I assume it does, which is a MAJOR BUMMER for someone like me, and I suspect a lot of honest people who happen to like to continue to work on another Poser scene while their other computer chugs out a 18 hour render for another scene. I'm sorry, but I'm not waiting 18 hours (or more) before I can begin working on a Poser project. Is there any way to disable this feature? I have only one other program that does this sort of crap ... Adobe After Effects Production bundle. It uses a dongle. Then again, it's a $1600 program and it DOES allow you to do renders on other machines WITHOUT the dongle. Curious needs to have it just do a CD Check (which is a pain, but at least I could do it) or come up with a rendering engine that can be used independently. -Tim

why don't you just disconnect your network while you're rendering? I use it on both of my machines since it's me using it I don't figure it's a problem. I could see them getting upset if I have another person using it while I'm using it, but since it's me on one computer at a time, I do it. If CL has a problem with it I'm sure they'll let me know. 8^) I don't mind the check, and yes, there is one with the ppp. I just keep on going with the network cable disconnected from the card. I have hash and I hate having to pull the cd out and put it in the other system to use it. I hope they don't change it. I also have 3 dongles to contend with and although they are a pain I just put up with it. Marque Marque

Well, it's a lot of wear-n-tear on the network cables for one, and inevitably I'll forget to plug it back in. Also, I have 5 systems (3 desktops -- soon to be 4 and 2 laptops) on my network -- yes I know that's a lot for a home network, so sue me. ;-) -- so my router is not the easiest thing to be reconfiguring all the time. Does it do the check JUST during start-up? If this is the case it might not be so bad. I have a "kill switch" for the routers power which I could just turn off while it was loading. Oh, and exactly ... ONE PERSON. The only other people here are my wife and three kids. My wife is a self-admitted computer-moron and my kids are 3.5, 2 and 4 months. -Tim

Can't you Log-Off your network? Many people may not know it but you can log-off your "always-on" broadband connection, with turning off your hardware. But I don't how this would affect Poser, etc...

I also have 4 computers on my network, (nice to know I'm not the only crazy one, my friends and husband think I'm nuts). I just unplug the cable from the router, it sits on my desk so it's no biggie. My husband is the self-admitted computer moron in our house, but he's been getting on the one I built him and cruising around the net so much lately I call him netboy...lol I guess the only way to deal with it if you don't want to unplug your cable or block it with zonealarm is to buy another license. Marque

Attached Link: http://www.zonealarm.com

Well, if you have a small amount of resources to spare, get Zonealarm (as Marque mentioned). It's a free software firewall that lets you specify per program if it is to have access or not (pretty simple configuration at that). Works like a champ at denying programs network access.

Well Tim the check is there to STOP you doing that.....to do what your doing you should buy 2 copies of Poser 4....I know its a bummer and I think if I was in your shoes I'd want to do the same, but there ya go :o).........Steve

If I have to buy two, then I really need to buy 3,4 or 5 copies. Now we're talking over $1000, JUST so I can have multiple renders going at the same time. Sorry, but that's ridiculous. As I said, Adobe makes you have a dongle, BUT they allow you to render compositions on other computers WITHOUT a dongle at least. Take care, Tim

What Adobe product requires a dongle? I have almost all of them and none of them require a dongle. Am I missing something? Marque

Adobe After Effects PRODUCTION BUNDLE ... it's costs over $1600 (worth every penny!). My original post (up above) talks about it. Take care, Tim

WTF is a Dongle anyway?

A dongle is a little "block device" that is usually a paralell port pass-through device that prevents a program from running unless it is hooked up. Actually a lot of high-end software uses this technique.

LoL, the one program I don't have by them. I actually prefer the dongles, at least if the company goes out of business I can still use the program if I switch computers when I upgrade, unlike creature creator. I thought about getting the after effects but elected to go with another 3D program. Marque

After Effects is simply one of the coolest programs on the planet. I can literally do Hollywood grade effects with that puppy. If you get the right plug-ins you can make people's mouths drop. Learning curve is steep, but not nearly as bad as some 3D programs. Also, you would never know it was made by the same company that made Premiere 5.1. Not to knock Premiere, it is a dedicated part of my arsenal, but it is buggy and poorly implemented. After Effects is must have if you're into animation and movie-making. Take care, Tim