NI have announced they will no longer activate discontinued products

[TabSel]

I'm sure you'd be surprised about the amount of copies they sold in spite of that "sh**storm".

Please provide proof of that statement. I want to see solid numbers not speculation. Get me the spreadsheets to analyze.

The point was that it doesn't matter what the size of the company is it's the decisions they make that generate reactions.

I know you can't see that as you are in blind defense mode.

Will the people who have decided not to do business with NI based on their unpopular decision make a real difference on the bottom line?

Perhaps not but again that's not the point. If you make an unpopular decision you'll get unpleasant reactions.

Again I'm sure NI can handle those reactions but the fanboys seem unable to accept the negative publicity even though they say "it won't hurt NI's business one bit".

You talk about "fanboys", and "blindness", yet, obviously, you're too blind to see that there's a lot of bashing here, and very little reason.

At least two ways of being able to go on using the plugins/activate them after the 31st of May have been mentioned, by the way. None of the people who never want to buy a plugin from NI anymore, or take legal actions against them, have even reacted to one of them. That alone says enough about the motives in this thread.

yes, you’re right. And it proves that NI is just a business. And a quite successful business BECAUSE of these unpopular decisions. And they can afford these decisions because of their size and their business model and their targeted gazzed consumer customers since Maschine was born and sold oh so well.

Deja Vue

[audiot]

Doing a clone copy of your hard drive (will work when you hard drive fails, but, might not work when you do some major changes to your whole hardware), or legally using a warezed copy (it's legal in Germany when the copy protection prevents you from using your legally bought software, and, I assume it's the same in the whole EU).

Dirty workarounds, but, better than not being able to use the plugins/libraries, I guess.

Option one: bullshit ... and you know that.

Option two: In my case, the Colossus Library alone has 32 GB ... forget it. And most of the links will be dead because there is the newer Play-version from EastWest.

[imrae]

At least two ways of being able to go on using the plugins/activate them after the 31st of May have been mentioned, by the way. None of the people who never want to buy a plugin from NI anymore, or take legal actions against them, have even reacted to one of them. That alone says enough about the motives in this thread.

All I can find are:

I know that real solutions will only earn me taunt and refusal, but, in that case, you could clone the hard drive. It should work, if you don't make some other major hardware changes.

However, if they still are running the service center offline authorization, then you can re-install them (despite what NI says) by doing an offline activation (in the old service center) and then you save the response files as well as keep/backup all the installers inc service center (if that is a installation by itself, can't remember atm). Then when the time comes you can do the offline procedure and load your old response files and it will activate the plugins again, that is unless you have changed any hardware which has been used to make your computer ID.

What about when you want/need reinstall OS for whatever reason?

Look for a cracked version. From june on, this is officially allowed by NIs EULA.
Just make sure to not catch any kind of malware.

None of which are reasonable, reliable solutions for real-world cases. They didn't get any reaction because they don't solve the problem.

[whyterabbyt]

Doing a clone copy of your hard drive

Have you ever actually had to reinstall any of the programs or sample libraries being talked about, particularly within the lifespan of Native Access? A cloned drive is not going to activate them.

And they're not going to work unless activated.

[JJ_Jettflow]

I'm sure you'd be surprised about the amount of copies they sold in spite of that "sh**storm".

Please provide proof of that statement. I want to see solid numbers not speculation. Get me the spreadsheets to analyze.

The point was that it doesn't matter what the size of the company is it's the decisions they make that generate reactions.

I know you can't see that as you are in blind defense mode.

Will the people who have decided not to do business with NI based on their unpopular decision make a real difference on the bottom line?

Perhaps not but again that's not the point. If you make an unpopular decision you'll get unpleasant reactions.

Again I'm sure NI can handle those reactions but the fanboys seem unable to accept the negative publicity even though they say "it won't hurt NI's business one bit".

You talk about "fanboys", and "blindness", yet, obviously, you're too blind to see that there's a lot of bashing here, and very little reason.

