@long winded explanations: YIKES!

I remember when the whole world tried to go dongle. People rebelled, now that there are less and less dongled software, I feel it's ok to calm down, take a deep breath and go make some music

Hey it's the annual dongle thread already?

I feel not having enough usb ports, and the hardware using those usb ports, stating not to use their devices with usb hubs.
Some companies stating it will break the warranty if you do use a hub.
Is a valid reason, not to use them.
I don't use them because of that.
I just hope some companies like XILS Labs will use some other method in the future, like Korg did. As I would like to get one of their synths, but can't for this reason. Although my next computer will probably be a desktop, which will have more usb ports. That won't be for years though.
Maybe these polls will help certain developers to see that, and change to something more suitable.

Do dongles and elicenser cause background services to run?
Do they use cpu/memory to run?
That would also be a problem imo, if it's so.

I don't say i really like dongles but opposing to others i have no problems using them.
I got my first one when i purchased the KORG Legacy Collection Digital edition and it was included in the package, same when i purchased the boxed version of Arturia Prophet V some years ago.

Some of my favorite softsynth from e.g. Waldorf and Xils Lab us the eLicenser protection so the eLicenser dongle is important for me.
I prefer the dongle over C/R protection which is the reason why i still use the old version of the Legacy Collection and not the new one with C/R protection.

For those who worry about USB ports: you could have multiple licenses on a single dongle and i got mine on an USB-Hub.

Of course i have nothing against changing to a serial number protection like Rob Papen did a while ago with his products which all got an eLicenser protection before. My favorite protection besides the serial number is a key file like in e.g. Tone2 Saurus.


Ingo

I voted no.
If C/R or Dongle was the only options then i would prefer Dongle.

The best protection is Serial or a license file

Yes, but how can be sure the usb hub isn't causing problems?
Maybe it causes some slight latency. Maybe it causes your usb port to wear down faster.
...and also, if your using a wacom tablet or m-audio midi controller, your warranty is not covered if your using one, and the tablet or controller break.
I'm not taking those risks.
Maybe my tablet pen won't control as smoothly when using a usb hub.
I think using usb hubs need to have some studies done to see if they really do cause no problems. Maybe they do, but those hub problems are so small that no one notices them. Maybe latency problems or something.
I mean check your warranties. Maybe the dongle itself is not covered when using a usb hub.
...or maybe I'm just being too paranoid about it.
That's very possible too.

I said i use an USB port for the dongle, not for my Harddisk or soundcard...
I don't think that latency is a problem for the USB dongle. I am also quite sure there is no warrenty loss when using the dongle with a Hub and how should someone prove you used it on a Hub?


Ingo

I meant, latency if your midi controller is going thru a usb hub, with other things like the dongle. That might cause latency from the controller, or some delay with midi note on, or something.
The things going into that usb hub, may have a negative effect, that's not so easily noticed. A negative effect on the usb port itself is one possibility.
There is a warranty restriction for using usb hubs with wacom products, and m-audio controllers.
The way one would get caught is simply telling the company about your defective product, and without reading the part about not using usb hubs with it, in the warranty, you state it's going through a hub.
Then they will tell you your warranty is void, because of that.
That's how.
I mean who reads the warranty?
I mean besides me...I'm nerdy like that.
Maybe there should be some tests done to prove that using usb hubs for various hardware devices, has or has no effect on the system.
There probably is already...I'll check into it.

I c what u did there!

I have an iLok only for Softube stuff, SoundToys freebies and Slate's Trigger, now that Waves and Nomad have moved away from it.
My CodeMeter Stick's worse, I have that only for my SSL Channel + Bus Comp.

So far, I've never had any problems with either of them.
Not on Win XP, not on Win XP x64, not on Win7, not on OSX 10.7, not on my desktop PC, not on my Notebook, not on my Mac.
Just never.

So yeah, I guess I'm fine with them.

I've got my 2 dongles (see last post) connected to a little USB Hub of their own, so whenever I need a license on either of 'em, I just plug in the USB Hub.
Works fine that way, and concerning iLok... once that breaks, your licences on it are stuffed anyway.
So why bother fighting about whether you've used it correctly or not.

Also, I'm quite sure that you could take a case in which M-Audio or Wacom say "no USB Hubs for our stuff" and turn it against them, by arguing over "USB means universal, Hubs are common elements, so clients are liable to have them. If their products claim to be usable over a 'universal' bus but their warranty gets voided by using them together with common elements of that 'universal' bus, in a way that's expected they would be used, then they should bloody well test some and issue a list of compatible and unharmful ones, or explicitly advertise that their products won't work with commonly used USB elements but require special attention".

I don't really love them (have two, both steinberg and iLok), but it's still better than C/R since you can install the software on different machines and just travel the dongle.

I however always fear a bit, what to do when the dongle breaks - may it be machanically or electronically? I had many usb sticks die on me in the past years, and if a dongle sticks in the back of your computer and with an unfortunate move push against it and break it apart - what to do? then you are really in trouble

I generally hate to stay dependent on a company once a software is bought. That's why I prefer serials.

In the end it doesn't depend what copy protection is being used by software companies: It's being cracked anyway sooner or later. So why choose the expensive dongle solution - it's kinda pointless. I remember in the very beginning the Syncrosoft dongle was said to be 100% safe and uncrackable. But it was cracked nevertheless. So why all the strenghts.

My vote goes for serial/key. Some protection, but user friendly, independent, still usable when the original company has gone.

Don't like them.
There are several plug-ins I would seriously consider buying if they didn't require a dongle.

Ditch the dongle

This was my first dongle - couldn't get lost that easy

I'd recommend you read your EULA's, dongle or not, you don't (generally) own software, you own a licence to use it under specific conditions.

I refuse to purchase any product that requires a Dongle. End of story.

+1

And I prefer them to C/R, though ....... I have both actually. :scratch_head:

The only units that I can't use no more were C/R ...

Off topic but somewhat related ( as there would not be protection if there was no wa_rZ ) : Opposite to common belief I know at least some synths wich were never properly cr_k'd. Vast majority of cr_k'z are just lame btw.