Interesting article indeed. Just for information purposes -- I am Windows platform programmer. Years back I saw a great demand for screensavers -- seems everyone was using them and also looking for the latest and neatest one around. Now I can honestly say that I know only 3 individuals out of 1500 that use screensavers now. The problems with the screen burning does not exist in the newest screen technology. For those of you still using 286x machines, mono or RBG monitors for business applications, then you have the problem. But for the rest of the world the problem disappeared with the advent of the 486 and VGA monitors.

I still like the idea of these custom screensavers for marketing. It sounds neat. But with all the virus and worm flooding the net, I think it would be difficult to get enough trusting individuals to download them. Not many individuals can afford the fees to obtain a verisign digit signature to sign their screensavers. The software you mentioned does not do this (would be stupid and lead to ruin if they did).

What is a screensaver on a programming point of view? A simple executive file. Command line switches are added to make the program compatiable with the options available in your control panel. The program is simply saved as .scr vice .exe when compiled. Now that leads the door open -- an unsavory webmaster can add references to mprexe.dll, wininet.dll, mapi32.dll or anything and they got access to your files and everything on your system. Remember that when a screensaver program is active the Ctl-Alt-Del and Tab-Alt functions are disabled. If you notice that your files are being uploaded to the net the only way to stop it would be to pull your modem line or pull the plug on your computer.

I honestly do not think this would work unless offered by a huge, well established paysite with impeccible customer respect - Boyfun, Badpuppy -- I don't think anyother site has reached that level yet!