Quick poll. Do YOU prefer functionality or looks in skins?

[Axel-52]

I'm curious about how many people prefer functionality vs. the people that prefer looks in winamp skins.
Personally, I prefer looks over functionality. My reason is that I don't need to tweak the graphic equalizer on a regular basis (more like almost never) nor do I need any other functionality other than the basic Play/Pause/Forward/Backward bar and the volume for obvious reasons (I consider the display of the time/song title/bit rate/frequency, etc to be standard and included as well).
If I EVER do need to adjust something other than those basic functions, I can switch back to the default skin, make my quick change and switch back (although I haven't had to do that in ages).
Therefore, I prefer looks which means I prefer having the space for whatever picture is chosen as opposed to all the functionality buttons.
I'm not saying one is better than the other, I'm just trying to gauge what the percentage is. In other words, don't flame or don't try to justify why the functionality should be present in a skin (or not, it's not a debate just a poll). Just vote please.
Thanks for your input.

[Tac-Man II]

well, for the most part, I would prefer functionality. Not only do I like to know where everything is, I tend to play around with the EQ a lot. Even though I know a lot of the hotkeys for winamp, there isn't one for everything. In addition to this I tend to like the look of a functional skin as well.

Hacking apart a skin just for more picture space seems like a waste. why does a skin need to be a picture? if you like pictures, just put em on your desktop. thats what I would think anyways.

[Axel-52]

Originally posted by Tac-Man II
well, for the most part, I would prefer functionality. Not only do I like to know where everything is, I tend to play around with the EQ a lot. Even though I know a lot of the hotkeys for winamp, there isn't one for everything. In addition to this I tend to like the look of a functional skin as well.

Hacking apart a skin just for more picture space seems like a waste. why does a skin need to be a picture? if you like pictures, just put em on your desktop. thats what I would think anyways.

Saying to put the picture on a desktop as a wallpaper in my eyes isn't the same. I never actually see my desktop with all my open windows. I see my winamp player a lot more
I'm sure there will be more people prefering functionality over looks. I'm just trying to get an idea of the percentage difference.
Is it 100 - 0 or more like 75 - 25?
That's the idea of the poll. Thanks for your input.

[StillWater]

I use winamp for listening to a great variety of stuff, so I use the PL stacks a lot, I rearange/save/load my playlists all the time; I care a lot about sound quality, so I tweak the EQ almost every time I play a different sort of music. One of the most important things for me is whether the text and numbers are very readable - if they're not, I throw the skin out no matter what it looks like.
I've been collecting skins for a year and a half or so. So, I simply don't have time for skins which aren't functional, since I already have many skins in my collection which are functional and look superb. No skin looks so good that I would make my winamp-using experience a pain-in-the-arse just to look at it.

[Atmo]

If you're skinning for yourself only, and dont feel like covering your picture with buttons or sliders then thats totally up to you.

But if you're submitting a skin for others to use, then it should be as functional as possible.

Think about it from a different perspective. Would you use a PC case that had the reset button replaced with a sticker that served no purpose other than to look pretty??

There are options though. Lets say you dont like the eq bars covering your picture, seeing as these are the most commonly ommited items. Submit your skin with a version of eqmain.bmp that has the bars in place, and include another version (named eqmain1.bmp), with instructions in the readme.txt for those that want to change it.

I wish nullsoft would include a 'hide preamp and eq bars' option in the preferences (hey, they can hide the clutterbar so why not?). It would be the end of these sorts of discussions.

[Axel-52]

Originally posted by ¤db¤
I use winamp for listening to a great variety of stuff, so I use the PL stacks a lot, I rearange/save/load my playlists all the time; I care a lot about sound quality, so I tweak the EQ almost every time I play a different sort of music. One of the most important things for me is whether the text and numbers are very readable - if they're not, I throw the skin out no matter what it looks like.
I've been collecting skins for a year and a half or so. So, I simply don't have time for skins which aren't functional, since I already have many skins in my collection which are functional and look superb. No skin looks so good that I would make my winamp-using experience a pain-in-the-arse just to look at it.

