POLL - Should Archicad remove hardware keys?

[Anonymous]

Mangesmi wrote:
Isn't it high time for ArchiCad to lose the hardware keys in favour of software keys like the ones for Artlantis??

Why is Graphisoft still using this technology? Replacing and updating keys are extremly user unfriendly and causes halt in production...

laszlonagy wrote:
You guys should make a poll about this so we could have an idea of what percentage of people are OK with hardware keys and what percentage would like something else.

[stefan]

I still have my old dongle (falling apart by now) that got stuck in release 12 and used a serial number since as an non-commercial user.

I liked the flexibility of the dongle (plug where you want to run ArchiCAD) but it is expensive and can be stolen/broken/lost.

If they would go for a software-only solution, I'd rather have a simple serial then any complex network-licensing setup. In any case, it has to be usable offline and at least allowed to be activated on two machines for a single user (e.g. home & work or laptop & desktop or ...).

Anything to prevent abuse is likely to bother legal users anyway.

An alternative might be weekly online activation, so that you can work offline and outside any office for some time.

[Eduardo Rolon]

stefan wrote:
…

An alternative might be weekly online activation, so that you can work offline and outside any office for some time.

I remember when ElectricImage used to mail you a serial number every three months. They went from the top of the line rendering software (Terminator 2) to a has been that just recently added GI to the program and still has its early 90's interface.

http://www.eias3d.com

I dropped it for 3D Studio Max when it came out which in turn was dropped for C4D, which has a new school/student program for free.

[Anonymous]

It's been 2 months.

Any comment from the Graphisoft team?

A good majority seem to want software protection or the option to have software protection

[Anonymous]

Mangesmi wrote:
It's been 2 months.

Any comment from the Graphisoft team?

A good majority seem to want software protection or the option to have software protection

Don't expect any comments on this from GS. If they are considering it they will not likely discuss it in an open forum.

I'm still kind of split on the whole thing. I wonder if the best solution would be to make all the keys function like a network key (or able to). That way I could just leave my key plugged into my tower and check it out on my laptop whenever and from wherever I need to.

I just went through about an hour with Autodesk support yesterday getting Revit 2011 reactivated (needed for a client who hasn't upgraded yet). It was aggravating and put me off the online license idea a bit but was due to a quirk that has since been sorted out and, well, s**t happens.

The other thing I found out while sorting out the 2011 activation is that my license is not authorized for use in "the Europe". Fortunately since I'm on subscription they gave me a 90 day EU license so I don't have to worry about it while I'm at the ArchiCAD Winter School week after next.

[Piotr Dobrowolski]

One of my AC training clients gave up with Autodesk software due to licensing problems, mostly with the soft license (- which is to be exact a disk boot sector virus)...and they (Autodesk) had "problems" with the clients change of street adress....forcing to buy new licenses as the existing expired due that change - "funny" don't You think 😉

Some of my friends had problems with Artlantis license due to hardware crash...Abvent's policy is way better than Autodesk's, but nothing could be done as the crash happened during the weekend ;-(

So I am still preferring hardware keys...

Best Regards,

Piotr

[Anonymous]

I prefer the hardware key version.
During crunch times I am often working into the evenings or on the weekends with the deadline Monday morning (for jurisdiction submittal) or whatever, whether I like it or not and no one would be around to help me during those times if I had a software key problem.

I do not see it as an issue of which one the majority likes the most, as much as it is; Should two thirds of the people get to set up a system where even one third of the people (who chose not to have software key) could be knocked out during GS's closed times?

Offering an option for either one would be okay, but not forcing everyone to go to software key would possibly be the best solution?

[Dwight]

If you ever had a hardware key fail - that is feeling alone!
And cold. And then wolves howl.

[Anonymous]

I have an idea...

Well a couple.

One I already said, which would be for all keys to work as license servers even if it's only one license. That way you can bring it with you on a trip without risking the loss of the key and even return it to the office while away if needed.

The other could be a subscription benefit (or not) of being able to check out an emergency 3-day software key online (24/7) when the hardware one fails, is lost or stolen.

[Anonymous]

I also prefer the hardware key version, but I presume that it,s not good for PC speed during Archicad use?
Anyone make some comparation on AC program speed during use HW or software protection?

[Anonymous]

I don't see any reason for either to affect performance.