Pete Prodoehl 🍕Mar 3
Hey kids, in the olden days you bought (instead of “rented”) software and it came in a box with a disc and it was yours to use forever!
Show threadPete Prodoehl 🍕Mar 3

Well, the “forever” part was tricky because it might break due to OS upgrades or computer architecture/chip changes.

But making a one-time purchase and using software 5 or 10 years was not unheard of.

I think I paid $500 for Photoshop and it came out to under $9 per month if I do the math right… that’s for 10 years of use.

If it’s still $20 per month for a subscription and you do 10 years that’s $2,400.

Show threadPete Prodoehl 🍕Mar 3
Just like how my mortgage is less than tbe rent my (adult) children pay, renting is about never owning and always paying more.
Show threadadingbatponder  đź‘ľ

@rasterweb The disaster is one can be locked out of software you paid for if the internet is down or vendor's servers are down because you cannot authenticate that you have paid for the software. They do not even provide alternative authentication like a key. The software keeps needing re-authentication and it is not a one-off. It is like renting a house and not being able to open the door unless the telephone line is working and the landlord's answering machine is not full.

A total disaster.

Mar 3 at 1:49pmWeb
Show threadPete Prodoehl 🍕Mar 3
@adingbatponder Yup! It didn’t use to be that way though. I do remember offline options to verify a license for some software.
Show threadMichael 🤨Mar 4
@rasterweb @adingbatponder I remember calling Microsoft on the phone to authenticate my copy of Windows 7 I think. Feels like a fever dream now
Show threadWesDymMar 3

@adingbatponder That is a scandal, for sure. There's no good reason that local authentication should not be available.

As I said elsewhere, I blame inadequate regulation. Vendors can be made to do this, if enough people push for it.