[plug] Religious debate - editor wars

[Craig Ringer]

> http://www.slickedit.com/purchase/pu_purchinfo.php
> 
> It's 30 days and wants your MAC addy, but it's probably
> the best way to see if it does what you need.

*sigh*.

I hate hardware-bound copy protection, be it not-really-CDs, dongles 
(*foam*), MAC address checking, etc. It's /infuriating/ because one day 
just before an important deadline the main machine fails, you have to 
move the app, and the dongle won't fit it or the NIC won't work in the 
new machine, it has an onboard NIC, the newfangled DVD-RW won't read the 
CD, or SOMETHING conspires to go wrong. It's f**ing retarded, because it 
doesn't actually stop the people who want to from stealing the software 
- a quick patch and the software is oblivious.

So why do they do it? I guess because PEOPLE STILL BUY THIS CRAP, and 
think it's OK. Or because they don't have another alternative to choose. 
It's like being presumed a criminal because you're a customer.

I've had some really hairy moments caused by hardware-linked copy 
protection, nearly thousands in late printing penalties, and by choice I 
will never buy such software. It's bad enough that apps like to check on 
the network for other copies with the same serial number (and are 
depressingly often convinced there's one running when there isn't, Quark 
3 used to love doing this). It makes managing the software much harder. 
Why should it care what SN I entered, so long as it's valid and I have 
enough licenses to cover my site?

Frighteningly, MS is the leader of the pack in terms of intelligent, 
relatively unobtrusive copy protection (except for their home products - 
because home users will apparently accept any kind of treatment).

Craig Ringer