Jeroen,
I understand the points you are making.
I understand most of the points others are making.

My recent "long" post was to try and swing things away from all of what has been said (and understood) to a more " If all paths are leading to SA.... here are my suggestions and wishes as to how SA can/should be done".
I think Avid is at a point in time where they don't need more reasons to keep the dongle.... they need views on how to make SA work for we the customers.
There are already many company's out there who use SA in many different flavours.
Pointing those out to Avid can give them invaluable tips on possible ways of making a version of SA that will work correctly and fairly for all users.

I am not sure if this "OT" idea I have introduced should be moved to a new fresh thread or not.
If any other moderators think so, maybe you can help with the technical side of things and carry out the necessary steps.

Jeroen, thanks again for you comments above.

Regards,
Douglas

Could the Avid techies consider the option where the end user could choose to either deactivate as per the current SA route or alternatvely deactivate to a Dongle (USB Stick). The software would then load to the Dongle the write cycle would then verify and delete from the PC. The Dongle can now be plugged into desired Laptop / PC and a reverse action could exist ie Dongle is uploaded to the PC , verified then deleted from the Dongle.

The process could be considered as an electronic token, there will only ever be one licence copy.

The SA could still work as suggested ie over the internet / phone.

   Fred

Douglas,

Again I get your point and agree. I will also try positively to help to improve SA.

But get me right on this one. Like Avid I work for a private business trying to make a bug. Avid has over the years given "me" plenty of tools to do the job. They were always good tools. Until MC version 3.5 they gave us always more for less. And recently for a lot less.. After using avid for more then 10 years, the core of my business is build upon the workflows avid has given me. I clearly see many more here that are similar.

But maybe this started with the drop of xpress pro. It seems to me the "one size fits all" thinking is the moto in the CEO office in tewksburry. We all can use SA, no need for a dongle. We all need 1 NLE tool, after xpress pro, DS and MC can merge. Unity will be dropped... only ISIS for all etc... , one "cheap" new nitris DX...ok this is all speculation and that's not allowed here.

I'm just tring to say that I see change towards, less for less. and I'm not sure that is the desired model. That compromises for many reasons are to be expected... yes, but don't hide those compromises from your marketing speak and make it look better then it actually is.

Perhaps I am a whippersnapper, but I would like to hear more on "how to adapt, survive, thrive in avid's new model" than "damn you, i have to restructure my business".

it's because inexorable forces are in progress and i don't want to sit by while everyone else moves forward-- true, said "forward" might very well be a disgrace, but that's our environment.

i understand the need to say to avid "hold on & stop following others & be a pioneer again", but actually, pioneers are ahead of the curve and the rest must follow.

in other words: the question should not be "drackul, you have broken my workflow," but rather, "how do i recreate effective workflows under the new system".

i'm sure we'll adapt.  it might be inconvenient for some, but if we share methods and procedures i'm sure we can develop a pretty potent hive mind.

for this we need to look at issues clearly and dispassionately, and that's hard to do but that's what's called for. i think that avid is doing what it can do to survive in a competitive environment.  with more people migrating to the conveniences of FCP, I see why Avid wants to adapt some portions of their model and beat them on others.  portability of software without material possession is a big thing.

To paraphrase Mark Twain:

Watch where everyone is heading - Then get there FIRST!

I think that thought applies as much to a business like Avid as to us editors using Avid products.

Regards,
Douglas

This question isn't intended to stir any pots but is meant honestly for any SA users who have successfully dealt with the situation:

I deactivate MC 3.5 my home workstation and go to a production company at another location. They have a workstation with MC 3.5 installed but no licence. How do I use my licence to activate their workstation? For simplicity's sake let's assume it has a functioning internet connection. What information do I need to have with me and how do I best transport it?

Regards

Rodney

RodneyinMunich:

This question isn't intended to stir any pots but is meant honestly for any SA users who have successfully dealt with the situation:

I deactivate MC 3.5 my home workstation and go to a production company at another location. They have a workstation with MC 3.5 installed but no licence. How do I use my licence to activate their workstation? For simplicity's sake let's assume it has a functioning internet connection. What information do I need to have with me and how do I best transport it?

