Warning to Software Developers on the Discussion Board

[bucktron]

Developers,

As a fellow software developer, I want to share with you some of things that can be done to a 30 day free trial. Check out what this guy is selling for $15. http://www.multimania.com/idate/IDate.htm

To compound this you can beat an unlimited number of packages at one time by wrapping his *.exe file in a Class and launching as many objects as you want while tracking them in an Active X Control of your choosing. This is a very depressing, however, it is better to know now rather than THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS of LOST REVENUE LATER.


Thanks,

Bucktron

[Jake]

You might want to delete the website address. If you don't want people doing this, you might not want to point them in the direction of the burglar tools.

This explains why developers are reluctant to go the demo approach, as has been discussed here with HSH and others. Just another form of pirating.

Originally posted by bucktron
Developers,

As a fellow software developer, I want to share with you some of things that can be done to a 30 day free trial. Check out what this guy is selling for $15. http://www.multimania.com/idate/IDate.htm

To compound this you can beat an unlimited number of packages at one time by wrapping his *.exe file in a Class and launching as many objects as you want while tracking them in an Active X Control of your choosing. This is a very depressing, however, it is better to know now rather than THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS of LOST REVENUE LATER.


Thanks,

Bucktron

[Dave Schwartz]

I would be really surprised if it worked with our stuff. My experience has been that if you change the date in Windows it forces a re-registration. Besides, if you do turn the date back, the system cannot see a racing day more than 2 days into the future of the current system date.


Regards,
Dave Schwartz

[hurrikane]

This is common occurance and I'm guessing most everyone has reset the clock on their computer to use an expired demo package. The thing is this. There are many ways around this problem. Many alternatives to a 30 day demo. All companies know this. Many companies don't want to do anything about it bacause they want you using thier software. Then when they upgrade you are left with an old package and must buy the new or start all over again. Autodesk took over 72% fo the CADD industry with this idea. Practically gave away the software with no key code to unlock it. Once companies had built there working drawing into Autocadd and were locked into the software Autodesk released a new version, all the legal owners upgraded free and the illegals had to buy new or not be able to meet there clients needs. A very smart business move..and most people thought they were just stupid.
Doesn't that figure.

In this business seems most companies solve the problem by giving you the software and then you have to by the data...end of problem. Why Dave doesnt' take this approach I'm not sure...but he doesn't do the demo either so he doens't have the problem to begin with.

[Tom]

Sounds like what they are doing with printers-give them away and them you are locked into a $30-50 ink cartridge. This also the whole idea behnd BRIS and TSN
and HTR-free stuff that can't be used without buying the files. Not that this is a bad idea, but it is not exacctly FREE as one might think.
Tom

[Que]

I wonder if the above program has a 30-day trial offer?