Dongle or no dongle, that's the question!

[highkoo]

I think the question is more 'do you like the software enough to tolerate the dongle?'
In the case of Soundtoys and Slate Digital I broke down.

Ha!
That is exactly how I feel, at this point. At least for my own machine.
I used to be pretty anti. Now, I will consider it because there is very little actual inconvenience associated with a dongle any more. So I will check out a synths website or demo it (if possible) even if it has a dongle, when I used to not.
But, it has to be one hell of a rig for me to really go for it.
Soundtoys has had me thinking about it too, but I doubt I will do it.

[BERFAB]

Very misleading.

It's certainly true that dongles are effective in limiting or eliminating piracy. Does that translate into more sales? Well, more people who have the program will have to have paid for it.

So where's your data to back this up? My point was that no one ever provides any and your comment is the same as all the rest - just speculation.

Of course, my apologies in advance if you have this data to hand and it's statistically relevant data.

I think you're highlighting the wrong part of my statement. From everything that I know (and I'm not an industry guy-just a KVR'er) dongled software is harder to crack. The only real program that I truly care about with a dongle is Cubase (I have others with dongles, but frankly, I can take 'em or leave 'em). And my understanding is that Cubase doesn't get cracked, or, when it does, it's a version or two behind the current version.

Now, I don't know any of this first hand because I don't hang around on crack sites, and I've never, to my knowledge, downloaded any cracks, or even actively sought out that stuff. Not bragging, just saying.

But people on KVR (devs and others) who DO have knowledge about this have talked for years about about the effectiveness of the Cubase security when it comes to cracks (and some have also complained bitterly about the lack of a demo). So, I'm just putting it together that if there's no crack, it's harder to pirate it. And if it's harder to pirate it, then there are fewer people that can get it without paying for it.

And thus, if there are fewer people that can get it without paying for it, that means a higher percentage of people who DO have it have to have PAID for it.

Does that mean MORE people are buying and paying for the software? No, it doesn't. As I said earlier, OVERALL sales are based on a number of other factors. But it does mean that more people who have it paid for it.

Cheers
-B

[robogone]

Very misleading.

It's certainly true that dongles are effective in limiting or eliminating piracy. Does that translate into more sales? Well, more people who have the program will have to have paid for it.

So where's your data to back this up? My point was that no one ever provides any and your comment is the same as all the rest - just speculation.

Of course, my apologies in advance if you have this data to hand and it's statistically relevant data.

I think you're highlighting the wrong part of my statement.

How is it the wrong part? It's the part that is the assumption with no evidence. I know you have noted that dongles may reduce piracy, but I was not questioning that.

But it does mean that more people who have it paid for it.

Probably, but that doesn't equate to benefits that are passed on to the developers. It's speculative at best if that's being suggested by anyone.

[highkoo]

Nothing is safe, really.
Dongled plugs released less than a year ago are cracked.
But I agree there is no doubt it appears that it helps. It delays. Sometimes.
But it is easy when thinking about these things to start looking at from the point of view of the shareholder, and not the customer.
Imo, dongles have only very recently had any kind of positive effect on the customer, or ceased to have a negative one even. The value-added part was an afterthought. The 'licenses on a cloud', etc, is just tacked onto the brick of fukk u that is a dongle...
Literally a necessary evil, imo.

[Arglebargle]

I can't think of any dongled software that I really want. Gone without dongles this long, don't see any reason to start. That said I can see the benefits for people who need to switch systems a lot.

[highkoo]

But Decapitator is some hot shit man.

[audiojunkie]

"Do you like dongles?"

I don't like any copy protection that gives the consumer a worse experience than the pirates. See my sig below:

--Sean

[BERFAB]

Very misleading.

It's certainly true that dongles are effective in limiting or eliminating piracy. Does that translate into more sales? Well, more people who have the program will have to have paid for it.

I think you're highlighting the wrong part of my statement.

How is it the wrong part? It's the part that is the assumption with no evidence. I know you have noted that dongles may reduce piracy, but I was not questioning that.

The part you highlighted is basic deductive logic. It doesn't require data. The variable is in my first sentence which makes the assumption that dongles = less piracy.

Assuming that this is true (and I freely admit I don't have stats proving that dongles are a roadblock to piracy-and you don't seem to be questioning that) then fewer people will have pirated copies. Which MUST mean that a greater percentage of those who have the software have to have paid for it.

This does NOT mean that more people are buying it, thus increasing sales. [And I've said before that SALES are determined by a number of factors. I did not say that SALES increase.] It just means that more people that actually HAVE it, paid for it. And I would think that fewer people stealing my product is a benefit.

Cheers
-B

[Kriminal]

dongle = no sale

they dont stop piracy and i wont support such bullshit at my cost

[insaneacyde]

"Do you like dongles?"

I don't like any copy protection that gives the consumer a worse experience than the pirates. See my sig below:

--Sean

thats the ultimate truth to it, the client gets f%cked in the ass with a pineapple and the user of crecks gets a free ride? that is not LOGICAL. Personally i believe dongles are their to give peeps a false sense of elitism and a little rub on the groin for having some gear expensive enough to require a dongle.

THANK GOD FOR PSP

[audiojunkie]

dongle = no sale

they dont stop piracy and i wont support such bullshit at my cost

Agreed. The issue with C/R or dongles or any other intrusive copy protection is that you are less in control with what you do with your software. The most common example would be a company going out of business, and you not being able to reauthorize your software. Or if you reinstall too many times or change your computer too many times, the company has the ability to refuse re-authorization. Another example would be software drivers that mess with your computer's stability, ie PACE. Also there are some situations that require you to have your machine connected to the internet, and that is not always wanted--some people keep their system clean and running lean for best performance and don't want to connect to the internet at all. To me, it is all a hassle that affects only those who are honest and actually buy the software. Those who don't buy the software, pirates, don't pay and don't go through the hassle. I choose to support companies that take me, the consumer, into consideration by not making me jump through hoops and take risks.

--Sean

[robogone]

The part you highlighted is basic deductive logic. It doesn't require data.

I think you misunderstand the meaning of both the word 'logic' and how statistics works then.

You cannot deduce anything for certain in the absence of data of some sort. Simply taking what you *think* will be the case and calling it fact is not how it works at all.

None of us have any data around sales or the motivations of buyers, so speculating really does not fill in the gaps left by a lack of solid information.

[Phase47]

I don't dongle. Ever.

[Peter999]

thats the ultimate truth to it, the client gets f%cked in the ass with a pineapple and the user of crecks gets a free ride? that is not LOGICAL. Personally i believe dongles are their to give peeps a false sense of elitism and a little rub on the groin for having some gear expensive enough to require a dongle.

THANK GOD FOR PSP

I heard from people buying the software but then using the crack instead because of the complicated copy protection of the "real", or simply to be dongle-free...

[ObsoleteAcc99]

[DELETED]