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echo: osdebate
to: Rich Gauszka
from: Rich
date: 2007-02-27 21:32:12
subject: Re: Adobe 8 Activation nightmare

From: "Rich" 

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   The article to which you referred claimed that music purchased from =
the Zune store plays on PlaysForSure devices.  There doesn't seem to be =
the restrictive problem that apple has with the itunes store.

   Even with apple's itunes problems in Europe, I don't see anything =
that I would consider a quagmire.  The problems they do exist are with =
interoperabilty and lock in not with the DRM itself.

Rich

  "Rich Gauszka"  wrote in message =
news:45e502d3{at}w3.nls.net...
  Yet there are multiple standards issued from the same company for copy =
protection( PlaysForSure, Zune DRM ). I wouldn't describe that as =
attempting to avoid interoperability problems.

   FWIW - My diatribe isn't meant to be directed at Microsoft solely - =
just the current quagmire that is DRM


    "Rich"  wrote in message news:45e4fc3e{at}w3.nls.net...
       PlaysForSure tackles the same problem as apple tries with itunes =
and their fairplay.  The key difference is that PlaysForSure is widely =
licensed to avoid the interoperability problems that apple has with =
itunes.  Apple could license PlaysForSure if they wanted.

       I don't think the DRM applications to which you refer to are =
generically corporate interests as much as they are content owner =
interests.  This is why steve jobs stated the obvious when asserting = that
he would like to offer other people's content without any DRM.  Of = course
he would as would probably everyone else who has no interest in = the
content itself.

    Rich

      "Rich Gauszka"  wrote in message =
news:45e4f15d$1{at}w3.nls.net...
      or you have the idiocy with Microsoft's PlaysForSure =
certification. DRM=20
      is currently a mess with various corporate entities in a power =
struggle=20
      for control of a market without care of how it affects (screws) =
the=20
      consumer. The average consumer I know either by facial expression =
or=20
      vocally expresses a dissatisfaction with the current state of =
affairs

      http://www.mobilemag.com/content/100/337/C11865/

      While it still appears to be true that PlaysForSure content won't =
work=20
      on a Zune, the reverse is completely hunky doory. You can =
seemingly drag=20
      songs from the Zune Marketplace onto any PlaysForSure device, like =

      offerings from Rio and Creative.



      Rich wrote:
      >    I don't see average consumers misusing the term.  I see =
strongly=20
      > opinionated and technical folks like those that would have their =
own=20
      > blog or would post to a public forum.  This isn't a consumer =
topic=20
      > beyond that some folks are trying to make it one.  That isn't to =
say=20
      > there aren't real issues with interoperability and longevity =
such as you=20
      > read about lately with itunes.  This is just a single =
application of=20
      > DRM.  The same aspects that are an issue for this application =
are not=20
      > issues for the application of DRM to your medical records or =
sensitive=20
      > corporate documents.
      > =20
      > Rich
      > =20
      >=20
      >     "Rich Gauszka"      > wrote in message
      >     news:45e4e27a$1{at}w3.nls.net...
      >     I don't disagree. The notable constant though is that people =
are
      >     including DRM in their complaints just because they can. If =
DRM was as
      >     beneficial for consumers as the industry propagandists spout =
I highly
      >     doubt you'd see this trend.
      >=20
      >=20
      >     Rich wrote:
      >      >    It's not just DRM and this, it's DRM and anything =
people want to
      >      > complain about that can be stretched to garner more =
support.=20
      >     Broadly I
      >      > see it used for anything that restricts access, copying, =
or
      >     similar.  I
      >      > think people believe they will get more sympathy for =
their
      >     position from
      >      > a certain audience if they apply the term DRM than if =
they are
      >     honest.
      >      >=20
      >      > Rich
      >      >=20
      >      >
      >      >     "Rich Gauszka"      
      >      >     > wrote in =
message
      >      >     news:45e4b899{at}w3.nls.net...
      >      >     I understand the point you are making. Unfortunately, =
like it
      >     or not,
      >      >     DRM and Activation are starting to be used =
interchangeably in
      >     everyday
      >      >     use ( as in the Infoworld Gripeline blog )
      >      >
      >      >
      >      >     Rich wrote:
      >      >      >    This is neither a content nor a service which =
is one
      >     reason I
      >      >      > questioned the use of DRM.  I think the new =
subject is
      >     appropriate.
      >      >      >
      >      >      > Rich
      >      >      >
      >      >      >
      >      >      >     "Rich Gauszka"
     
