#Superbase PRO
6 messages in this thread
Steve, other than the dongle, I _love_ superbase. I could use some other
things, but it has so much that it does jsut wonderful things for me. Now, my
version no longer uses a dongle, but I ought to point out an "interesting"
occurance – more than once, it just stopped in the middle of doing a data entry
operation and told me the dongle wasn't in – and quit. _that's_ why I removed
the dongle code, finally. But it is a great program. –Ben–
Ben,
Pro is considering (seriously) taking off the dongle. I think they will.
There are a few other things in the works that will make applications not
require the dongle. I have not heard any dates on this but it is RSN.
As far as protection goes, why not assign a serial number for an
individuals Name, Address & phone. This serial number could be validated
against the personal information and if the info was not present it would not
work.
The info would appear on all reports and on the screen. If the
conversion of info->serial # was really imbeded, it would definetly detract any
Pirates. I wouldn't want my name spread all over the US, would you?
The formula for conversion would be impossible to find. Once registered,
the user could utilize the "full blown " program.
This would let people see if they like it, help registration, and be
less imtidating…..
Jerry
The problem is, as usual, that next-to-last statement in your message. To wit,
"impossible to find". With a debugger, it takes about 1 minute to find such
stuff. Otherwise, nice idea. All CP has a fatal flaw. CT (Copy Tracing) allows
copying, and so removes the incentive to kill the code handling it.
Furthermore, if the tracing is _hidden_, IE, nothing shows to the customer, it
becomes workable. That's what SoftCircuits does. –Ben–
Ben,et al.,
As this discussion is wrapping up, let me enter a few observations:
1) The header on this thread is Superbase Pro. C'mon guys, ever think of
changing a thread name when we get into a philisophical discussion?
2) It seems to me that majority (not all) of the pirated software is in
the games section. Yea, there's heavyweight stuff out there too, but mostly
games. I say COPY PROTECT THE GAMES! The databases and items for business that
are in the high end of both programming options & price-leave alone. Make the
manual do the copy protection. If the program has alot of options (ie,Dbase,
Lotus), the serious people will buy it. The others wouldn't buy it anyway…..
Sure there are third party books out. But if the people want updates, bug fixes
(hopefully none) & support, they know they have to pay the price.
3) Superbase Pro seems like an excellent program. They do listen. They
will Discontinue the dongle. I think that not buying something is one thing,
but make sure that the company realizes why. If no one buys a product because
of a dongle, chances are the company will think their program stinks and it
isn't worth the time to develop any more. If they don't listen, screw them, at
least they tried.
continued…….
continued……
4) We can talk all we want to whether it's here, Plink or TONS of other
BBS's, BUT WE MUST SHOW A FORCE OF CONSUMERS!
I had tried to get a pettition up for Dbase development on the Amiga.
Instead of people looking at a Big Boy developing for the Amiga, there was a
month long discussion of "I wouldn't buy Dbase", "I don't need Dbase", "Who
cares about the IBM stuff!", etc. etc. etc.
Let's take the Blinders off boys! The computer (read that any computer)
can only survive if the consumer wants it to. The program development is the
same way. If AT sees a petition with 100 signatures, what will go through their
minds? "I'm going to spend all this development money for 100 people? Forget
it!" So they don't. And Joe Schmoo company says, "Hey the amiga looked like a
neat machine…I wonder why their are no Big Boys supporting it…must stink…
forget it!"
It's unfortunate that business feels that way but it is a fact of life
that we can only change by uniting. CIS could have a greater effect on
themselves and the marketplace if the AMI forum could get organized in writting
companies. (I do think they are doing a wonderful job otherwise – get that
Steve?).
Or, we could just sit around and mope and not buy things and hope that
people will get the hint……
FLAME OFF
Jerry
Jerry,
I agree with for the most part.
I personally want to see DBase on the Amiga. Lotus, Quattro, Turbo Pascal
and C, AutoCAD, MulitMate, you name it. I don't personally have use for those
programs but I DO want to see them for our machine. My needs definitely are
not those of others.
As to the forums being an advocate — that I'm not sure of. I see the
forums as a forum in the Greek tradition. A place where ideas are bashed out
freely. A true forum where one can say what he wants. A forum where there is
not censorship or the sysops (acting more like referees when not participating
in the threads themselves) trying to move a discussion to a more socially
acceptable point of view. The forums are not for the sysops; they belong to
the members. It's their place of expression. The sysops have views too, and
should not be discouraged to express them. Maybe we should get rid of the
/SYSOP behind our names. Some people put more weight/credence behind what we
say than they should. An opinion is an opinion and deserves no more credence
than anyone else's.