Basic DeskScapes question(s)

from Stardock Forums

I am interested in running DeskScapes (and the animated, or dynamic, wallpapers) on my Vista Home Premium system (with SP1 installed).  I've been following this Discussion group for a long time, watching DeskScapes 2.0 come through the beta software, etc., and still have a couple of questions.

The first is:  Are these animated wallpapers scalable?  That is, can you apply them to any resolution, in the same way that you can "stretch" a standard Windows wallpaper?  I have a WUXGA screen -- 1920x1200.  That's larger than a lot of the deskscapes in the gallery.  Will they "stretch to fit"?  Or just leave black space around the edges?

(BTW, my system is a Dell XPS M1730, 4GB RAM, dual nVidia video processors, dual-Core 2.4GHz Intel CPU, and basically plenty of horsepower.  Is this a problem?)

The other question is:  I do not currently have any StarDock software running (other than SD Central).  No Object Desktop, no version of DeskScapes, no WindowBlinds, nothing.  I'd like to preview this DeskScapes ability, before shelling out money for it.  In reading literally hundreds of other comments, going back to last year, I am VERY confused about whether there is actually a free version of DeskScapes 2.0 that is not still in beta, what it includes, where to find it (for download), what else I need on my system to run it, etc.  (I do have Aero running on my Vista system.)

I'd appreciate it if someone could clearly define the current released version (i.e., non-beta) of the *free* version of DeskScapes, and any other software I need to get it to run.  (I believe I have the necessary video codecs; but you may want to itemize any of those, if necessary, too.)

Thanks.

deskscapes
26,801 views 10 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
1. There is a setting that gives you several options over how you'd like to view the Dream that isn't the same resolution as your desktop. Stretch is one of them.

2. No clue. I got my copy when I purchased Object Desktop.
Elemental: Reforged
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
The free trial will allow you to play with the dream files that come with the free version but not to install more. Unlike most wall paper downloads that have multiple resolutions many dreams only come in one. Generally these include a large wide screen format that can be scaled with the display options of Vista.

You can find out a great deal more about the codec requirements and software here:

https://www.stardock.com/products/deskscapes/faq.asp
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I'm running them at 1920...they are subject to a slight blurring just like any video that is smaller than the actual screen resolution.

They look fine tho and they can be centered,stretched,cropped...etc...

Stardocks triggered ones use almost no cpu...but some of the video ones hit the cpu hard.Pretty cool,the water drop one is neat...it will let you choose the background...adds new life to old wallpapers. :) 
Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top
Question 1 : Well... that depends on the dream! All video dreams are scalable, croppable, etc. Many of the video dream creators will either state which resolution they created the dream in or release multiple versions with different resolutions. But regardless, those dreams are all scaleable like a standard desktop background picture. The other type of dream, dynamic dreams, automatically scale with your screen and resolution. The free test version of deskscapes comes with a few dynamic dreams and a video dream for you test out.

Question 2 : As Seabass said, there is a free trial thing of DeskScapes that allows you to play with a few Stardock created dreams. Hopefully, that can show you the capabilities of dreams before you buy. The free version doesn't allow you to get dreams from wincustomize.com but will still play some nice ones!

Question 3 : Worst comes to worst, you download the free trial and it doesn't run and yells at you and whatnot. Well then you can either come on here and people will be more then willing to help you or you open a ticket with Stardock support and they'll be more then glad to help you find a solution!

Hope that helps!
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Worst comes to worst
That should be "worse comes to worst" as in if it gets to the extreme end of bad.  ;)

{Look at me . . I'm liek Jafo!}
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Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top
As to your question about your current PC; sounds like you'll be OK; I've run them on a Lenovo with an Athlon 64-bit chipset and an ATI Super700 graphics card; works fine.
Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top
We often test dreams on what I would call "crappy boxes" where the hardware is lacking. Some of them just have on board video hardware instead of an actual card and we are able to test them just fine there.
Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Yes of course you can add animated wall papers to your desktop. It will scalable for your pc while you installed vista also.
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george