      >      >     
      >      >      >    
> wrote in =
message
      >      >      >     news:45e4b05e$1{at}w3.nls.net...
      >      >      >     It's an inane activation scheme. From =
Microsoft's own
      >      >     definition one
      >      >      >     could make the case that Adobe's activation is =
a content
      >      >     owner setting
      >      >      >     the business rules of a file ( a program in =
this case
      >     ). Most
      >      >     would use
      >      >      >     'activation' for clarity in this context - so =
Subject
      >     changed
      >      >      >
      >      >      >     =
http://www.microsoft.com/security/glossary.mspx#d
      >      >      >
      >      >      >     digital rights management (DRM)
      >      >      >
      >      >      >     Any technology used to protect the interests =
of owners of
      >      >     content and
      >      >      >     services (such as copyright owners). =
Typically, authorized
      >      >      >     recipients or
      >      >      >     users must acquire a license in order to =
consume the
      >     protected
      >      >      >     material=97files, music, movies=97according to =
the rights or
      >      >     business rules
      >      >      >     set by the content owner.
      >      >      >
      >      >      >
      >      >      >     Rich wrote:
      >      >      >      >    What does this have to do with DRM?  Or =
do you
      >     use DRM for
      >      >      >     everything
      >      >      >      > from actual DRM to encrypted email to =
password
      >     protected ZIP
      >      >      >     files to
      >      >      >      > SSL/TLS?
      >      >      >      >
      >      >      >      > Rich
      >      >      >      >
      >      >      >      >
      >      >      >      >     "Rich Gauszka" =
     
