Todd,

     If the below is true

 

" switthaus:

does this mean that folks with Dongles right now can keep on using them into the future, no matter what version upgrade?

 

Yes, this is what Marianna posted yesterday. As long as you have support, you can keep recieving dongle updaters"

..... then that interpretation was lost on me when reading the post.  I'd like to think that I'm a fairly bright guy, but from what I read it sounded like the dongle would not be an option for anyone, whether you currently use one or not, starting with version 4.  I think it was because while Marianna was trying to tell us what was up, she wasn't straight forward enough for me and some others understand it.  So, how much of the following is correct:

 

1.  Dongles no longer ship with v3.5 and won't ship on higher versions.

2.  current users with dongles can upgrade to v3.5 and maintain the dongle use.

3.  If you have a dongle and upgrade to v3.5 and move to SA, your dongle will cease to be usable from that point on.

4.  Users with a dongle who have a support contract or get a support contract by (insert date here), will be able to use their dongle thru the foreseeable future (v4 and higher) as long as they maintain the support contract.

5.  Once you relinquish your dongle, you cannot get the use of it back.

 

Thanks

 

Todd, I do not like to parse your words. I respect you far to much to want to. But I would like understand you correctly. You write:

BLKDOG:

You have to know that the number of user that post to this thread is no where close to an overwhelming majority of Avid's users...right? It's easy to think that we are in the majority by virtue of the fact that we participate with so many others here but, in fact, we are a very small minority.

Maybe I read something here that you do not mean. If so I apologize in advance.

I read the posters in this thread do not represent a majority. I find that a statement that requires backup of facts. I find the requests, workarounds etc suggested in this thread very normal and common sense and have seen plenty of your post showing you completely agree. Why would we be the minority?

 

jveekeres:

Why would we be the minority?

Simple numbers Jeroen. There are Millions of registered Avid users and less than 60k registered on these forums and only less than 30 participating in these threads. All I meant is that there are a great number of customers that we don't here from here but those of us who are customer facing for Avid hear from everyday.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't remember seeing one single post in this thread or other related "dongle" threads where anyone has proposed killing the dongle and going exclusively SA.

gumbaedit:

1.  Dongles no longer ship with v3.5 and won't ship on higher versions.

Correct

gumbaedit:

2.  current users with dongles can upgrade to v3.5 and maintain the dongle use.

Correct. Also, if you have a support contract, you will be able to keep using your dongles through, at least, 4.0. Don't know if there are any plans past that version yet.

gumbaedit:

3.  If you have a dongle and upgrade to v3.5 and move to SA, your dongle will cease to be usable from that point on.

Correct.

gumbaedit:

4.  Users with a dongle who have a support contract or get a support contract by (insert date here), will be able to use their dongle thru the foreseeable future (v4 and higher) as long as they maintain the support contract.

Correct. See above.

gumbaedit:

5.  Once you relinquish your dongle, you cannot get the use of it back.

Not NEVER but it would reqire some serious begging from Marianna or myself. ;)

 

 

camoscato:

One of the flaws of this argument is we haven't gotten an answer from the other 60,000 registered forum users, and that 60,000 doesn't include Avid customers who haven't registered for the forums.  So there's no way to know, based on forum posts, whether dongles or SA is the more popular solution.

That is true.

If we want an accurate poll we would have to ask all. Is avid willing to do that? Maybe also a solution. I will happely accept changes if a majority is in favor of them. even if I do not agree. And then we come back to my original request of hearing the motivations the "majority" of users gave to avid to implement SA.

From what I read I already have 3 moderators being in favor of keeping the dongle. Any moderators in favor of loosing it?

 

  

Wm Warne:

Rago:

daapap:

yes you can. i'm still running 3.1.3 although i bought the update for 3.5.

But i wonder whether updating the dongle is a good solution: although i did the program keeps asking me for software activation every time i start it and i have to answer that i still want to work with the dongle  - very annoying. On the other hand i still do not trust in software activation. (One of the reasons why i found the update to be not worth it's money besides not being completely compatible.)

anyways: with an updated dongle you can work with 3.1.

 

I wish they did stay with the dongle. I've got 3.5 software activated version and windows did a windows thing and killed my system and I had to reformat. Before you format, reload avid and your off. If you system crashes now you have to ring up avid during office hours and go though a lengthy Q&A and then it will be deactivated. The Whole progress took 30 mins and costly phone call. Please bring the dongle.

