CNET Editors' review
Customizing your desktop and screensaver is a fun way to make your computer feel like an extension of your personality. Webshots Desktop offers a way to add professional quality photos to your desktop, but doesn't offer anything different over similar programs.
With a cluttered screen and perplexing tabs, this program's interface is slightly disappointing. The tabs along the top let users view their wallpaper options, two others require registration for favorite members and online photos, and a final lets users look at the saved pictures on their computer. Below are 12 thumbnails of photos the program offers, ranging from landscapes to penguins, and all are very professionally done. To the right of the larger example photo are a series of commands like: Set As Wallpaper, Send Ecard, Order Prints, and View Slideshow.
Webshots Desktop easily applied the photos in its bank as our wallpaper and performed all its other advertised tasks well. However, we failed to be impressed because it didn't offer anything different over Windows' wallpaper program. The professional quality pictures are nice, but aren't beyond anything users couldn't find on their own. Since this is a free download, users have nothing to lose, but we would recommend handling wallpaper yourself as Webshots doesn't offer enough to make us change.
Publisher's Description
From Webshots:
The Webshots Desktop displays stunning professional photos as your screensaver and wallpaper, and provides innovative tools for sharing your personal photos on the web. It's easy to upload, store and share photos on your personal Webshots homepage, and you can then add your personal photos, plus millions more from the Webshots website, to your screensaver and wallpaper. Webshots Desktop features download thousands of professional photos, easily upload and share your personal photos online, and create customized photo wallpaper and screensavers.
What's new in this version: Version 3.1.5.7617 may include unspecified updates, enhancements, or bug fixes.
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All versions:
3.5 starsout of 120 votes
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Current version:
3.4 starsout of 57 votes
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My rating:
Write review
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"They Charge for EVERYTHING!!1"
Version: Webshots Desktop 3.1.5.7617
Pros
NONE
natta
forget itCons
NO MORE FREEBIES HERE!
THEY CHARGE FOR EVERYTHING!Summary
used to be good;
NOT ANYMORE!!!
it gets one star because I am unable to give it less!!!
OCCUPY WEBSHOTS! ! ! -
"God and bad"
Version: Webshots Desktop 3.1.5.7617
Pros
I have used webshots for years love it.
Cons
I did not want Webshots as my scrensaver or desktop at this time Inhad already chosen what I wanted. When I downloaded the new webshot it automaticly became my new desk top and screensaver.I did notask for that so why do they assume that I want them to change what I have already done.
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"I still love this product"
Version: Webshots Desktop 3.1.5.7617
Pros
There are still a lot of great pictures. The screensaver works very well. The webshots desktop is a good product to view your own pictures saved on your computer. I also use it to download my camera memory stick to my computer and it works great. Overall, I'm happy with the basic product. If you download from CNET, the setup is different than if you download from Webshots.com. CNET doesn't give you the option of anything but accepting/rejecting the toolbar but if you download from Webshots, you don't have to accept the other changes which include your home page and search engine.
Cons
Updates will remove your settings and install someone elses. It will change your home page and download the tool bar. Don't ever let anything update itself when such options exist, not even your Windows program. If you delete webshots, it will delete all of the pictures (stored in the webshots data file) with it. Those pictures downloaded as screensvers are only available for viewing within the webshots software and they (or whomever took them) retain the ownership of the pictures. I should mention that Webshots swears that there is no spyware and that they don't track your browsing habits. I believe them. The current version offers a "start now" toolbar. Don't download it. This version changes your home page to MSN and makes Bing your search engine if you download from CNET. That is OK if that is what you want but if not, then download direct from Webshots.com and un check them.
Summary
The thirst for the almighty dollar has impacted everything over the years. Webshots was a great idea from a clever company called Auralis, created for sharing photos on line. Now its part of a corporate giant with outrages prices ($20 per month, I don't spend that much on gas) and unwanted add ons (start now toolbar). Auralis Inc. put webshots on the web in 1999, they sold it for 82 million to Excite which went bankrupt. Auralis bought it back out of the bankruptcy for 2 million and then sold it to CNET for 77 million. Smart business! CNET took a loss on it and sold for 45 million to American Greetings which still owns it. I have used this product almost since the beginning and I still love it. I have some fear of getting add ons that I don't want. The old toolbar which I never downloaded or used, was considered malware by many users and was the subject of many blog sites, as users couldn't figure out how to get rid of it or disable it. Programs of this nature (sharing and downloading) are vulnerable to attacks that can infect unprotected computers. Always use an antivirus program. Never do a "recommended" install on anything. Do an advanced install and carefully read and UN CHECK everything.
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"Pretty choices"
Version: Webshots Desktop 3.1.5.7617
Pros
lovely pictures and tins of choices
Cons
Will not put my old pictures from different in new computer..they say it will but I follow the instructions and the program says there is no file.
Summary
Like but disappointed that I will not be able to see old favorites and that the VIP service has not answered my 2 e-mails to help me with the problem
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"Easy to operate"
Version: Webshots Desktop 3.1.5.7617
Pros
Pictures very clear.
Cons
no comment
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"Great product."
Version: Webshots Desktop 3.1.5.7617
Pros
Beautiful pictures. Changes as often as you like.
Cons
Too bad all pictures aren't free.
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"Good but could be better"
Version: Webshots Desktop 3.1.5.7617
Pros
very nice pics
Cons
COST COST COST
Summary
love the pics make my screensaver come alive with color but why the cost i had alot of people who really loved webshots until they started charging and now they are losing people make it either cheaper or free and maybe they will get the people back
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"I like this program"
Version: Webshots Desktop 3.1.5.7617
Pros
Great for wallpaper and screensavers
Cons
Had a hard time getting photo of the day, so I just redownloaded
Summary
Over all, a great program.
Good program, allready revieweds
Updated on Feb 11, 2011 -
"Great Desktop/wallpaper program/Fantastic Photos"
Version: Webshots Desktop 3.1.5.7617
Pros
User and professional pictures are user friendly to download
Cons
Nag screen `s for permanet membership are a REAL Pain
Summary
Pictures I use as Computer wallpaper are varied and bountiful
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"Great collection of photos to choose from!"
Version: Webshots Desktop 3.1.5.7617
Pros
I like that you can share photo's. Set it and forget it is great as you pick what pics you want and depending on how you set it,you have a different photo everyday!
Cons
I have not found any!
Summary
I love it! I would and have suggested it to friends and family!
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