      >      >     
      >      >      >     
      >      >      >      >    
> =
wrote in
      >     message
      >      >      >      >     news:45e4792a$1{at}w3.nls.net...
      >      >      >      >     Adobe - If you use a disk defragger the
      >     activation doesn't
      >      >      >     like it?
      >      >      >      >
      >      >      >      > =20
      >      >      >  =20
      >      >   =20
      >     =
http://weblog.infoworld.com/gripeline/archives/2007/02/acrobat_activat.ht=
ml
      >      >      >      >     when it comes to stupid IT designs as =
far as the
      >      >     activation
      >      >      >     issues I
      >      >      >      >     encountered with Adobe. I
upgraded from =
Acrobat
      >     7.0 to
      >      >     8.0,
      >      >      >     because the
      >      >      >      >     demos and features looked great. After
      >     installing it,
      >      >     I didn't
      >      >      >      >     really use it
      >      >      >      >     for a few months. Then I went
to use it =
and it
      >     said it
      >      >     was not
      >      >      >      >     activated."
      >      >      >      >
      >      >      >      >
      >      >      >      >     When the reader went to the menu, he =
was puzzled to
      >      >     see both the
      >      >      >      >     "Activate'
      >      >      >      >     and "Deactivate' buttons
turned off. =
"Seems
      >     stupid --
      >      >      >     shouldn't one
      >      >      >      >     always
      >      >      >      >     be highlighted?" the
reader wondered. =
"After
      >     calling in,
      >      >      >     Adobe told
      >      >      >      >     me to
      >      >      >      >     run the repair function. I did, and it =
worked
      >     for one day,
      >      >      >     and then
      >      >      >      >     it was
      >      >      >      >     deactivated again and both
buttons were =
off
      >     again. I
      >      >     called again
      >      >      >      >     and waited
      >      >      >      >     on hold forever to be told to
uninstall =
and
      >     reinstall.
      >      >     So I
      >      >      >      >     uninstalled and
      >      >      >      >     it deactivated. I went to
reinstall and =
it said
      >     I did
      >      >     not have an
      >      >      >      >     original
      >      >      >      >     product to upgrade from. Wow, like I'm =
supposed to
      >      >     keep all
      >      >      >      >     hundred-plus key
      >      >      >      >     codes I've ever had from Adobe. So =
after about
      >     3 more
      >      >     people
      >      >      >     and a
      >      >      >      >     lot more
      >      >      >      >     time on the phone I got around the =
installation and
      >      >     activated
      >      >      >     again
      >      >      >      >     with a
      >      >      >      >     temp key. Then within hours it =
deactivated again."
      >      >      >      >
      >      >      >      >
      >      >      >      >     The reader then entered a support =
nightmare
      >     from which
      >      >     he is
      >      >      >     yet to
      >      >      >      >     awaken.
      >      >      >      >     For weeks on end, tech after
tech would =
tell him to
      >      >     run the
      >      >      >     repair
      >      >      >      >     function
      >      >      >      >     and reinstall. When that
wouldn't work, =
the techs
      >      >     would begin
      >      >      >      >     speculating as
      >      >      >      >     to what changes he should make to him =
computer to
      >      >     placate the
      >      >      >      >     activation
      >      >      >      >     gods. "Gee, the guy would
say, why do =
you need to
      >      >     mirror your
      >      >      >     hard
      >      >      >      >     drive?"
      >      >      >      >     the reader wrote. "Then
they send me to =
another and
      >      >     the guy says,
      >      >      >      >     gee, if
      >      >      >      >     you upgrade or restore your drive, or =
change your
      >      >      >     configuration, or
      >      >      >      >     backup
      >      >      >      >     to Ghost, or use a RAID array,
or use a =
disk
      >      >     defragger, the
