#3D Studio R2 LOCKED?
21 messages in this thread
Gary:
In the past, I've been against dongles. But, in this case, I'm really
ambivalent. If I look at the plusses in 3DS R2 (multiple render and CD
ROM), the lock is acceptable.
And, to be fair, if I want to work on 3DS at home, I can just grab the
dongle and not feel like I'm cheating.
Evan
Such is life. It sure isn't a perfect world. (but at least we give you
the tools to make one of your own! 🙂
– G
Gary,
I know this dongle thing is getting kinda drawn out, but, if I may….
Copy protection doesn't bother me, but dongles do. One dongle is fine, I
have no problems. But if all my software was protected in such a way I'd
have to keep my computer 3' off the wall. The scene that keeps coming to
mind is one of Kevin Krell's computers at A/E/C in '89. there was at least a
foot of dongles.
The compatablity bothers me also. I have the lit on Rainbow Tech's hardware
locks and they tell you right there that you can't have more than one dongle
from the same family on the same port. While this isn't a problem up front,
who can tell if down the road you buy a product with a dongle in the same
family?
I know the issues involved and I don't expect a change right away, but, if I
can offer one suggestion. Autodesk seems pretty gung ho about CD-ROM. Is
there a way you can copy-protect a program on CD-ROM? This would be cool
because the problems with dongles are gone and most of the problems with
copy protected floppys are too. You wouldn't have to worry about having to
make backup copys because of the durability of the CD. You also can only use
the program with the CD. At first it might seem too much to ask of people to
have them buy a CD-ROM player or else they can't use the program. But when
you factor in the cost of these systems, $500 or so seems pidily.
Just a thought…
Jay
A CD-ROM is the BEST solution for copy-protecting the program. We
seriously discussed that idea. But, unfortunately, I think that it's about
a year or so ahead of its time. It'll be GREAT when you can COUNT ON
everyone having CD's… won't it?
– G
It might be nice to offer the option of the dongle *or* the CD-ROM. As for
CD-ROMs being ahead of their time – the typical 3D Studio system is ahead
of its time in general. The fastest processors, the fastest coprocessors,
better-than-VGA, more than 8 megs of memory… a $500-700 CD-ROM drive
doesn't look like much when compared to the other semi-official system
requirements for 3D Studio. It's a very cheap 500 meg drive. Requiring a
CD-ROM would also fuel great third-party products – object collections,
texture collections, animated tutorials, etc. Autodesk could offer its own
OEM drive if they think the dealer channels were worried about it. Next
time they ask, keep pushing for this!
You've got to realize that getting into shipping hardware is a big step for
a software company. Everything takes time…
– G
That's the truth. But Autodesk dealers typically build systems, don't
they? They're already selling hardware. It could be done with a strategic
alliance with a hardware company…
This issue is very complex, and I'm afraid I just don't have time to get
into it any more. Sorry.
– G
Yost, Corel just did it! CD-ROM software, clipart and drive in one package
for $595.00.
Mike
Pitsch, yup, you've got to hand it to those guys.
– G
Hey, let's not forget that you'd probably end up needing 2 drives. One
CD-ROM in for the program, perhaps another for 3rd-party textures.
Kevin Krell – Computer Support Associates
That's why they invented the CD-ROM carrier. 🙂 I imagine it would only
need the CD-ROM once at startup to check the lock, then you'd be free to
swap ROMs. On the other hand, I'd think it would be a lot easier to break
a CP scheme based on a CD than anything else. Hmm. Maybe not, there's lots
of ways to do it. Look at the way the font and clip art companies like
Adobe and Agfa have locked discs. There's two keys needed, the fonts on
disc are encrypted, and your software on floppy is keyed, and you get a
third key when it comes time to "unlock" the fonts you want.
As I just asked the other CD-ROM fiend on the forum, when do I get my $500
check (Grins, okay?) If you're willing to hand out drive caddies, drives,
or upgrade checks, I'll take the first spot in line!
