n4Jul 1, 2023
The events that have happened here today marks a new era for the internet. Websites that derive their value from user-submitted content are continuing their move towards sealing off that content and information from the world. Their libraries were created by everyone, but will soon be available to only those who pay.
Show threadn4Jul 1, 2023

My greatest advice to those concerned: Start archiving. If you come across something you believe is valuable: make a copy.

If you follow a guide on how to install and configure software and you found it helpful: make a copy.

If you come across a video you really enjoy and find yourself coming back to again and again: make a copy.

If it means anything to you: make a copy, or you'll wish you did.

Show threadJon Bradbury
@n4 @ianRobinson don’t half of us in IT already do this. I’ve a chunk of hard drive committed to various downloads and other bits of software to make things work as so used to companies pulling downloads/activations. What you want to use that 5 year old software? We didn’t mean it when we said “lifetime”…
Jul 1, 2023 at 5:36pmWeb
Show threadn4Jul 1, 2023

@jonbradbury @ianRobinson You would be surprised at the lack of backups in some IT departments. It is also sometimes unfortunate that some software installers do not include all of the files required to get the software running, such as downloading those resources from the internet at installation time.

I think what you are doing is very wise. Keep up the good work!

Show threadJon BradburyJul 1, 2023
@n4 @ianRobinson I probably wouldn’t based on how often I’m telling people off for crappy backups. Very belt and braces here. Apple has been quicker than you’d like at discontinuing application downloads, and seen various across Mac/windows where expensive software scuppered because you can’t find an update patch somewhere that’s critical to the software, or disabled activation servers that people expected to last forever on their lifetime software
Show threadn4Jul 1, 2023

@jonbradbury @ianRobinson I hold a lot of respect for those who take the time to reverse engineer these things, create workarounds, and release working alternatives for everyone.

I love the cooperativeness and creativity that people share online. It makes me grateful that I get the opportunity to experience and benefit from it.

Show threadJon BradburyJul 2, 2023
@n4 even some of that is being pulled now. Put AutoCad 2013 (iirc) on win7 on a MBP for a customer last year, tricky job as half links to the right DLs gone. Anyway sorted that, kept the DLs, customer asked for same again this year. Installed but activation servers turned off, customers miffed, well I own it I'll download a pirate copy, only all the pirate links are dead ends and the downloads don't exist. The pirates only want the latest versions it turns out. OK I've got 2003 he says 1/2
Show threadJon BradburyJul 2, 2023
@n4 only whilst 2003 will install on W7 it promptly crashes, well documented fault at the time w7 came out, all the known fix downloads are pulled, a company even did a $300 paid for fix in period, only that doesn't exist anymore... God knows what the computer history museum for this period will look like when all the software is subscription, if it even exists on your machine to even begin with... 2/2