Pet annoyance of mine - lazy programmers

[pyscrow]

Just been reading my favorite topic here, the
Sticky: Please report problem posts / threads / members here!
thread.

I like to see whom's dobbing whom in, and who's roasting whom today 8)

One of the links reminded me of a subject that I find highly annoying.

Lazy time limited demo software writers.

Has anyone else been annoyed by the fact that people whom write time limited software are to lazy or two untrusting to change the time checking routine between at least major versions?

On a few occassions I have tried such software, and decided it did not quiet do what I wanted, or caused problems with something else etc etc, and decided it was not for me.

Then several months (or longer) later I'll come accross a comment or post somewhere that reminds me about the software, I go back and see there is a new version with more features or bug fixes or whatever, and it might now do what I want, but when I download the newer version to try it out, it wont run, telling me that my trial period has expired!

I know they are worried about piracy and circumvention of their time checks, but it is not that hard to change the check routine at least with major version releases. Its gunna be a pretty desperate pirate whom upgrades a product just for another thirty days. (Unless of course the programmer is a super developer releasing new major versions every thirty days!)

This type of lazy programming does not help genuine legit users wanting a second look at their now improved product!

[jimmalenko]

Vent away...

I can sorta see why they do it though - leeches would just download a newer version each time and get another 30 days free use. At that rate, the software would not sell at all. I know it is an extreme case, but the reasoning is there I guess.

[FOO]

I think they ought to be sued for modifying your computer
without your knowledge. When you remove the software
the computer is not the same as it was. It still has something
somewhere that remembers .

[teegee420]

Your Uninstaller removes all registry entries, files and even program folders when uninstalling. I've used it before. Nice little proggie.

[jimmalenko]

I think they ought to be sued for modifying your computer
without your knowledge. When you remove the software
the computer is not the same as it was. It still has something
somewhere that remembers .

I reckon we might hear from the videographers who want to CSS their wedding videos in regard to protecting your investment on this one

Not saying that it is right but it is almost "accepted practice" that software does leave remnants and does not fully uninstall. Obviously the average person would just uninstall the trial version and re-install it and job would be right - this person got a warning for trying to do that just today.

I can see the point where you give the trial a go and it is not for you, but 6 or 12 months down the track the programmers get a clue and you want to try their new offering.

I agree in principle but know that in practice there is nothing either party can really do about it.

[jimmalenko]

Your Uninstaller removes all registry entries, files and even program folders when uninstalling. I've used it before. Nice little proggie.

What happens when the trial for that runs out ???

[teegee420]

You're fucked.

[Capmaster]

I think they ought to be sued for modifying your computer
without your knowledge. When you remove the software
the computer is not the same as it was. It still has something
somewhere that remembers .

I think it's a case of caveat emptor. You buy it of your own free will, knowing it might not work perfectly.

If you could sue SW vendors for modifying your PC, then the next phase in this litigation-happy world would be suing a gasoline refiner because your car's gas mileage dropped when you used their product.

[jimmalenko]

You're fucked.

That's gold

It reminds me of Planes, Trains and Automobiles when Steve Martin's hire car gets stolen...

[teegee420]

You're fucked.

That's gold

It reminds me of Planes, Trains and Automobiles when Steve Martin's hire car gets stolen...

I know exactly what you mean. Best line of the whole movie. I remember seeing that one in the cinema when I was around 12.

[jimmalenko]

Back on topic - Is it possible that SW vendors are covered by something they put in the license agreement - you know, that 200 line blurb that you click "Agree" to but never read ?

[teegee420]

Back on topic - Is it possible that SW vendors are covered by something they put in the license agreement - you know, that 200 line blurb that you click "Agree" to but never read ?

Hell, it wouldn't surprise me if we sign away our first borns.

[Nilfennasion]

I wonder how a defence of claiming that the author never took reasonable steps to draw your attention to certain clauses in the agreement would fly?

[jimmalenko]

I wonder how a defence of claiming that the author never took reasonable steps to draw your attention to certain clauses in the agreement would fly?

I'd leave out the part how you blindly clicked the "Agree" button...

[FOO]

I don't think there is any way "your uninstaller" can determine what
an install program did , unless it runs during the install process , and
intercepts all file/registry system calls.

[jimmalenko]

I don't think there is any way "your uninstaller" can determine what
an install program did , unless it runs during the install process , and
intercepts all file/registry system calls.

Probably just sits in the system tray on startup, I presume.