any credit/permission. A simple acknowledment of great work done, here as well as all along takes the fight out, creates new friends. And whatever Microsoft and/or Apple do as a company should not stand in the way of that.
So, being content with this OS, we're only briefly touching shell replacements here. This place is about tweaking the default, explorer(.exe), mainly. Just our area of expertise; gotta set some focus, right ? Anyone has got to admit that all the work done in the shell-scene has done much good to users of the default explorer shell, and still does. Heh, our "daily rotation" scheme covers the main sites there... we just don't cover any replacements, fully - that's already being done, and good too (start with some of our customization links...).
And though this site may look like a celebration of Microsoft, it's obvious that fame brings arrogance. So get rid of this logo's, standard interface, icons, make it all to look and behave like you want it to, cause it can be. Enjoy.