Thank you for your answers. 

we are very big problems in the internet activation. we work mainly on reality, not keep the computer connected to internet for a security issue and if there are problems we have not the time to attack the computer to deactivate the software. usually we use the ghost, which is very fast, but with the internet activation is impossible. in an emergency I do not have time to attack the computers to the internet and disable the software and then make a ghost. work seriously with this system is unacceptable! and, above all, I find ironic is easier to install a crack of mc that follow all the activaction procedures. (This problem not only with avid) who bought the software is less advantage to those who download illegally, it is absolutely absurd and paradoxical. This system may be fine for those who work with a computer in stand-alone but in a complex workflow (maybe you're in places where there is no internet ...) can not work! (same problem with Sorenson)

excuse my English, parts of the message, I translated with google:)

 

 

I totally agree with your comments regarding activation -- though I understand the legitimate concerns of the software manufacturer.  Internet activation is particularly troubling.  While the manufacturer has a right to be concerned over the legitimacy of a person's software, the person using the software has no less a right vis a vis the manufacturer's intrusion into his or her computer system.  Even assuming that manufacturers are incapable of committing a wrong, they are staffed by employees who may not be so honorable.  Furthermore, a mandatory internet connection wastes computer power that is needed for video work.  The dongle provides security for the vendor without intrusion into the user's system and it gives the user the ability to operate the program on a different computer (but not on two computers at the same time).  At this rate it won't be long until we will need to scan the chip imbedded in our forehead (or the palm of our hand) as part of the software startup procedure.

This is a discussion started in another thread. 

often that our company works in places where there is no internet and where every minute lost can mean a failure live. the activation system via internet is very uncomfortable and dangerous work in complexes such as the reality show. I understand that software manufacturers must protect themselves, but this method, for me, is absolutely unacceptable 
thanks and sorry for my english Rago

gumbaedit:

1.....

4.  Users with a dongle who have a support contract or get a support contract by (insert date here), will be able to use their dongle thru the foreseeable future (v4 and higher) as long as they maintain the support contract.

5.  Once you relinquish your dongle, you cannot get the use of it back.

Ahh....the caveat is at the cost of $995US per license for a support contract. And, I've read the rationalization that software upgrades easily pays for this.....

I rarely use telephone support. The few times i did, they couldn't help me. This forum, which is free, has been a greater help than support has ever been. Oh oh, maybe Avid will snap to the fact that they need to charge to be a forum member.

Thanks Todd.  That clears up every question/problem I have with how the move to SA has been going.  I would say that with dongle support up to and including version 4, that'll give avid at least 18 months to work out any bugs and limitations that SA will initially have.  Personally and professionally, I can deal with that.

 

RMT

But Todd as we don't know the opinion of the majority we can't use that as an argument in favor or against the dongle and/or SA.

Like Larry writes, we can't find the "dongle killers". Where are they? oh oh bean counters. Maybe they should join the forum

 

...then a 31st voice in this thread - keep the dongle, or at least the option. Rationalization is the refuge of megacorps, such as Avid is more and more emulating.

And...potverdorrie, BLKDOG, it's spelled JEROEN!

- Keith (just another insignificant minority Avid user since 1991 / owner since 1993)

Yeah but anyone who has known me on these forums over the years knows that I can't spell! ;)

Ok folks, We're on Holiday today here in the States so I will leave you to the discussions. Please keep it civil or I will lock this thread.

The most import point with which I want to leave you is that we have heard the concern about not being able to activate without internet access and there are several ideas with which Product Development is toying to address what you are saying. Stay tuned.

Those in the States, have a great Independence day holiday!

 

thx Keith. for pointing out my name out correctly and posting your opinion. We're a long way from 60.000 but every one counts.

I know Todd is trying to do his best and with all those posts a misspell is made fast. No problem

BLKDOG:

Those in the States, have a great Independence day holiday!

And you too Todd,

Have a nice Independence day.

BLKDOG:

jveekeres:

Why would we be the minority?

Simple numbers Jerone. There are Millions of registered Avid users and less than 60k registered on these forums and only less than 30 participating in these threads. All I meant is that there are a great number of customers that we don't here from here but those of us who are customer facing for Avid hear from everyday.

I believe this is close to the Athenian form of democracy, where those citizens who bother to go to the agora get to make their point. Pity none of this discussion matters very much any more: the SA barbarians are at the gates... Scott is already showing them the secret passage into the fortress - joke

How product development is going to solve problems like a dead editing computer on a ship to Antarctica will be very interesting. Even if you had the installation disc with you and access to another computer, current SA will still leave you stuffed, sitting on deck watching the whales for a couple of weeks.

I am on tenterhooks...