      >      >      >     activation
      >      >      >      >     doesn't like it. Then they
start asking =
why I
      >     need to
      >      >     do these
      >      >      >      >     things, which
      >      >      >      >     is none of their business."
      >      >      >      >
      >      >      >      >
      >      >      >      >     Some of the Adobe techs mentioned that =
what the
      >     reader
      >      >     really
      >      >      >     needed
      >      >      >      >     to fix
      >      >      >      >     the activation problem was "Patch =
2.70."
      >      >     Unfortunately, it seems
      >      >      >      >     Patch 2.70
      >      >      >      >     is not provided to just any old Acrobat
      >     customer, and the
      >      >      >     reader had to
      >      >      >      >     supplicate his way up the support =
ladder to find
      >      >     someone who
      >      >      >     could
      >      >      >      >     authorize
      >      >      >      >     sending it to him. "I
finally get to =
the right
      >     guy and
      >      >     he asks me
      >      >      >      >     why I need
      >      >      >      >     it and why I can't stop mirroring and
      >     defragging and
      >      >     using Ghost.
      >      >      >      >     Finally he
      >      >      >      >     says he'll escalate the issue and I'll =
have an
      >     e-mail
      >      >     in 24
      >      >      >     hours.
      >      >      >      >     Next day
      >      >      >      >     there's no e-mail so I call back. It =
was never
      >      >     escalated and
      >      >      >     I have
      >      >      >      >     to start
      >      >      >      >     the process of filing to get the patch =
all over
      >     again."
      >      >      >      >
      >      >      >      >
      >      >      >      >     The reader is a stubborn man, though, =
and he
      >      >     eventually prevailed
      >      >      >      >     upon Adobe
      >      >      >      >     to send him Patch 2.70. It
didn't help. =
Several
      >     more
      >      >     weeks of
      >      >      >      >     escalations to
      >      >      >      >     supervisors and higher levels of Adobe =
support have
      >      >     followed,
      >      >      >     without
      >      >      >      >     success. Last week Adobe promised to =
send him a
      >     copy
      >      >     of Acrobat -
      >      >      >      >     presumably
      >      >      >      >     the corporate version - that would get =
around
      >     the problem.
      >      >      >     But at last
      >      >      >      >     report it still hasn't shown, so the =
reader's
      >     copy of
      >      >     Acrobat
      >      >      >     8 remains
      >      >      >      >     deactivated.
      >      >      >      >
      >      >      >      >
      >      >      >      >     "The amount of time,
support, and money =
that
      >     Adobe and
      >      >     I have
      >      >      >     wasted
      >      >      >      >     on this
      >      >      >      >     is crazy," the reader
wrote. "I =
understand
      >     protecting your
      >      >      >     product, but
      >      >      >      >     these people have gone way overboard =
with this
      >      >     activation that's
      >      >      >      >     tied so
      >      >      >      >     closely to the hardware that you can't =
do anything
      >      >     that doesn't
      >      >      >      >     upset it.
      >      >      >      >     Many people back up, restore, defrag =
and mirror
      >     disks and
      >      >      >     many more
      >      >      >      >     will do
      >      >      >      >     so as the prices come down. I think =
Adobe needs to
      >      >     clean some
      >      >      >      >     management
      >      >      >      >     house, toss out this stupid activation =
process, and
      >      >     get something
      >      >      >      >     that works
      >      >      >      >     instead of the runaround."
      >      >      >      >
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   The
article to which you =
referred=20
claimed that music purchased from the Zune store plays on PlaysForSure=20
devices.  There doesn't seem to be the restrictive problem that =
apple has=20
with the itunes store.
 
