Thoughts on Ilok?

[kritikon]

You have a better chance of losing a 2nd dongle than you do of your computer dying.
If you're going to use a USB key, you should only use it on a stationary workstation (never a laptop!), and you should plug it into one of these inside your computer:

That way, there is no chance of anyone walking off with it.

You should use a dongle on whatever computer you work with. Whether it's a laptop or a desktop is utterly irrelevant. I only use a laptop nowadays. That laptop goes nowhere outside my own home and my own studio. And what makes a desktop any safer than a laptop? I don't get any logic in your statement.

Nobody is going to walk off with anything in my studio unless they break in and deliberately steal it, and that applies again whether I use a laptop or a desktop. Anyway, when not in use I store my dongle in a different place and it has never been an issue for me since 1989. The main problem with dongles in 1989 was the sheer size of them, not whether I'd lose them. And by the way...in the intervening 33 years I've never lost a dongle or had one stolen or had anyone walk off with it. If I live long enough I expect that to continue for another 33 years. And also by the way - I've had 1 desktop die on me whilst never losing any dongles, so that kinda negates your assertion the there's more chance of losing a dongle.

I totally understand why some don't like dongles, but don't just make stuff up, please.

[SLiC]

I bought an ilok dongle, ilok got cracked and they brought out ilok dongle 2 and some software stopped supporting my dongle…sure I could get dongle 2, will I then have to by 3 when that’s hacked ? It all just seems so unnecessary, expensive software such as Live Suite don’t need ilok?

Seems like even ilok are trying to move away from the dongle with machine registration (which I don’t object to, it just seems badly implemented if a windows reset kills it) and even ilok cloud.

[Lazarus451]

There are 2 options.

1. Buy dongle and don't lose it.
2. Use computer activation and admit to yourself that even Windows update can cause computer id change and you can't get back to your licenses. You do get them back in few days though. And use restore point if you can, it usually fixes the id change.

[jamcat]

You should use a dongle on whatever computer you work with. Whether it's a laptop or a desktop is utterly irrelevant. I only use a laptop nowadays. That laptop goes nowhere outside my own home and my own studio. And what makes a desktop any safer than a laptop? I don't get any logic in your statement.

The logic is that because of the placement of USB ports on a laptop and the fact a laptop is not stationary, it is way too easy to have an incident that breaks the internal tab in a laptop USB port. And it’s difficult and expensive to replace a laptop USB port. I’ve seen it happen more than once.

It makes absolutely no sense to have a dongle permanently sticking out of your laptop. Unless you remove it frequently, which leaves you vulnerable to losing it. I have an iLok inside my DAW with an internal port like the one I linked to above. But I use machine authorizations only on my MacBook Pro. With a Mac at least, there is no worry about machine IDs changing on you. Even after major new Mac OS versions.

[nitex]

You do get them back in few days though.

I have a case now, where the developer has moved on from using iLok and he has actually not seen my reset request for his older product or does he have access to the iLok systems anymore to approve anything, even if he wanted. Waiting on some more approvals here, but i will have to contact iLok again and hope they can reset the activation on his behalf instead.

I just wish this would all be web based, where i can login and disable any unused machines to free up those activations. It would certainly save them, many developers and also their userbase quite some support and time overhead. If people want the option to use an USB stick then all good, have it optional. As it is now it feels they leave the risk on their users with machine activation. Want peace of mind? Get a dongle or get some zero downtime insurance coverage. I'm just baffled how normal it is for many people here to just accept their fate and buy a hardware product to be on the safer side. If you have a ton of licenses and want to move them between multiple machines, then i get it can be quite handy to have. For most cases i feel people are almost "pressured" into buying them in fear of any hardware or software failures, for that peace of mind. This shouldn't be a thing though.

[MJACau]

I just wish this would all be web based, where i can login and disable any unused machines to free up those activations. It would certainly save them, many developers and also their userbase quite some support and time overhead.