At least two ways of being able to go on using the plugins/activate them after the 31st of May have been mentioned, by the way. None of the people who never want to buy a plugin from NI anymore, or take legal actions against them, have even reacted to one of them. That alone says enough about the motives in this thread.

The motive in this thread is the same as many others here...pick a dev you don't like for no apparent reason and start bashing them for no apparent reason.

If I didn't know better I would say these bash threads are being orchestrated by someone or some group that wants to discredit these developers...I mean really, who gets this upset or wastes this much time being upset over a software developer or $100 piece of software? If this kinda stuff upsets these kinds that much I wonder what going to happen to them when they grow up and life hands a set of real problems?

[Calenberger]

^^^ YES !!!

[chk071]

Doing a clone copy of your hard drive

Have you ever actually had to reinstall any of the programs or sample libraries being talked about, particularly within the lifespan of Native Access? A cloned drive is not going to activate them.

And they're not going to work unless activated.

Ok, if NI's way to activate the plugins doesn't work that way, I stand corrected.

Did you try it, and it didn't work?

[audiot]

Doing a clone copy of your hard drive

Have you ever actually had to reinstall any of the programs or sample libraries being talked about, particularly within the lifespan of Native Access? A cloned drive is not going to activate them.

And they're not going to work unless activated.

Ok, if NI's way to activate the plugins doesn't work that way, I stand corrected.

Did you try it, and it didn't work?

Even if it works, how realistic is it? Dont upgrade your hardware? Work on two computers?

[chk071]

True, that's why I'd prefer the second option anyway.

[emasters]

I'm sure you'd be surprised about the amount of copies they sold in spite of that "sh**storm".

Please provide proof of that statement. I want to see solid numbers not speculation. Get me the spreadsheets to analyze.

The point was that it doesn't matter what the size of the company is it's the decisions they make that generate reactions.

I know you can't see that as you are in blind defense mode.

Will the people who have decided not to do business with NI based on their unpopular decision make a real difference on the bottom line?

Perhaps not but again that's not the point. If you make an unpopular decision you'll get unpleasant reactions.

Again I'm sure NI can handle those reactions but the fanboys seem unable to accept the negative publicity even though they say "it won't hurt NI's business one bit".

You talk about "fanboys", and "blindness", yet, obviously, you're too blind to see that there's a lot of bashing here, and very little reason.

At least two ways of being able to go on using the plugins/activate them after the 31st of May have been mentioned, by the way. None of the people who never want to buy a plugin from NI anymore, or take legal actions against them, have even reacted to one of them. That alone says enough about the motives in this thread.

The motive in this thread is the same as many others here...pick a dev you don't like for no apparent reason and start bashing them for no apparent reason.

If I didn't know better I would say these bash threads are being orchestrated by someone or some group that wants to discredit these developers...I mean really, who gets this upset or wastes this much time being upset over a software developer or $100 piece of software? If this kinda stuff upsets these kinds that much I wonder what going to happen to them when they grow up and life hands a set of real problems?

So if you purchased a software product from a vendor that you still use and like, and they arbitrarily decide one day that you can no longer re-authorize it on a new computer -- their action seems fine? While the software is older that NI is no longer authorizing, the point is one of concern. The thread wasn't started to finger-point at NI. It was in response to a negative action NI initiated on their own. My life (and others) won't come to an end because of this action by NI, as there are plenty of other products to use. Clearly you're free to treat it as you wish, as am I. From my perspective, it paints NI in a poor light. That's not bashing a company for no apparent reason. That's expressing concern that a company is taking action that appears to many, to be unfair. Of course the easy solution is we all vote with our purchases. Clearly NI got a taste of this last year with their lay-offs. Perhaps more to come....

[imrae]

The motive in this thread is the same as many others here...pick a dev you don't like for no apparent reason and start bashing them for no apparent reason.

"No apparent reason"

It's in the thread title. A factual summary of an announcement by the developer.

