Well, my laptop is dongle free but also free from Steinberg products. Go figure.
I’m even considering buying a tablet and I don’t think that any Steinberg product will find it’s way on this device. Having to attach an USB-hub to a tablet to be able to connect dongles to the tablet just to run software is just plain absurd.
Apologies. I had read your posts as if an alternative was on the horizon.
You also mentioned working on a dongle-free trial for Cubase 7. That seems critical from a business/logic perspective. Can you even estimate how much business is lost due to this? Potential customers are forced to buy a proprietary dongle before they can even trial Cubase. They cannot simply download and try; they actually have to go out and buy this thing, or order it and wait for delivery. Then, if they want the full version, they get another dongle.
Will a dongle-free trial be available in the near future?
Being able to trial Cubase (without having to get a dongle) is not a right.
Steinberg chooses to allow trials (on their terms).
Steinberg has to weigh the potential to bring new customers versus the risk of their product being cracked.
J.L.
Cubase use for a laptop onstage is maybe a little overkill. There are a few other apps that would be better for the task if you are worried about the dongle. And they’re readily available and much cheaper, probably much simpler to use as well. But then I’m a big fan of keeping it simple and not needing to be worrying about things like dongles when I’m doing a show that needs a sequencer controlling the show.
An alternative would imply the possibility of the dongle still being viable. Maybe what they figure is using the Internet as the alternative for those with an allergy to dongles. Another possibility is selling Cubase from like a digital store, like the Apple store or the Microsoft store.
I, like others, have other software that uses the eLicenser protection, so we’ll see what the future may bring.
You also mentioned working on a dongle-free trial for Cubase 7. That seems critical from a business/logic perspective. Can you even estimate how much business is lost due to this? Potential customers are forced to buy a proprietary dongle before they can even trial Cubase. They cannot simply download and try; they actually have to go out and buy this thing, or order it and wait for delivery. Then, if they want the full version, they get another dongle.
Will a dongle-free trial be available in the near future?
We are aware of this, for the time being customers will be able to trial Cubase Elements 7 without a dongle(The trial has not been released yet), it lacks some of the features in Cubase 7 (full version) but it will give future customers a feel of the software.
Unfortunately I do not see a dongle-free trial for Cubase 7 in the near future.
Many things have to be considered.
As long as you make an image file from your 1st download
then by using the dongle, no intertoob connection is required.
Other schemes rely on specific info from
either your hard drive or logic board or both.
If any thing changes with either of these two units for any reason,
(heck, even if you buy a brand new 'puter),
an connection (either internet or snail mail) with the ‘mother ship’
is required so new codes can be generated and then sent to the user.
This process can take time and be very problematic.
Used top hate the dongle. Probably still do but got used to it and I can live with it now. A much smaller and stronger dongle for me would be fine. I’ve dropped my dongle from desktop height onto carpet and it’s fallen apart.
So I do still hate the dongle just for different reasons.
You may need a big dongle to impress the ladies but a smaller stronger one will be less of a pain in the arse.
Welcome to 2013. Modern software copy protection has come a long way since the clunky online-authorization schemes of 2001. Most software online protection only requires you have an internet connection on install. And I’ve never had a problem with anything of recent. Very quick and easy!
In contrast, last year’s registration and installation process for moving from Cubase SX 2 to Cubase 6 was by far, the longest, most painful software install I have EVER done. Period.
If it weren’t for the stupid, antiquated dongle, I probably wouldn’t even think of using another DAW. As it stands now, I am always on the look-out for a dongle free replacement. (Logic X is getting closer…)