WiNC opened this issue on Sep 16, 2002 · 32 posts
soulhuntre posted Mon, 16 September 2002 at 5:55 PM
I know you mean well (or at least it seems liek you do) but your concerns have been addressed... you jsut don't liek the answers.
While I am not CL, I'll try it again.
WiNC - 1) Users who are not able to use Internet and are not in a convenient position to contact Curious Labs by Phone, Fax, Email, or Mail. Especially for those outside of the United States of America.
There are certainly people who may not be able to use Poser because of these factors... though I personally cannot see an even remotely common case where this would be true.
You are postulating someone who:
I am a little lost as to where you would find such a person. And while I am sure they exist, I doubt seriously the case is common enough to base a major architectural issue on.
**WiNC -**2) Concerns with the hardware in which has been used to get the challenge code, since it means that each time you reinstall your C drive (each time you do a fresh install of your OS) you will need reactivate Poser 5.
Actually, the technique that seems to be employed by CL uses the manufacturers drive identifier, in other words it will NOT change on a re-format. I believe someone from CL mentioned that.
Further, having to re-install your OS often indicates a fairly serious problem with your setup, your software or your OS. I suggest you go to a combination of those that doesn't result in them being common. Windows 98/95 had those issues - but those OS are long gone now... you might want to try upgrading.
Still in all, the problem is not a big one ... CL will simply need to streamline their support for re-setting the code count. This has not been a problem for WindowsXP or 3DS Max.
**WiNC -**3) Concern that there is only 3 times that you can reinstall Poser 5 and get reactivation before one has to directly contact Curious Labs for permission to reinstall.
Certainly that number is a concern. Maybe your crusade would be more effective in convincing CL to alter this count.
**WiNC -**4) That if Curious Labs should happen to close, there is no legal documentation that states that Curious Labs will present licensed users with a means to circumvent the activation process and still be able to use their software.
I can certainly agree with this. It would be cool if CL were to make some sort of official statement that if they cease to exist and do not transfer Poser to someone else that they might give us a "universal unlock". However I am not that worried... there will always be cracks to be found.
**WiNC -**5) That Curious Labs please open constructive dialogue with the community so that some manner of closure can be made in regards to these issues.
I think they have. They have responded. They just haven't given in or answered the multiple threads and multiple rantings.
"open dialogue" does NOT mean you get what you want, and it seems like nothing less will be considered open by you.
**WiNC -**6) That this security system present unneeded issues with some end-users, however will present no problems for the warez community when they get hold of a copy of the software.
I have problems with the assumptions here.
I think the protection is "needed" and as such there will inevitably be some problems for a small number of users. Those problems are unfortunate, but not "unneeded".
Who cares about the hardcore "warez" community? The simple reality is that strong protection DOES prevent some casual piracy. You continually present the idea that since there is a crack that the protection is worthless - this is untrue.
Curious labs will sell software to people who might otherwise have copied it because of the protection. They will also lose some sales because of it. The only relevant question is what number is higher.
Looking around here it seems like Poser5 is selling reasonably well, it has more penetration than an major upgrade usually has (for instance, many more Poser users went to Poser 5 than Max people went to max 5 it seems... as a percentage).
So despite all the issues it looks like Poser 5 is a success.
WiNC -"The consumer base for the product doesn't allow for any type of decrease in their customer base. And yet - already - we can see at least 60-75 people in the petition who will not buy Poser 5 because of one reason or another. Curious Labs can not afford to drop possible customers like this, and I for one would like to see Curious Labs survive, but not at the expenses of our consumer rights."
You DO realize that the Poser installed base is much, much larger than the people here on R'osity right? 60-70 people is not really a huge number.
WiNC - "With present admittance of financial problems, and with the present results of the petition, do you think that Curious Labs can afford to lose the revenue that we do not present? If you do, then there is no way I can convince you to think otherwise, and I will stop wasting my time."
Yes. I do. I think that overall the acceptance of Poser5 is large and strong, and that in the end the number of people who are not purchasing it due to the protection system is fairly small.
To ME it looks like Poser5 is going to be the hit that CL needs it to be. Companies who never considered Poser before are taking a chance on it now (this is from personal knowledge). The real issues now for CL are:
If they do those, they can dramatically expand their user base to markets who previously wrote Poser off. And that is much more important I think.
Jcleaver - "The biggest thing that bothers me from the petition is the incorrect info being repeated over and over."
Yeah, I noticed that too. The only thing I can imagine is that this is for some people an emotional/political issue as opposed to a technical concern.
jjsemp - "I'm not a "client." I'm a purchaser. And I put myself "at risk." Nobody twisted my arm to buy P5. And I really wonder how many of the people currently claiming they won't buy Poser 5 hadn't actually planned on buying it in the first place."
Or had purchased Poser 4. It is an open secret that given the piracy number sin the world a fair number of folks in the R'osity forums for software systems did not purchase them. There is no way to pretend this isn't so.
My "risk" is nil with Poser. It is already making itself a profitable and productive piece of software here. Well worth the retail value. It could evaporate tomorrow and still have been "worth it" to me.
jjsemp - "I think Curious Labs HAS communicated with you. They've said that the copy protection scheme is going to stay as it is. The issue has ended. Go worry about more important things. Case closed. Buh-bye."
it seems that the concept of "open communication" means "give it to me my way".