You basically use your winamp player like I use my car
I modified my car a lot because I race it on a track.
I use my winamp player like an automobile driver who only cares to use his/her car to go from point A to point B. In other words, I only use my winamp player to listen to music, never using all the features available whereas you regularly use those features. I can therefore understand why you would prefer to have the functionality available to you. A lot of users use those features (hey, that's why they're there right?) but I'm curious as to what that breakdown is (between the people who absolutely need those features and those who never use them and don't need them and would prefer to have a picture instead of the functions).

[Axel-52]

Originally posted by Atmo
If you're skinning for yourself only, and dont feel like covering your picture with buttons or sliders then thats totally up to you.

But if you're submitting a skin for others to use, then it should be as functional as possible.

Think about it from a different perspective. Would you use a PC case that had the reset button replaced with a sticker that served no purpose other than to look pretty??

There are options though. Lets say you dont like the eq bars covering your picture, seeing as these are the most commonly ommited items. Submit your skin with a version of eqmain.bmp that has the bars in place, and include another version (named eqmain1.bmp), with instructions in the readme.txt for those that want to change it.

I wish nullsoft would include a 'hide preamp and eq bars' option in the preferences (hey, they can hide the clutterbar so why not?). It would be the end of these sorts of discussions.

To your first point:
If I could buy a PC that looked really cool with no buttons (assuming I found a PC without buttons to look cool) and have the ability to change to a version of that PC with the necessary buttons to reboot/powerdown/whatever at the click of a button, then yes, I would buy that PC assuming I only needed to use those buttons once a year or something infrequent like that. (If I needed to use those buttons multiple times a day, I would get tired of switching back and forth and that wouldn't be an attractive scenario).
Does this make sense to you? You're not locked into a skin and if you don't need to switch to a skin that has the features on a regular basis, where's the harm?

To your second point: If people did that, it would solve all my problems of not finding a skin I like. I'm not going to bother with my own skin cause it's not good enough to spend the time

And finally, to your third point: That would be awesome but I guess Winamp3 will most likely solve these discussions although I prefer Winamp2.

[Jellby]

A skin is a skin: it must change the look while retaining the functionality. Otherwise it's not a skin, it's a pic (or whatever) pasted over the program. If I want to look at a cool pic, I wait for the screensaver to pop up, or I open a pic-viewer program and set it to "always on top", or I use the mikroamp+mbinner Moreover, the basic functions for someone are not the basic functions for everyone, so...
My vote goes for functionality

[Atmo]

Originally posted by Axel-52
You're not locked into a skin and if you don't need to switch to a skin that has the features on a regular basis, where's the harm?

Well, it comes down to the users. Since most people do use the eq (nullsoft wouldnt have included it otherwise), we have to keep them happy.

Like i said, all you need to do is make two versions of eqmain.bmp, and give the users the choice.

[dimichan]

Depends on definition: for example, on some pic skins, the balance control is invisible, I can deal with that. That said, I do use the equalizer, and while I'm familiar enough to know which control buttons do what, I like to HAVE them there and at least an indication I'm hitting them in pressed state. Ignoring my pitiful early skins, about 1/2 of my recent ones are pic skins, and most of the time I've found some way to incorporate the equalizer where it doesn't hopelessly mangle the pic, so I'd say at the least, give the option of having the bars. Mr Tough Guy's Rose Tattoo, for example, comes with both options and instructions in the readme for swapping between them. Some people have almost obliterated the cbuttons using 1 pixel dots, I can deal with having unlabelled buttons (pics, flowers, etc) but not NO buttons

[flatmatt]

Well, if it's missing something, I know Winamp well enough to know where that something is. So functionality doesn't really matter as much to me.

