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AnonTechie writes:
"Echoing a question asked on programmers.stackexchange.com - How can software be protected from piracy ?
It just seems a little hard to believe that with all of our technological advances and the billions of dollars spent on engineering the most unbelievable and mind-blowing software, we still have no other means of protecting against piracy than a "serial number/activation key." I'm sure a ton of money, maybe even billions, went into creating Windows 7 or Office and even Snow Leopard, yet I can get it for free in less than 20 minutes. Same for all of Adobe's products, which are probably the easiest. Can there exist a fool-proof and hack-proof method of protecting your software against piracy? If not realistically, could it be theoretically possible? Or no matter what mechanisms these companies deploy, can hackers always find a way around it ?"
(Score: 2, Interesting) by el_oscuro on Saturday March 22 2014, @09:40PM
I would agree, as long as I can find the correct size wrench. Unfortunately, the correct size is always the one that is missing. If you were look up "correct size wrench" in the dictionary, it would have a picture of an empty slot in my tool chest. :)
So sometimes you need to use a crescent. Just make sure to get the original, actual Crescent wrench. They are still made in the USA, and will hold a bolt a lot better than the cheap made in China crap. Same thing goes for Channellock pliers, also still made in the USA. While almost everyone has some knock-off of them in their toolchest, try picking up a Channellock 440. You will not believe the difference in quality.
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(Score: 2) by Reziac on Sunday March 23 2014, @04:04AM
The difference is that you'll only buy ONE of the tool made in USA or Germany or Finland, since it will last pretty much forever, and A BUNCH of the cheap Chinese knockoff (or worse, the cheap Indian knockoff) since they keep breaking.
And there is no Alkibiades to come back and save us from ourselves.
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Sunday March 23 2014, @09:34AM
Uhhhmmm, while I tend to agree with your statement, the conversation wasn't directed that way.
No matter how well made a crescent wrench might be, it is a general purpose tool, lacking in precision. It might be "good enough" to turn your nuts and bolts most of the time, but it can't be counted on. A precision built hex wrench or socket will fit the appropriate nuts and bolts exactly, time after time, with no slipping. It only takes one broken knuckle to convince a more intelligent person that precision tools are worth the extra cost. I do own and use slip joint pliers and channel locks, but I never use them on nuts and bolts. Even expensive high dollar crescent wrenches are known to slip when a lot of torque is applied to them. The monkey wrenches I mentioned will take more torque than a crescent, but they will slip too.
(Score: 2) by Reziac on Sunday March 23 2014, @06:18PM
This too, tho sometimes a person can't be arsed to go find the correct wrench or socket, and vise-grips do the job well enough. Or the damned socket won't FIT in the spot, but vise-grips do.... a situation I have a lot of experience with thanks to the vagaries of fence clamps and irregular fence panels. :( And then there's the crescent wrench I use mostly as a hammer, because it fits conveniently into narrow spots. We won't even discuss how I use the tire iron. :)
I'd say the software market, DRM and all has much in common with both situations.
What was the question? :)
And there is no Alkibiades to come back and save us from ourselves.
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Monday March 24 2014, @04:05AM
LMAO at the crescent wrench hammer - that is just to damned true!! Not to mention that the crescent wrench fits into a hip pocket, but a hammer normally stays in the drawer of my toolbox because it doesn't fit into a pocket.
(Score: 2) by Reziac on Monday March 24 2014, @05:03AM
Nonsense. This ball-peen with the busted-off handle (er, without the busted-off handle) that I found in the mud today fits in my pocket just fine!
And there is no Alkibiades to come back and save us from ourselves.