[mdlug] CAD vs CAE (for linux)

[Robert Adkins]

-------- Original Message  --------
Subject: Re:[mdlug] CAD vs CAE (for linux)
From: Ingles, Raymond <Raymond.Ingles at compuware.com>
To: MDLUG's Main discussion list <mdlug at mdlug.org>
Date: Monday, July 09, 2007 10:22:43 AM
>> From: Robert Adkins
>> From: Ingles, Raymond <Raymond.Ingles at compuware.com>
>>     
>
>   
>>>  Don't the CAD programs have a long history of 'anti-piracy' measures and
>>> such? Dongles, codes, and license servers, oh my! Enforcing such measures it
>>> a lot harder when the end user can muck with the actual operating system. It
>>> might be paranoia on the part of the CAD companies.
>>>       
>
>   
>>     The question of whether or not the software protection mechanism 
>> will be cracked is absolutely moot. The problem is, while the 
>> programming team and support staff are likely very aware of that, the 
>> decision making part of CAD/CAM software provides has no understanding 
>> of this technical fact and thus it won't go away anytime soon. (Which 
>> probably explains their fear with Linux quite succinctly.)
>>     
>
>  Linux just points out how misguided software copy protection is. A lot
> of people would rather not face that reality, however. See my .sig below.
>
>  Sincerely,
>
>  Ray Ingles                                             (313) 227-2317
>
>  "Trying to make bits uncopyable is like trying to make water not wet.
>   The sooner people accept this, and build business models that take
>   this into account, the sooner people will start making money again."
>                           - Bruce Schneier
>   
    BTW, here's that "Award Winning" Business model:

    1. Create an Incremental Enhancement to the Software Package that by 
itself isn't worth jack.
    2. Rearrange EVERY interface and location of menus/options, so when 
someone buys the new package they can see that it is all "new!", then we 
can claim the changes were made due to "Focus Group" response. (We just 
won't tell anyone that those "Focus Groups" were our own people and 
their "Focus" was to make us more money!)
    3. Offer expensive support package, which includes No Training or 
25% off Training. (Training either requires a week of the user going out 
of state or a week of having an overpriced trainer in house.)
    4. PROFIT!

    There's a package of software we are forced into using due to 
hardware/software marriage that includes such a methodology of updates.

    -Rob