I whole heartedly agree.

[plexuss]

I just wish this would all be web based, where i can login and disable any unused machines to free up those activations. It would certainly save them, many developers and also their userbase quite some support and time overhead.

I whole heartedly agree.

I don't know exactly how PACE works, but... i presume licenses are stored on the hardware (key or machine). I don't understand why PACE can't deactivate licenses that were on "lost" hardware. If a key or computer dies, it would be great to log into the iLok app and deactivate all licenses on a specific hardware. iLok "knows" what licenses are on what hardware...

Constraining deactivation to having direct access to the hardware, I suppose, increases security quite a bit. For some users this is a "pro" and for others a "con"... maybe if there was a legal disclaimer would help... or, maybe the way PACE does it is the best balance between usability and portability. For licenses on a key, if the computer dies, no lost licenses! This is my preferred use-case. That and using a 2nd key in lieu of "zero downtime".

[jamcat]

I've always assumed PACE does it this way because in theory, you could you could finagle free authorizations by activating a license on an iLok and then deactivating it remotely, and just never connect that iLok to the internet again so it continues to work. But in reality that's quite a lot of trouble just to authorize one more computer.

[Hink]

You should use a dongle on whatever computer you work with. Whether it's a laptop or a desktop is utterly irrelevant. I only use a laptop nowadays. That laptop goes nowhere outside my own home and my own studio. And what makes a desktop any safer than a laptop? I don't get any logic in your statement.

The logic is that because of the placement of USB ports on a laptop and the fact a laptop is not stationary, it is way too easy to have an incident that breaks the internal tab in a laptop USB port. And it’s difficult and expensive to replace a laptop USB port. I’ve seen it happen more than once.

That would be my very last reason to not use a dongle. Taking care of the dongle really is something the user has control over.

[jamcat]

No one ever means to drop their phone or lose their keys, but it happens.

[plexuss]

Also, there are non-iLok licenses from other companies that are lost if the computer dies where you have to work with them to get a new license. but, if you ultimately don't like iLok don't buy it.

[kritikon]

The logic is that because of the placement of USB ports on a laptop and the fact a laptop is not stationary, it is way too easy to have an incident that breaks the internal tab in a laptop USB port. And it’s difficult and expensive to replace a laptop USB port. I’ve seen it happen more than once.

It makes absolutely no sense to have a dongle permanently sticking out of your laptop. Unless you remove it frequently, which leaves you vulnerable to losing it. I have an iLok inside my DAW with an internal port like the one I linked to above. But I use machine authorizations only on my MacBook Pro. With a Mac at least, there is no worry about machine IDs changing on you. Even after major new Mac OS versions.

Sorry but that's still nonsensical. I've never had a dongle permanently sticking out of my laptop OR my desktop. I simply don't leave it in the computer when not in use and never have. It's not difficult or troublesome to take it out when you've finished and put it in when you start up and quite frankly if anyone does leave it in their computer then they're asking for trouble IMO. Laptop not stationary? You mean you move yours around WHILE you're programming? First time I ever heard of anyone doing that. That's seriously weird. And by the way - removing it frequently does not make you more vulnerable to losing it - again - I have always done that for 33 years and never once lost a dongle. I must have inserted and removed them thousands of times over the years.

I really don't make any great effort to worship my dongles and yet I don't break, lose, or have them stolen...ever.

EDIT- "worship my dongles" - rereading that, it sounds like a dodgy euphemism, but it's really not, honest.

[jamcat]

A laptop can get pulled off a table because it’s light. And sitting on a table top. That’s why Apple has the MagSafe charger.

[Hink]

No one ever means to drop their phone or lose their keys, but it happens.

but it's still their fault...not the phone or keys

[jamcat]

No one ever means to drop their phone or lose their keys, but it happens.

but it's still their fault...not the phone or keys

But they’ll still blame the phone or the keys.