[Mr_Tough_Guy]

All I need is the Cbuttons, the shuffrep, volumebar, text, numbers, clutterbar and some usable playlist stacks, that's pretty much all I use on a skin, on the other hand I wouldn't download a skin without equalizer bars even though I don't use them, the only skin without EQ bars I have is my own Rose Tattoo, and even then I use the one with bars most of the time

[simon snowflake]

functionality above all like in this skin

[pimp mode]
http://www.winamp.com/skins/detail.j...onentId=126480
[/pimp mode]

[Xerxes]

The hallmark of a great skin is that when a person uses it they don't think about either or; there is not functionality, there is no looks- there is only "the skin", and everything beautifully falls into place. A splendid comprimise of form and function that not only looks good but makes it look easy.

Natural intuitiveness - many interface designers have seeked, few have found.

[Axel-52]

Originally posted by Xerxes
The hallmark of a great skin is that when a person uses it they don't think about either or; there is not functionality, there is no looks- there is only "the skin", and everything beautifully falls into place. A splendid comprimise of form and function that not only looks good but makes it look easy.

Natural intuitiveness - many interface designers have seeked, few have found.

I totally agree, however, as you pointed out yourself, few have found a way to do it. Aside from the amp style designs, I haven't found any I actually like. Therefore, if one had to choose, which would it be?
That's the reason for the poll.

[J. Burnaway]

Functionality! Winamp is, after all, a media player. That is the reason it exists. If you can't figure out how to use it, then what is the point? One of the best skins ever is the base skin, because it has all the features plainly marked, and easy to understand. If a skin looks good on top of that - bonus. And there are quite a few that have both functionality and looks.

[bobo]

dont really care about functionality, been using winamp long enough not to care. not everyone has tho. i prefer visuals, you just have to decide what you prefer and continue from there...

i dont remove eqbars tho, thats different, removing an important function completely...

[simon snowflake]

same as volume and balance sliders and cbuttons .......

[J. Burnaway]

One of the things that most irritated me with the great skins I downloaded was that they didn't have the up and down arrows under the playlist slider, which I think is important, especially with long playlists. I guess I'm probably one of the most extreme function over form advocates.

[Jellby]

I usually skin them

[StillWater]

I often didn't bother, I thought they were useless since they were so small. But recently I realised that I now use them sometimes, so I decided to add them to Zima, but forgot - thanks for reminding me, JB

[J. Burnaway]

You're welcome.

[FooMonkey]

who needs arrows when you have bars and scroll wheels on you mouses?
I haven't used an arrow (PL or a window in general) in I don't know how long...I consider them obsolete...kinda like my Amiga

[Cleanup]

I've been using and skinning Winamp for long enough that looks are second above music, instead of functionality. I know where every button is already. Go away with your big-arse buttons with the hot pink symbols and give me trend!

[skinme!]

Originally posted by J. Burnaway
One of the things that most irritated me with the great skins I downloaded was that they didn't have the up and down arrows under the playlist slider, which I think is important, especially with long playlists. I guess I'm probably one of the most extreme function over form advocates.

Main reason I never skinned them was I didn't know they existed - or were just a label on the base skin. Plus I've had a wheel mouse since forever.

[skinme!]

Originally posted by bobo
i dont remove eqbars tho, thats different, removing an important function completely...

Hmm, this is strange: I consider removing the eq-bars to destroy functionality. However, I never ever change them.. my music sounds fine with the 'rock' preset. However, it just seems weird where the EQ is just used as a picture... like "what's the point".

[Cleanup]

Get paid to stick a gigantic Winamp advertisement in the EQ?

[raydream]

imho, it depends entirely on taste and experience, if you know and use all the keyboard shortcuts, you can use arty skins easier, i try my best to enclude all the buttons and functions in my skins, however keeping EVERYTHING, and labeling the whole lot, does make creating a buitiful skin nigh on impossible, i beleive if you want functionality, use default skin, the point of skinning is to change the looks, not the functionality, if you want both, you have to settle for something inbetween, not the prettiest skins in the world, but better then default theme.

[skinme!]

