I used it for several years and installed it on some buddy's PC (note I had to pay $10 for each PC liscense at time)

The problem I have with it is that it set bad practices for file navigation as a whole.

Since I have all of these rules I set up on stardock that don't really reflect what my fileexplorer looks like

This leads to (at least for me) sometimes confusion on how I am navigating through my files / docs on my PC

Also, when stardock fences crashes its always a huge pain in the ### to fix the problem

Personally I suggest using something like directoryopus instead Directory Opus , even though its not same type of app, does similar job

I have used Fences for a very long time and it was always my number 1 desktop tidy-up. But there has been a newer version just come out and it is a 30 day trial which then you must pay $9.95 to continue. I was very disappointed because I wasn't warned and the old version needed to be fully uninstalled so that Fences 2 could be put on.

I would like to get back the old version because the changes made are not that special or exciting, just made its original features easier to access and that is all. But still, Fences is a fantastic program and whether paid or unpaid it is worth it.

Thanks em4020, fr pointing me out DesktopOK I will give it a try, the major problems I need addressed is having my icon positions messed over from time to time as I change resolution.

Fences also doesn't show on the running processes list, only the setup gui (50Mb)...

It is a nice design but with limited application since it is based on .net it does take unnecessary resources, it is also slow, slower than the normal system performance.

One feature that is laking is the ability to turn off the "animations", making movements instantaneous in place of the floating feeling it imposes as icons fall in position. Also I use a black background and there is no ability to make the fence boarder show in a different color.

All in all a nice idea that can be hugely improved and optimized.

My reasons to stop using it is that it takes more resources that I think it is worth and because it is slow and lacks the ability to make it more customizable we move from a cloud of icons to ca cloud of fences, and one thing makes me wonder if people have the time to really make use of fences they should have the time to clean up the desktop, probably the pro version with the default fence ability would address that issue but that is not a real solution to bad habits...

PS: It also crashed my machine on the first install

Fences is really unique. None of the listed applications can replace it. It's look is also nice and clean (even in the free version)! Organize your Desktop!