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· Talk to the Trade
#ashton-tate
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I do a lot of dBASE work (including programmming) where I work, and I'd like
dbASE for the Amiga so that I could do work at home without going to the
Bridgecard. However, as to the lack of similar "professional" products for
the Amiga, take a close look at Superbase Professional. Don't confuse it
with the personal version, this one has MANY added features including
programming and screen formats that beat dBASE buy a mile. Superbase's
screen formats allow calculated fields, validation, and PROGRAMMING COMMANDS
included in the screen format. With dBASE, I loose all the advantages of the
screen format (Pg-Up/Pg-Dn, CTRL-U) when I want to perform validations or
calculations.
I won't agree that we should forget dBASE for the Amiga, but I do think there
is an excellent product already available that many would be happy with if
they don't need dBASE compatibility.
Claude
There is a major problem with SuperBase Pro — it's got a dongle. If
someone is using it in an office environment (meaning, usually secretaries)
how often is it going to get lost, 'put away' but the cleaning crew,
knocked in the trash can, whatever? It might have some utility in the home
environment, but as a business productivity tool? Not until the dongle is
permanently gone.
But so did PaperClip!
PaperClip was meant as a home use product. It was never meant or conceived
to be a business product.
That's no excuse. <grin>
I wasn't the publisher — not my call. EA is currently selling the product
without the dongle.
Actually, EA's trying toS56your name not to sell it at all. We have to
hassle them all the way out in CA to get PaperClips these days. And by the
way – PaperCLip Atari is the all-time best selling program where I work. I
think we've sold 153 of them, or something like that. The next highest was
MasterTronic's $9 NINJA game. (not very good company. 🙂 )
According to the royalty reports, Atari PaperClip is still doing well.
Good – deserves it!
Good – deserves it!
According to the royalty reports, Atari PaperClip is still doing well.
Actually, EA's trying toS56your name not to sell it at all. We have to
hassle them all the way out in CA to get PaperClips these days. And by the
way – PaperCLip Atari is the all-time best selling program where I work. I
think we've sold 153 of them, or something like that. The next highest was
MasterTronic's $9 NINJA game. (not very good company. 🙂 )
I wasn't the publisher — not my call. EA is currently selling the product
without the dongle.
PaperClip was meant as a home use product. It was never meant or conceived
to be a business product.
Paperclip did not run on a multitasking machine. What happens when you want
to run Suberbase Pro, Designtext, and any other dongle protected program at
the same time. In addition, you can ask people here about the number of
blown Paula chips from plugging something in to the joyport while powered
up.
Nope… dongle protection on this machine is an abomination.
Paperclip did not run on a multitasking machine. What happens when you want
to run Suberbase Pro, Designtext, and any other dongle protected program at
the same time. In addition, you can ask people here about the number of
blown Paula chips from plugging something in to the joyport while powered
up.
Nope… dongle protection on this machine is an abomination.
But so did PaperClip!
By the way, I was offered a copy of SuperBase Pro with a homemade dongle a
few days ago.
The dongle's real effective isn't it??
Personally the dongle didn't bother me a very whole lot. BUt if a company
has to (heaven forbid) protect a productivity program for the home market,
I would prefer manual copy-protection. If you're going to lose your big
SuperBase or WordPerfect manual, you're stupid and won't be able to use the
program in the first place.
I'm not advocating productivity copy-protection, just saying that manual
type would be the worst of all the evils.
OOPS the "least" of the evils.
OOPS the "least" of the evils.
For serious application software there is only one type of acceptable copy
protection — none.
For serious application software there is only one type of acceptable copy
protection — none.
By the way, I was offered a copy of SuperBase Pro with a homemade dongle a
few days ago.
The dongle's real effective isn't it??
Personally the dongle didn't bother me a very whole lot. BUt if a company
has to (heaven forbid) protect a productivity program for the home market,
I would prefer manual copy-protection. If you're going to lose your big
SuperBase or WordPerfect manual, you're stupid and won't be able to use the
program in the first place.
I'm not advocating productivity copy-protection, just saying that manual
type would be the worst of all the evils.
SuperBase Personal for the Amiga also has a DONGLE. Isn't it IRONIC
(or should that be MORONIC) that SuperBase Personal for the IBM types has NO
copy protection (user prevention?).
SuperBase Personal for the Amiga also has a DONGLE. Isn't it IRONIC
(or should that be MORONIC) that SuperBase Personal for the IBM types has NO
copy protection (user prevention?).
I agree that the dongle is a nusance, but I feel the program has so many
excellent features that I overlook the dongle. I see it this way, it's
better than a copy protected disk like ashton-tate had previously for dBASE
and LOTUS still uses. Business users still bought those programs.
We use a CADD package at work from Intergraph which runs on an IBM PC and
has a dongle on the printer port. It's never been any trouble.
If business accept that solution to copy protection there is going to be a
great opportunity for 3rd party hardware developers to come out with dongle
expansion boxes.