Originally posted by raydream
imho, it depends entirely on taste and experience, if you know and use all the keyboard shortcuts, you can use arty skins easier, i try my best to enclude all the buttons and functions in my skins, however keeping EVERYTHING, and labeling the whole lot, does make creating a buitiful skin nigh on impossible, i beleive if you want functionality, use default skin, the point of skinning is to change the looks, not the functionality, if you want both, you have to settle for something inbetween, not the prettiest skins in the world, but better then default theme.

That's true... however, there are skins which are not overly arty but are still pretty and worthy and maintain high functionality. It's all a matter of taste, as you yourself said. Perhaps why there was a need for the poll... it's a personal opinion not a steadfast fact or rule.

[raydream]

it's not exactly the best of opinions to have on a subject such as this, but when im happy with a skin im making, and i feel everything needed is there to keep the functionality,. i beleive it to be finnished, reguardless of if i have skinned every single control, or labled every single button, i know in submitting it, not everyone will enjoy the skin because of this, i do feel though that for the few that dont mind the controls i leave out, not sacrificing the flow of the skin is better then having a barely used button, just as i dont like the idea of writing "Auto, On, Off, and Preset", on my eq's, i sumply use a button, christ knows how someone would forget what those 3 buttons do after using winamp for 1 day

so for me, style is important, as well as functionality, if i can use the skin myself without having to strain to move a slider, click a button, or drag the skin, then alls good.

one thing i must say, 3 px high posbars MINIMUM... 1px high posbars are damn stupid, ive done some in the past and i dont use those skins because of that reason.
you wanna distroy functionality, make yourself a 1px high posbar.

[skinme!]

Originally posted by raydream
you wanna distroy functionality, make yourself a 1px high posbar.

Or do crazy horizontal cropping.

Personally, I have no problem with your skins... perhaps because a complete absence of labelling/functionality also detracts from the skins looks, as a general rule.

[Axel-52]

Thanks everyone for all your replies and votes. I must say I'm surprised to see a 50/50 split so far. This poll isn't meant prove or change anything. I was just curious. Thanks again everyone.

[flatmatt]

I would break out the old español flatmatt name to even the votes, but I'm too lazy.

[StillWater]

Originally posted by raydream
one thing i must say, 3 px high posbars MINIMUM... 1px high posbars are damn stupid, ive done some in the past and i dont use those skins because of that reason.
you wanna distroy functionality, make yourself a 1px high posbar.

No way. When I was still new to winamp, I used Act 2 Finale all the time, which has a 1 px posbar. It takes 2 seconds to memorise that you need to put your mouse underneath that thin posbar, since in reality the posbar is still the same size as the base skin, but just less of it is visible. As long as you have a posbar cursor that is different to the surrounding cursors, like in the base skin, that's fine. There are way worse things you can do to the functionality than that, IMO

[raydream]

at a resolution like mine, it is

[StillWater]

so you mean it's hard to see it at all? ok, that's different. I once saw a skin with no posbar at all, because the author claimed that the posbar was "the most useless winamp feature ever" - whereas it's very important to me. Funny how different people use the same program so totally differently.

What I hate most of all, however, I just remembered, is skins that don't make it clear whether the buttons are on or off. Because then, whether you're familiar with winamp or not, you won't know what state the buttons are in without right-clicking unless you use the skin frequently and memorise it. That to me is a bad skin, no questions asked.

[xenosomething]

Originally posted by ¤db¤
..That to me is a bad skin, no questions asked.

interesting....

today ive seen one of the best skins in a while on deviantart...i think it was called "symbiotic" or something.

as soon as i saw it instantly became a fav(i dont fav alot either)

i d/l it .....then i said dammit.

when you click on the button...NOTHING HAPPENS...no "on/clicked state" bmp's ...its just always the same.... >_<

but the skin looks so good i just cant say its bad.

[skinme!]

Originally posted by ¤db¤
What I hate most of all, however, I just remembered, is skins that don't make it clear whether the buttons are on or off. Because then, whether you're familiar with winamp or not, you won't know what state the buttons are in without right-clicking unless you use the skin frequently and memorise it. That to me is a bad skin, no questions asked.

Ok, that beats my posbar fuckups.