Name One Reason Why Product Activation Is Good For The Consumer
from the not-so-easy dept
A general rule of thumb if you're selling something: you don't want to add any "features" that aren't of any value to those who are buying the product. I'm sure we can all think of examples where this happens - and it always backfires. The latest example: software product activation. As the article says, this is basically "forced registration". You can't use the software unless you've got it registered. Software companies love it, because they think it means less piracy. They're wrong. Cracked versions of the software show up usually before the software is even released. All product activation really does is aggravate the customer. They make it more difficult for the end-user to install the product - and often necessitate (costly) phone calls to tech support. Worse, in the event that the computer dies (which happens way too often), you often are left in a bind until you can prove that it's really the same computer. This is a "feature" which makes the buyer's life worse while doing nothing to help the seller. Yet, short-sighted software companies keep looking to add this "feature". The latest (and, perhaps most bizarre) example is Norton's anti-virus program. This makes no sense whatsoever - since for the anti-virus program to actually work you need to pay money and have a subscription. That alone should be all the "activation" needed. Already (and I know this from personal experience) if your computer dies and you have to reinstall Norton, you need to go through a lengthly process to prove to them that you really did pay and that the new version of the software you installed should work through the life of your subscription. Now they want to add on top of that annoying "product activation"? They're actively driving their customers to look into other options. I know I am.Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.
While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.
–The Techdirt Team
Reader Comments
Subscribe: RSS
View by: Time | Thread
But the consumer gets valuable marketing informati
Your registration info will be used to market to you. You benefit from marketing info. And if I tell you over and over how much you benefit, you will find out how right I am.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
No Subject Given
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Norton
Thanks, Norton! If it weren't for you, I'd never have found a FREE antivirus program that works just as good.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
No Subject Given
That's the only good reason. Otherwise it's pretty much all to the providers benefit. Please note however, that companies who are employing this are typically market leaders with little or no competition; ergo you have little choice.
And I sympathisize with them. I've seen way to many 'borrowed' copies of software wind up on users machines.
Beats the doogles that some of the higher end products employ.
--RJD--
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: No Subject Given
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Norton
Don't forget BitDefender too.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Myself...
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Myself...
Norton's recent software is some of the worst UI I've seen this side of that spawn of the Dark One himself, Lotus Notes.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
ativation of reason
[ link to this | view in thread ]