Re: a2 dead? read this.

[tws <adoyson@nccn.net>]

This message is to *everyone* who reads this group.


But YOU can't do anything about the pirates.  Nobody here can.  We can tell them
to leave, and clutter up OUR newsgroup with useless whining.

Everyone here does their part, I am sure, to continue the existence of
hardware/software vendors and developers.  See the posts about :

"Should I get RamFast or Apple High speed?"
"Should I get Sirius or GS RAM++?"
"Where can I buy Software XXXX?"

Then people bring their questions here, "

"How do I get X piece of hardware to work?"
"How do I configure Software X?"

I think piracy is a thing that goes on...FOR SURE!  Is currently available,
commercial software being pirated.....VERY limited.  Nobody comes here and asks
"Hey, email me a copy of X software"  where X=software that matters.(being sold,
for the BENEFIT of developers.  Developers are the people we're worried about,
right?)

FACE IT.....copying of older, unavailable software HURTS NOONE!........  It is
against the law, but nobody is LOSING MONEY..

The present and future of the Apple IIgs relys on MONEY  ($$$$$!)

The past relied on Money too, and according to some, Piracy of TITLES AVAILABLE
COMMERCIALLY **AT THAT TIME** (the past!) seriously hindered developement for the
Apple IIgs.

So, why not keep your eye out for people *Pirating* software that Matters
**TODAY**??

Also, there are certain things that can be done to software to PREVENT it from
being illegaly copied.  You can program serial numbers into software, you can
program self destruct code into software, to make it destroy itself if it is not
legitimate.

This would do *alot* more (actually, it would be solving the problem, instead of
talking/bitching about the problem)

If a new title is to be released, Code the software to erase itself it is used on
a "non-authorized" computer.  Include code in the Installer program to erase the
program from the original disk once installed.

So, you now have a Software that is on your computer legitimately.  You no longer
have a disk to restore from if your Hard drive crashes.

Good thing you have Serial numbers, receipts.  You can call the company and have
them send you a new copy!

There's also Passwords which can be programmed into software.  All of these things
are inconveinient for Software developers, I realize.  But:

1) It actually SOLVES the problem (or at least, it is a legitimate attempt to)
2) Programming protection is ALOT better than having to deal with piracy.

"not tolerating piracy" as Nathan explains it, is NOT a logical or feasible way to
prevent piracy.  People are people.  You can attack them each time they come to
the group, but if they want to be here, they will come!


THE END

Nathan Mates wrote:

> In article <357d7638.0@calico.litterbox.com>,
> Jim <jim@calico.litterbox.com> wrote:
> >I guess my point here is, there are still a few vendors selling old stuff and
> >making new stuff for the apple2.  Let's stop whining about how we were dumped
> >by apple, and whatnot, and concentrate on preserving those vendors, eh?
>
>    And that means acting like the C64 groups and not tolerating the
> pirates and thieves out to destroy the remaining vendors, programmers,
> etc. They focus solely on the past, and sacrifice any future. Get rid
> of them, or fewer and fewer programmers will *want* to work with such
> a platform. Those pirates are a cancer out to kill the system, so they
> must be removed-- sure it's not a pleasant experience taking them on,
> but they're out to kill the system and you've got to fight for its life.
>
>    You can have new software. Or you can have piracy. Don't ever count
> on having both at the same time.
>
> Nathan Mates
> --
> <*> Nathan Mates http://www.visi.com/~nathan/      <*>
> # What are the facts? Again and again and again-- what are the _facts_?
> # Shun wishful thinking, avoid opinion, care not what the neighbors
> # think-- what are the facts, and to how many decimal places? -R.A. Heinlein