🚀 go-pugleaf

	As far as having a remote ROM serial number or some other
remote hardware device to ensure that the user doesn't have a
ripped-off copy of software;

	I think it is a kind of dumb idea - it would be VERY
easy to hook up some sort of line-protocol analyzer on the 
line and figure out what is being sent back and forth, and then
build a little simulator that could fake it out...and the one
you build would probably be significantly less expensive than
the original unit!

	Another problem is that these assume that there is an
unused port on the equipment...if I had to constantly mess with
the wiring on my PC each time I wanted to change programs I would
start thinking seriously about selling it until the manufactorers
got their act in gear.

	I system I prefer is a hardwired serial number in the 
BIOS ROM of each PC - the program checks that and stores it,
encoded, in it's own code...

	The biggest issue is that adding all this crap is just
going to make software more and more expensive and motivate
more people to try to rip off software (I wouldn't pay more 
than the cost of my PC for ANY program!!!).  A more fruitful
alternative is to work on generating software as CHEAPLY as
possible to allow people to go and BUY it since it's worth
the cost to be a supported, legit owner with the real users
guides and updates.

	JRT and Turbo (Are they the company names?) have both
made a name for themselves in the PC marketplace by using this
sort of philosophy - while Microsoft offers the Microsoft Pascal
Compiler for ? $300+ ?  JRT and Turbo offer BETTER products at
vastly lower prices (under $50.00 including extraneous software
and well written user guides).  I much prefer to deal with the
latter two companies, personally...

	Enough topic wandering :-)

			-- Dave "High Notes Drifter" Taylor
			HP Colorado Networks
			PC Networking Group

		..ucbvax!hplabs!hp-pcd!hpcnoa!d_taylor
#! rnew