> >...
> > Good luck in you venture.  I hope the dongle protection scheme
> > doesn't lose you business.
>
> The original poster found a dongle in the bottom of a drawer. This
> means that his total stock quantity is 1.  I think it was a
> hobby project.   I'm amused that it seems to have grown
> into the next Evil Empire.
>
> Barry

Even worse that that Barry - it's just a twinkle in the eye that some day
may become a hobby project! I don't even have the software that goes with
the dongle - I know it's AutoCAD R13 ' cos its on a label  on it!

I did do a little more research on the Rainbow site (I downloaded their
quick start guide) and they do have quite an offering - all of the aspects
that Roman proposed in an earlier email are included in their system. The
dongle can also be set up to not just respond with a number (a la memory
read) but it can perform  algorithms - I'd assume this is an encryption. AND
for the USB proficienado they have a USB dongle!
I was quite impressed - but then they have been at this for many years so I
should have expected it.

As regards the use of dongles - I agree that companies have a right to
protect their software but taking a thread from James's response I do wonder
if they hike the price up after they employ the protection scheme.
The best way to counter this is not hacking but to buy the nearest undongled
alternative and then let their sales people known why you chose the
alternative!

John

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