If I didn't know better I would say these bash threads are being orchestrated by someone or some group that wants to discredit these developers...

It's a direct response to a statement by NI. The thread has stayed very on-topic by KVR standards. There might be other discussions about other developers that could be called "bash threads" but this isn't one of them.

I mean really, who gets this upset or wastes this much time being upset over a software developer or $100 piece of software? If this kinda stuff upsets these kinds that much I wonder what going to happen to them when they grow up and life hands a set of real problems?

There's a guy over on the NI forum trying to get a €5000 string library to work. Plenty of people here will have significantly more than $100 of investment "protected" by NI activation servers.

When I was a student, $100 was a serious amount of money to spend on a hobby purchase. You don't know people's circumstances.

[audiot]

True, that's why I'd prefer the second option anyway.

Could you pm me some WORKING download links for the 32 GB Colossus Library from EastWest? But not for the newer Play-Version ... that would be illegal ... even in Germany

[Russell Grand]

We should all email NI about our disagreement with this policy. Here is what I wrote to them:

English: "you have informed me that an activation of certain older/discontinued products will only be possible until 31 May 2020. This is completely unacceptable. Either allow activation beyond this period or provide product versions that do not require activation. I reserve the right to take legal action. Regardless of this: as a loyal customer for many years I am appalled by this customer-hostile activation policy, which will certainly have a strong negative impact on your future business success. In the future, people will think twice (or not at all) to buy a NI product!"

German: "Sie haben mich darüber informiert, dass eine Aktivierung bestimmter älterer/eingestellter Produkte nur noch bis 31. Mai 2020 möglich sein soll. Dies ist völlig unzumutbar. Ermöglichen Sie entweder die Aktivierung über diesen Zeitraum hinaus oder stellen Sie Produktversionen bereit, die keine Aktivierung benötigen. Rechtliche Schritte werde ich mir vorbehalten. Unabhängig davon: als langjähriger, loyaler Kunde bin ich entsetzt über diese kundenfeindliche Aktivierungspolitik, die sicher starke negative Auswirkungen auf ihren zukünftigen Geschäftserfolg haben wird. Man wird es sich in Zukunft zweimal (oder gar nicht erst) überlegen, ein NI-Produkt zu kaufen!"

[EvilDragon]

True, that's why I'd prefer the second option anyway.

Could you pm me some WORKING download links for the 32 GB Colossus Library from EastWest? But not for the newer Play-Version ... that would be illegal ... even in Germany

You shouldn't be looking for download links. A much safer method exists.

[TabSel]

We should all email NI about our disagreement with this policy. Here is what I wrote to them:

English: "you have informed me that an activation of certain older/discontinued products will only be possible until 31 May 2020. This is completely unacceptable. Either allow activation beyond this period or provide product versions that do not require activation. I reserve the right to take legal action. Regardless of this: as a loyal customer for many years I am appalled by this customer-hostile activation policy, which will certainly have a strong negative impact on your future business success. In the future, people will think twice (or not at all) to buy a NI product!"

German: "Sie haben mich darüber informiert, dass eine Aktivierung bestimmter älterer/eingestellter Produkte nur noch bis 31. Mai 2020 möglich sein soll. Dies ist völlig unzumutbar. Ermöglichen Sie entweder die Aktivierung über diesen Zeitraum hinaus oder stellen Sie Produktversionen bereit, die keine Aktivierung benötigen. Rechtliche Schritte werde ich mir vorbehalten. Unabhängig davon: als langjähriger, loyaler Kunde bin ich entsetzt über diese kundenfeindliche Aktivierungspolitik, die sicher starke negative Auswirkungen auf ihren zukünftigen Geschäftserfolg haben wird. Man wird es sich in Zukunft zweimal (oder gar nicht erst) überlegen, ein NI-Produkt zu kaufen!"

Reminds me of my letter I wrote after the Kore discontinuation debacle. I so understand you.

But

it won’t change a thing.