Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!lll-winken!ames!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!decwrl!ucbvax!pro-sol.cts.com!lhaider
From: lhaider@pro-sol.cts.com (Lawrence Haider)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple
Subject: Re: Copy protection (key disks)
Message-ID: <8907021018.AA01708@crash.cts.com>
Date: 2 Jul 89 05:51:08 GMT
Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Reply-To: pnet01!pro-sol!lhaider@nosc.mil
Organization: The Internet
Lines: 23

Network Comment: to #8509 by pnet01!crash!smoke.brl.mil!info-apple-request

"In my opinion" I agree with Ralph on the _Keydisk_ Issue.  It is a pain.  But
I don't agree that printed code books are the answer.  I for one would have a
much harder time looking for a scrap of paper than finding a Keydisk, and
codewheels can be printed and sent as a TXT file anyway.  The 'props' idea "I
Feel" also smells of something long rotting.  Isn't that why Apple came up
with the "standard" user interface.  So they wouldn't be spending all of their
(their meaning users) time with the nose in the stinking manual?!?  I am
forced to do this at work with a damn MS-DOS machine.  Why do you think I
bought an Apple!  Why do you think most apple owners bought an apple?  So they
wouldn't have to even pick a manual if they wanted to play with a program long
enough (old II programs not withstanding)!  Far be it from me to pass
judgement, but copy protection sucks!  It always has, and probably will for a
long time to come.
        Please, IF you MUST copy protect, KEEP IT SIMPLE.  The only people
copy protection harms are the users that bought the program.  The best Idea
I've seen in a long time is a program that asks for a password that YOU have
previously decided on, and asks for you to look up the password from the
manual only the first time you use it.  I know it isn't a great answer, but
it keeps honest people honest; and doesn't put them through hell just to use a
program they paid for!
                                Laer Haider