Regards

Rodney

that's the right question to ask, and those of you who know please don't say "there's a training about it" or you'll get a well-deserved boot to the head.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5kGUW6M7W0

RodneyinMunich:

They have a workstation with MC 3.5 installed but no licence. How do I use my licence to activate their workstation?

Hey Rodney: good question. 

The three systems I use for my company all have software loaded from the same purchase and download, so obviously I  can activate and deactivate at will with no problems.  I have not tried using my activation numbers on a system with someone elses MC 3.5.   But, I am cutting on a project all next week, so I will hope to test this.  IF your license will activate the software, you would need the system ID and serial number you receive for SA.  These numbers, once keyed in, will stay in place on a system until you want to clear it.  Meaining each time I fire up Avid on any of my systems, I do not have to re-enter those numbers, as it is "held" by Avid until I want to clear them.  Any computer that others may use behind you, such as this production company you are working at,  would be good candidates for "clear on exit/deactivate".  [EDIT] I tend to always decativate the system to quit so as to leave me as much flexiblity as possible on what and where I do the next activation.  Really, its only my laptop system I need to worry about activating in remote loctations without internet access, but that has not been much a  worry so far.  If I have a concern about access on location, I will activate the laptop before I leave, just to be sure.[]  I have my numbers in print form, on my iPod, on the desktop of my computer and on a server so they are always near.

In the past, I have edited at FCP only shops, so I brought my Avid software and dongle and created "a suite for a day".  Certainly not an elegant solution.

Avid is on holiday today, so we may have to wait until Monday for an official answer.

best -

Scott Witthaus

jveekeres:

If avid has to report bad news, then they should do so. A simple, "we are sorry to report that in the current economical situation we can't uphold 2 activation systems" would for me made the acceptance much more simple.

Ok folks, First off neither Marianna nor I will EVER snow you. In any way shape or form. We are here for you and will always tell you as much of the straight poop as US Corporate regulations will allow.

Yes I work for Avid now but I am always an Editor first. Many of you knew me very well before I joined Avid and know that my interests are very closely aligned with the post community at large. I use my position in the company and the good friends I have there to try and get you as much information as possible because open communication is an absolute mandate from the top. You have to understand that we are giving you as much info as we are allowed by Law.

I think that a lot of you posting here have not gone back a few pages to read what Marianna and I have written but, in response to the quote above, I will restate what I wrote:

"No, we may not keep the dongle as we had asked, Avid simply does not have the resources to dedicate to supporting both models (you can argue that here if you want but when the money people say they don't, then they don't) but we HAVE been heard and They ARE spending a lot of time and resources trying to make this SA system something that everyone can be happy with."

Preposition ending sentence be damned, that is as polite as I can be in saying that, in this difficult economic climate where every corporation is watching every dollar of its bottom line, Avid will not be supporting both methods of activating its software. I don't want this to kick off a discussion of what we think Avid is or is not able to do with it's product development dollars. When you work for a publicly held company and the decision comes down to go forward with one program, that's all that we, who receive paychecks from the company, can do.

In that same post I wrote that your concerns here are heard every day and Avid is making a huge attempt to fit them into the new program. Including activation without Internet access, Multiple installs and all the rest. I'm not saying the whole kit will be in the final product but, knowing the boys in the Video Development Division, it will not be for lack of trying. We will just have to wait and see.

Someone asked about activation on someone else's CPU. As long as your software license is deactivated first, you can re-activate it on ANY CPU you choose. No matter the owner. If you choose to leave your License activated for them to use when you leave, that's up to you.

Marianna and I have stated here on numerous occasions that, should  your questions not be fit for forum consumption, you are welcome to email us at any time and we will do our best to get your questions answered. Jeroen, I have an email from you and will get back to you when I am back in the office on Monday.

