On Mon, 03 Apr 2006 19:29:14 +0200, Math wrote: > Hello, > > I wonder if I can ask this particular question here... > I'm writing this piece of Python Software and I'm almost done...:-) > But now I want the end-user to register this software with a registration > code or perhaps something like an evaluation demo version which expires > after some period of time... > Is this the right place to ask or does anybody know where to look for more > on the subject?
Is your application really such a gee-whiz super-duper can't-live-without-it program that your users will put up with all the inconvenience and hassle, not to mention loss of privacy, of having to register? Or will they just dump your program when the demo stops working? It seems to me that the hardest problem for any new application is getting people to use it: most users won't ever find out about it; of those who do most won't care about it; of those who care, most can't be bothered downloading and installing it; and of those who might have, most will probably know of an alternative that does the job as well or better, or at least that they are more familiar with. So every little barrier you put up to make it more difficult for users to use your application, the greater the chances that your application disappears into obscurity. Look at Microsoft. Their first version of Word (for Macintosh, as it turned out) was copy-protected. Their second version of Word, and every version since, as well as Excel and Powerpoint, have not included copy protection, time-limitations, product activation, or any other barrier to keep users away. On the contrary -- Microsoft have turned a blind eye to piracy until fairly recently. Same with Windows -- although, a few years back when Microsoft felt secure in owning the desktop, they introduced product activation. What are the odds that Vista will have it? -- Steven. -- http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list