If business accept that solution to copy protection there is going to be a
great opportunity for 3rd party hardware developers to come out with dongle
expansion boxes.
The IBM PC is also a single tasker, so you don't get dongle competition.
-larry
Larry,
While MS-DOS is indeed a single tasker, most of the dongles for
MS-DOS machines go on the parallel port. A real pain in the well known if
you find 2 incompatible dongles, and a real mess if you have more than one in
any case….they stick out about 3" from the port, so as you can see, having
2 or 3 gives you a stack on the rear about 6 to 9" long.
Don
Ouch! Sounds like a nightmare on the IBM stuff too. I really am a fanatical
anti-dongle person, and will NEVER buy any dongle protected program.
-larry
Ouch! Sounds like a nightmare on the IBM stuff too. I really am a fanatical
anti-dongle person, and will NEVER buy any dongle protected program.
-larry
Some of them give you a cable a foot long along with the dongle. So you
stack them all up on the end of the cable and they don't stick straight out
the back where they will be broken off. It still sucks, but it's better than
copy protection or key disks.
Larry,
While MS-DOS is indeed a single tasker, most of the dongles for
MS-DOS machines go on the parallel port. A real pain in the well known if
you find 2 incompatible dongles, and a real mess if you have more than one in
any case….they stick out about 3" from the port, so as you can see, having
2 or 3 gives you a stack on the rear about 6 to 9" long.
Don
The IBM PC is also a single tasker, so you don't get dongle competition.
-larry
I agree that the dongle is a nusance, but I feel the program has so many
excellent features that I overlook the dongle. I see it this way, it's
better than a copy protected disk like ashton-tate had previously for dBASE
and LOTUS still uses. Business users still bought those programs.
We use a CADD package at work from Intergraph which runs on an IBM PC and
has a dongle on the printer port. It's never been any trouble.
There is a major problem with SuperBase Pro — it's got a dongle. If
someone is using it in an office environment (meaning, usually secretaries)
how often is it going to get lost, 'put away' but the cleaning crew,
knocked in the trash can, whatever? It might have some utility in the home
environment, but as a business productivity tool? Not until the dongle is
permanently gone.
How do you like having the 'dongle' as copy protection on SuperBase
Professional? Have any small children ever got a hold of it yet? B) I
think for the $ value placed on Superbase Pro you should be able to get a
copy -protection-Free copy.
They do offer a protection-free copy after you buy it, but I have no idea
if it costs, and if so, how much.
I had enquired about the program after I received the upgrade info
for Personal owners, and all they told me was it had a dongle. I told 'em,
"well then you just saved me the $125 for upgrading, 'cause I'll never buy
another dongle program." They could have told me about the protec-free
version then but did not. That was a couple days ago.
You might want to call them – Superbase Pro is good enough to own, if you can
get it unprotected.
You might want to call them – Superbase Pro is good enough to own, if you can
get it unprotected.
dongle free? Superbase pro? Or have I jumped off the deep end here? <running
off to read thread>
My superbase update does mention a uncopy protected version of SuperBase Pro
(but mentions no specifics on how to get it).
My superbase update does mention a uncopy protected version of SuperBase Pro
(but mentions no specifics on how to get it).
Ben, When I called 'em they said nothing about a 'dongle-free' version to me.
So I thanked them for saving me the update fee.
Can you give me the Ph.# of C ltd?
Ben, When I called 'em they said nothing about a 'dongle-free' version to me.
So I thanked them for saving me the update fee.
Can you give me the Ph.# of C ltd?
I had enquired about the program after I received the upgrade info
for Personal owners, and all they told me was it had a dongle. I told 'em,
"well then you just saved me the $125 for upgrading, 'cause I'll never buy
another dongle program." They could have told me about the protec-free
version then but did not. That was a couple days ago.
They do offer a protection-free copy after you buy it, but I have no idea
if it costs, and if so, how much.
No problems (no small children either). Actually, I feel more at ease with
the dongle than I do with disk based copy protection. Disks are easier to
damage. I'd prefer no protection, but I can put up with the dongle.
I'm not worried about small children, it's Spike my doberman. His head
reaches above the CPU of my 2000 and he can easily swallow a dongle or two.
Besides if I need a dongle to use your program, I don't use the program,
there will be others and I've been patient. God knows I've been patient, my
first Ami being bought Oct '85.
I'm not worried about small children, it's Spike my doberman. His head
reaches above the CPU of my 2000 and he can easily swallow a dongle or two.
Besides if I need a dongle to use your program, I don't use the program,
there will be others and I've been patient. God knows I've been patient, my
first Ami being bought Oct '85.
No problems (no small children either). Actually, I feel more at ease with
the dongle than I do with disk based copy protection. Disks are easier to
damage. I'd prefer no protection, but I can put up with the dongle.
How do you like having the 'dongle' as copy protection on SuperBase
Professional? Have any small children ever got a hold of it yet? B) I
think for the $ value placed on Superbase Pro you should be able to get a
copy -protection-Free copy.