jabusch@uiucdcsb.Uiuc.ARPA (07/23/85)
If you think about it, many of these devices goes beyond copyright
protection. Copyrighted books can be read by more than one person, albeit
one at a time, they can be read in different places and under different
lighting conditions, etc. etc. etc. However, serialized 'dongles' keep
you from using the software on any other than a single machine. Also, the
license agreements that come with a number of software packages specifically
states 'may be used on a single machine'. In this case, what do you do?
Do you buy two complete copies, one for home and one for work, even though
you are the sole user? I don't intend to. I think it's ridiculous. I
wouldn't buy two copies of a reference book, especially if it cost in the
> $300 range!
John Jabuschjabusch@uiucdcsb.Uiuc.ARPA (07/23/85)
In response to frans at mcvax!philmds: Yes, I still have objections
to dongles for some other reasons. I agree that making lots of copies is
what you want to be able to do. I see no problems with dongles in this
respect.
However, on a different tack, there is a growing trend for multi-
tasking software which does work well on some of the higher-speed micros.
This type of environment is useless with dongles if you have to keep swap-
ping them in and out. This has effectively gotten us no further than the
key floppy, which must also be swapped in and out.
Another good point here is that swapping dongles means that you
have to have them with you, which means that portable computer owners have
to carry around a bunch of small parts, which is hardly desireable. Can
you see the effects of dropping some small dongle on a trip out of town?
The point of having a backup dongle is different from a backup PC.
If you buy a particular type of personal computer, hopefully you will ensure
that it can be serviced somewhere nearby and in reasonable time. I have
had PC's worked on (I won't say what brand) and they always come back within
a day and a half. Tell me a dongle can be replaced that quickly. US Snail
has its reputation to uphold! One of the major problems with software is
that there is not always a rep in your area. That means that you have to
wait through incredible delays occasionally. How many of you out there have
had this happen? Also, how many of you out there have had a bad experience
with one of the more well-known software vendors? I don't think that it's
necessary to respond to those questions, I just wanted to strike home.
Of course, there is the option of some sort of bank-switched dongle
that allows you to stack up a bunch of them on a card or something. I have
no spare card slots and no spare ports. I guess I just can't use a dongle.
Unless it is passive on one of the ports... How about a standard? Will
all dongles be able to be piggybacked, or will some require dedicated ports
or slots? How many manufacturers who are making their own now are com-
patible in this respect? I don't have any figures, but would like to know.
What if I had, say, a basic IBM PC with two floppies and extended memory?
Any dongle that required a serial port would then also require that I buy
the port, thereby costing me far more than the software package originally
cost, just because of the protection scheme. There are a lot of people
out there who don't need serial ports for normal use, who might be forced
into this situation. If they were buying a lot of these types of packages
then the cost of the added port would be spread thinly, but such is not the
case for the person who only buys one dongled software package.
The serial number in the CPU itself (referring the main box of what-
ever PC you have) is not really a good method of protection for the much-
argued reason that all too many people have upgraded their PC's. This means
that a new version of their software would have to be purchased, or somehow
upgraded. Dongles don't solve this completely. What if the port configur-
ation is changed? (witness IBM's serial port on the AT) If one buys a whole
new system, including new cables, etc., then there is still the need to get
some sort of adapter to tie in the old dongle, unless manufacturer offers
an upgrade.
I don't see any easy solutions for those who feel the need for copy
protection, and dongles sure aren't the perfect answer, although better
than some, I suppose.
John W. Jabusch
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ARPA: jabusch@uiuc.arpaslerner@sesame.UUCP (Simcha-Yitzchak Lerner) (07/30/85)
> However, on a different tack, there is a growing trend for multi- > tasking software which does work well on some of the higher-speed micros. > This type of environment is useless with dongles if you have to keep swap- > ping them in and out. This has effectively gotten us no further than the > key floppy, which must also be swapped in and out. The ADAPSO standard allows many keys to be plugged into one keyring. This keyring sits transparently off of a port, and thereby requires no resources from your computer. The standard was designed with multi-tasking in mind. > Another good point here is that swapping dongles means that you > have to have them with you, which means that portable computer owners have > to carry around a bunch of small parts, which is hardly desireable. Can > you see the effects of dropping some small dongle on a trip out of town? Presumably, you don't loose your house keys every time you go on a trip? In any case, manufacturers will differentiate themselves in the market by either offering rapid (24hr) turnaround for replacement keys to registered users, or they may even supply you with a backup key at purchase. -- Opinions expressed are public domain, and do not belong to Lotus Development Corp. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Simcha-Yitzchak Lerner {genrad|ihnp4|ima}!wjh12!talcott!sesame!slerner {cbosgd|harvard}!talcott!sesame!slerner slerner%sesame@harvard.ARPA
jabusch@uiucdcsb.Uiuc.ARPA (08/06/85)
I don't see where the original author said anything about using the software on several cpu's simultaneously. Maybe I can't read as much into Henry Schaffer's text as some can. All I can read is that he is interested in using the software on whichever cpu it is needed on at the time, but no mention of several users at once. When you hire someone as a resource, you have them work in whatever office is available. I propose that employee hiring agreements/licenses state that they are single office space employees, and can never work in another spot, no matter how short a time. This type of moving of people and manipulation of resources used to be referred to as management, and effective resourcec management allows one to get the most benefits from the available resources. Managers take their computers home if need be, they take books home if need be, they take anything they need to complete the job at hand. Why not software??? The licensing agreements are incredibly ridiculous. That's why I don't sign them and send them in. I don't need software that can't be used to its fullest extent, short of duplication! I need tools. I can go to Sears and buy a screwdriver and then take it home, or to the office or wherever I please. Why not software??? If I am not making a copy, then the only reason holding me back would be some stupid license that some jerk wrote up that stipulates otherwise. I would not buy anything else like that, so why software??? I notice that *my* pen, which *I* bought, works equally well at home and at the office. I have invested more money in pens and writing equipment over the years than in software and yet there is no license agreement on the ink pen! I have also seen nothing in the copyright laws that requires me not to use a book or software at home if I bought it for the office. Until these change, ......... John Jabusch