Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!wuarchive!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!mips!pacbell.com!pacbell!tandem!zorch!xanthian From: xanthian@zorch.SF-Bay.ORG (Kent Paul Dolan) Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga Subject: Re: Pirates and swapware Message-ID: <1990Jun27.002024.27364@zorch.SF-Bay.ORG> Date: 27 Jun 90 00:20:24 GMT References: <1990Jun22.183227.2638@cbnewsl.att.com> <1990Jun24.075559.13459@zorch.SF-Bay.ORG> <90176.155439ESDYKE@MTUS5.BITNET> Organization: SF Bay Public-Access Unix Lines: 95 In article <90176.155439ESDYKE@MTUS5.BITNET> ESDYKE@MTUS5.BITNET (Erick Dyke) writes: ><90U702Unb2ZK01@amdahl.uts.amdahl.com <1990Jun25.104017.803@zorch.SF-Bay.ORG> > >Kent, as far as your 'perfect' security system goes, answer yet one more >question. > >I have two Amigas networked together sharing the same harddrive and printer. >What would I have to do, with the serial number solution, to have this >system work. Gee, I'd just use the computer I bought the program for; if that is a problem for you, buy two copies, or get a site license. I'm assuming a bit of ingenuity on the part of the software producers who write this stuff to let it run with more than one serial numbered machine if that has been paid for, without duplicating the entire distribution to make that work. >I do not want two copies of a program on my harddrive, Well, nobody's forcing you to buy a second copy if you can be content with using it on just one of the machines; if not, buy a site license. >I do not want to have to pay extra for a non-protected solution, Since even the computer dealers and developers are pirating software, according to reports published here, I doubt anyone would trust you, me, or the local clergy with a non-protected solution, so your wallet is perfectly safe. >and most of all I want to be able to demonstrate my software on other >peoples machines. Why? Do what I do, carry your machine with you. The secretary of TAUG, (Tidewater Amiga Users Group) had his Amiga rigged up on a cart he could roll in, plug in, turn on and go. Usual travelling salesman's headache; but nothing that hasn't been coped with for hundreds of years. Remember the traveling anvil salesman in The Music Man? Your problems are light ones compared to his. >Many a time I have sold a customer on a package by taking my copy to >their system, and showing them how it works in their office, on their >machine. Problem is, many's the sale you lost because his buddy did the same thing before you got there, and conveniently forgot to wipe the copy off the harddisk. Wake up and smell the coffee. >On the lighter side, I have taken adventure games that I have >purchased to friends Amigas to play at their house. My copy leaves their >place without being pirated, but they usually have a better stocked >fridge. :-) Anybody's got a better stocked fridge than mine; I'm jealous. Anyway, I solve this problem by putting my console, keyboard and cables in a suitcase, my monitor in the big denim sack I sewed for the purpose, toss in a few disks, and go. No problem about bringing up software on a machine where it doesn't work and fumbling the sale away trying to troubleshoot cables, add-in cards, strange shells, buggy background software and all. I like to do the trouble shooting after I've made the good impression, not before I have a chance. Saying "this software is serial number linked, so I have to show it to you on the machine it was purchased for" excuses the time you need to set up your machine. >Dont take this as a flame, but I dont think that you are looking at some of >the many flaws in this system. I feel in some ways it hurts the user >more than any other protection. Excluding non-passthru dongles, and >drive thrashers. At least with 'type in the word' protection I can take >the manual with me. I'll say it again; I want to be able to back up my software. If I can make multiple copies (back it up) and those copies can run on multiple machines, then I can pirate the software. You have to give up one or the other to ------------------------- ------- ---------------- prevent piracy. I choose to keep backups, and give up being able to run on every machine. You may choose to keep universal executablity and give up backups, you may choose to leave piracy rampant and the software market weak. That is your choice. I simply want to suggest what I see as a better choice. Manuals photocopy cheaply, any dedicated pirate is willing to type in a photocopy-proof code sheet (Some type in whole manuals!), ditto making a table of code wheel positions. I've seen all this done, and I won't tell you how much I've done myself in an earlier incarnation, but take my word for it, it's easy, the people doing it are bored, and they have time and labor to burn. What they end up burning is your software market, whether you are a developer, a consumer, the computer vendor, or a retail marketer. >Erick -- ESDYKE AT MTUS5 Kent, the man from xanth. -- Those invincibly ignorant bastards that have been running things ... for so long, throw them all out! -- Garrison Keillor