With tongue firmly in cheek, Glen
Maybe for R3 you can ditch the dongle and go with CD-ROM. Like you said,
it'll be great when everybody has them.
Sure would make beta testing expensive though, pressing a bunch of CDs for
every release….
Jay
Jay:
You forget that Autodesk owns a CD mastering system.
Evan
Jay,
Of course we now run those dongles off at a right angle off a short
cable (I guess we could shoot them up the wall into the ceiling). How
about everybody has ONE dongle for their computer. All the software looks
at it and installs itself for that machine. You sell the software, you
remove and reinstall elsewhere.
Kevin Krell – Computer Support Associates
Jay;
Not to sound too reactionary, but…. if $500 is so piddly, when will you
send me the check? I'm scraping like heck to get the bucks for 3DS, and you
want to add $500 to my overhead. Not nice to hear.
The company I work for in my "Clark Kent" life makes access/security
systems, and we went to dongle-ing the software after trying other things.
I don't like 'em either (only the guys that MAKE them like them), but look
at what else has been tried, and has been met with howls of user anguish,
every time.
IF a PROPER warranty on the dongle (replacement for the LIFE of the
PRODUCT, as we offer) is allowed, and the only requirement is the return of
a registered, non-cut-up dongle (no "handling charges", processing fees",
or other money-squeezing BS), then how can they imporve on it? so that it
is cable-mount, rather than end-stacking, so you can flex your dongle (oh,
that sounds bad…)
Not to jump down your throat, but you hit on a sensitive nerve, there.
Glen Powell, Powell Video Postworks
Well Glen, I do understand where you're coming from. I'm in this myself and
pay for everything myself. So far, it's really tight. I only have a 386 with
8 megs of RAM, and a 4 year old NEC CD-ROM drive that is soooooo
sllloooowwww I hardly ever use it. I by no means ment for Autodesk to make
an abrut change, I was refering to future releases. CD-ROM prices are coming
down and the speeds are going up. When you factor in the price of a player
with a 486, umpteen megs of RAM, big hard drive, TARGA board or similar,
Diaquest, VTR or SVHS, etc. the cost adds up real quick. I'm sorry, but $500
or so bucks compaired to that seems to me pidly. If you lease a system
you'll pay only a few dollers more on the payments. After your first job you
should have enough to buy one flat out.
I'm sorry, I just don't like dongles. I looked into putting them on a
program my company was developing so know them from the "inside" as well as
out.
Besides, I really think CD-ROM is going to hit pretty big in the next year
or two and just about everybody will have no matter what. 3DS already
requires at least a 386 and co-processor, not to mention a hard drive. Is
some guy with a 8086 with dual floppys thinking of doing videos? We'd think
nothing of laughing at that. I think in a few years a CD-ROM player in a
system will be taken for granted just like hard drives are now.
Jay
I don't get it. How does putting your software on CD-ROM prevent piracy? If
you can read it, can't you copy it or would it have some kind of copy
protection which couldn't be broken?
How do people make copy protected floppys? I don't know, but it's being
done. The thing is, people bitch about copy protected floppys because if the
floppy gets trashed you're lost, and we all know how often floppys can get
trashed. With a CD you'd have to try pretty dam hard to trash it.
Sure somebody's gonna figure out how to break the protection and copy it,
but people can break dongles to. It's the casual "Hey Bob, can I get a copy
of that?" that really ranks up there.
Jay
One of my music CD's got trashed and I've no idea why. The clear plastic
coating has gone misty in places making it unreadable. I certainly didn't
spill anything on it or leave it out in the elements. It's the only one
that has ever done that, and I own a lot.
I have a theory however: the CD is "Purple Rain" by Prince, and I suspect
the purple rain might be acidic and somehow leaked into the polycarbonate
from the inside causing the deterioration I mentioned..<g>