@gjfontenette said:
Wow! It amazes me just how insensitive some of the users here are. So I am supposed to travel with 1 dongle for 3 computers; and if I should lose it, mispace it temporarily, or the damn thing break or even malfunction, then I am shit out of luck. You should know that many musicians have too much to think about and with production schedules and such to concern themselves with " Where's my dongle?" I can't even afford for that to happen. And I can't believe that the folks at VSL have not thought about this kind of situation.
Ideally, it would be great for users if there were no copy protection. Unfortunately, too many people have abused the situation (giving copies to friends, buying one copy and simultaneously allowing multiple people in their facility to use it, etc., etc.). Dongle protection is about the only way a company can make a dent in enforcing the one copy/one user policy. They're a drag from the user's standpoint, although they do have a few advantages over challenge/response authorization (mainly, it's easier to move the license from machine to machine if you're a multiple machine user).
By now, most people are used to dongles. Many applications require them, including ProTools (which is arguably the most ubiquitous high-end audio application on the planet).
You can threaten to no longer be a VSL customer if dongles are used, but that's most likely not going to change their mind. They're undoubtedly losing a FORTUNE currently because of casual sharing.
The bottom line is: If you want to use the best high-end software and content, you have to put up with the CP. Personally, I prefer the NI system which allows two installations per software application. Unfortunately, I have no doubt that there are people abusing that privilege by installing the software for simultaneous use by two people.
Lee Blaske
Lee, Well written. Donlges are sadly a necessary evil these days. I don't like them, not since Cubase early days, and have had the odd problem using them for 'unexplainable 'computer' reasons.
It's a fact of life.
Regards,
Alex.