Lastly, this idea that the decision is between keeping the dongle or killing it is just false and, in all honesty, may be fueled by some on-line hyperbole on my part. In reality, there is only one camp. The camp that has both sides wanting what they want and not caring if the other side uses a dongle or SA. We ALL want to keep both. It would be the easy answer to all of this but, in general release, it is not possible for the company. As we posted, as long as you are in a support contract, you can keep your dongles for as long as you like. It is my hope that we can make SA exactly what you want so that, in the end, you won't care either way.

BLKDOG:

As we posted, as long as you are in a support contract, you can keep your dongles for as long as you like. It is my hope that we can make SA exactly what you want so that, in the end, you won't care either way.

Great post Todd, thanks.  Clears up a lot of questions.  Now go enjoy your holiday!!

BLKDOG:

As long as your software license is deactivated first, you can re-activate it on ANY CPU you choose. No matter the owner. If you choose to leave your License activated for them to use when you leave, that's up to you.

Rodney, no need to wait until Monday!  Here is the answer to your question.

best -

sw

Thx again Todd,

Your post is clear. We all want things to be different but we can't make it any better. I understand that and respect it.

Hope to see your mail on monday.

Have a great weekend.

Thanks for the Avid perspective Todd

BLKDOG:

can be in saying that, in this difficult economic climate where every corporation is watching every dollar of its bottom line

And for me the SA does what? Replaces a fully functional system with one I have to waste my resources to redevelop a SA workflow to allow me to continue to service my clients in the way they expect. 

Having had this pointed out to Avid in no uncertain terms I find it exceedingly distastefull to be told by Avid that Avid will NOW let me keep my dongle workflow (for the present anyway) but to do so I will have to pay Avid 39.8% of the cost of a new MC package (that includes all third party options) anually.

However if you are "good little people" and use our SA you will NOT HAVE TO buy any service contracts AND you have the option to pay for only those upgrades that "WORK FOR YOU" the client.

I have moved on.

In Avid forum speak "I will wait and see." IF and when you get an activation that suits my business needs, without costing us time and money, I will revisit the whole situation.  In the meantime my current versions of MC service all my foreseeable requirements for the next few years and I will be using the funds earmarked for Avid more effectively elsewhere.

I agree totally with Andrew, up to and including his planned course of action.

AndrewAction:

And for me the SA  does what? Replaces a fully functional system with one I have to waste my resources to redevelop a SA workflow to allow me to continue to service my client in the way they expect.

Andrew, that's exactly why I ask, now via PM, what the motivations are, given by users, to ask avid to migrate to SA. There must be users for which SA, perfectly working or not, is a functional improvement. No need for anyone to point out agian that educational institutes are those... we already established that.

After all our posts the bottom line given by avid is: SA is requested by users, Avid determined that a majority of its users can work with SA if implemented well. Conclusion: SA can expand our user base. Lets do it. I can't say I have any problem here. 

That the removal of the dongle could also shrink its user base was not forgotten but a lot of care to prevent this from happening I did not see. Except from the great thing Todd and Marriana are doing now!!!! Probably cause users that choose NLE just over the feature "dongle" are less then 1% of its user base. It also does not seem to be an argument with the other NLE's in the market. Also here I don't have any problem.

Still if MC 3.5 had a "turbo button" that could improve its speed, avid would advertise it. SA is a new feature, so you would expect big advertisement on their site. " Now after waiting for more then a year after a majority of you requested it, MC 3.5 now with Software Activation!!!" but no. Nowhere does it say with SA you, or cooperate users can use their avids now 30% more efficient. euhh... this was a user request wasn't it? It must bring those users something.

I find your question very valid! What do we gain from SA? 

EDIT (the argumentation that we have to pay more for SA is incorrect):

drbgaijin:

Watch where everyone is heading - Then get there FIRST!

I think that thought applies as much to a business like Avid as to us editors using Avid products.

Douglas,

Indeed that applies both to avid and us. Isn't it frustrating then that avid has, since the development of the first media composer, never been able to do exactly that? In this case avid is the "last" still having a dongle.

Personally I believe being the only NLE manufacturer giving users choice in SA system is much closer to being "the first one, a leader, innovator, trend setter", etc... then just "forcing" it on us.