   Even with
apple's itunes =
problems in=20
Europe, I don't see anything that I would consider a quagmire.  The =

problems they do exist are with interoperabilty and lock in not with the = DRM=20
itself.
 
Rich
 
"Rich Gauszka" <gauszka{at}dontspamhotmail.commailto:gauszka{at}dontspamhotmail.com">gauszka{at}dontspamhotmail.com A>>=20 wrote in message news:45e502d3{at}w3.nls.net... Yet there are multiple standards = issued from the=20 same company for copy protection( PlaysForSure, Zune DRM ). I wouldn't = describe that as attempting to avoid interoperability = problems. FWIW - My diatribe isn't meant = to be=20 directed at Microsoft solely - just the current quagmire that is=20 DRM
"Rich" <{at}> wrote in message news:45e4fc3e{at}w3.nls.net... PlaysForSure tackles = the same=20 problem as apple tries with itunes and their fairplay. The key = difference is that PlaysForSure is widely licensed to avoid the=20 interoperability problems that apple has with itunes. Apple = could=20 license PlaysForSure if they wanted. I don't think the DRM = applications=20 to which you refer to are generically corporate interests as much as = they=20 are content owner interests. This is why steve jobs stated the = obvious=20 when asserting that he would like to offer other people's content = without=20 any DRM. Of course he would as would probably everyone else = who has no=20 interest in the content itself. Rich "Rich Gauszka" <gauszka{at}-nospam-hotmail.commailto:gauszka{at}-nospam-hotmail.com">gauszka{at}-nospam-hotmail.com A>>=20 wrote in message news:45e4f15d$1{at}w3.nls.net...or=20 you have the idiocy with Microsoft's PlaysForSure certification. = DRM=20 is currently a mess with various corporate entities in a power = struggle for control of a market without care of how it = affects=20 (screws) the consumer. The average consumer I know either by = facial=20 expression or vocally expresses a dissatisfaction with the = current=20 state of affairshttp://www.mobi" target="new">http://www.mobi=">http://www.mobilemag.com/content/100/337/C11865/">http://www.mobi= lemag.com/content/100/337/C11865/While=20 it still appears to be true that PlaysForSure content won't work = on a=20 Zune, the reverse is completely hunky doory. You can seemingly = drag=20 songs from the Zune Marketplace onto any PlaysForSure device, = like=20 offerings from Rio and Creative.Rich=20 wrote:> I don't see average consumers = misusing=20 the term. I see strongly > opinionated and technical = folks=20 like those that would have their own > blog or would post = to a=20 public forum. This isn't a consumer topic > beyond = that some=20 folks are trying to make it one. That isn't to say > = there=20 aren't real issues with interoperability and longevity such as you = > read about lately with itunes. This is just a = single=20 application of > DRM. The same aspects that are an = issue for=20 this application are not > issues for the application of = DRM to=20 your medical records or sensitive > corporate=20 documents.> > Rich> >=20 > "Rich Gauszka" <gauszka{at}-nospam-hotmail.commailto:gauszka{at}-nospam-hotmail.com">gauszka{at}-nospam-hotmail.com A>> =20 <mailto:gauszka{at}-nospam-hotmai=">mailto:gauszka{at}-nospam-hotmail.com">mailto:gauszka{at}-nospam-hotmai= l.com>>=20 wrote in message> news:45e4e27a$1{at}w3.nls.net...= > =20 I don't disagree. The notable constant though is that people=20 are> including DRM in their = complaints just=20 because they can. If DRM was as> = beneficial=20 for consumers as the industry propagandists spout I=20 highly> doubt you'd see this = trend.>=20 > > Rich=20 wrote:> = > It's=20 not just DRM and this, it's DRM and anything people want=20 to> > complain about that = can be=20 stretched to garner more support. > = Broadly=20 I> > see it used for = anything that=20 restricts access, copying, or> =20 similar. I> > think = people=20 believe they will get more sympathy for=20 their> position=20 from> > a certain audience = if they=20 apply the term DRM than if they = are> =20 honest.> >=20 > >=20 Rich> >=20 > =20 >> = > =20 "Rich Gauszka" <gauszka{at}-nospam-hotmail.commailto:gauszka{at}-nospam-hotmail.com">gauszka{at}-nospam-hotmail.com A>> =20 <mailto:gauszka{at}-nospam-hotmai=">mailto:gauszka{at}-nospam-hotmail.com">mailto:gauszka{at}-nospam-hotmai= l.com>> =20 > <mailto:gauszka{at}-nospam-hotmai=">mailto:gauszka{at}-nospam-hotmail.com">mailto:gauszka{at}-nospam-hotmai= l.com>>=20 wrote in message> =20 > news:45e4b899{at}w3.nls.net...>= =20 > I understand the point you are = making.=20 Unfortunately, like it> or=20 not,> = > =20 DRM and Activation are starting to be used interchangeably=20 in> =20 everyday> =20 > use ( as in the Infoworld Gripeline = blog=20 )> =20 >> =20 >> = > =20 Rich wrote:> =20 > > This is = neither=20 a content nor a service which is = one> =20 reason I> =20 > > questioned the use of = DRM. I=20 think the new subject is> =20 appropriate.> =20 > =20 >> =20 > >=20 Rich> =20 > =20 >> =20 > =20 >> =20 > > = "Rich=20 Gauszka" <gauszka{at}-nospam-hotmail.commailto:gauszka{at}-nospam-hotmail.com">gauszka{at}-nospam-hotmail.com A>> =20 <mailto:gauszka{at}-nospam-hotmai=">mailto:gauszka{at}-nospam-hotmail.com">mailto:gauszka{at}-nospam-hotmai= l.com>> =20 > <mailto:gauszka{at}-nospam-hotmai=">mailto:gauszka{at}-nospam-hotmail.com">mailto:gauszka{at}-nospam-hotmai= l.com>> =20 > > = <mailto:gauszka{at}-nospam-hotmai=">mailto:gauszka{at}-nospam-hotmail.com">mailto:gauszka{at}-nospam-hotmai= l.com>>=20 wrote in message> =20 > > news:45e4b05e$1{at}w3.nls.net...= > =20 > > = It's an=20 inane activation scheme. From Microsoft's=20 own> = > =20 definition one> =20 > > = could make=20 the case that Adobe's activation is a=20 content> = > =20 owner setting> =20 > > = the=20 business rules of a file ( a program in this=20 case> ).=20 Most> = > =20 would use> =20 > > =20 'activation' for clarity in this context - so=20 Subject> =20 changed> =20 > =20 >> =20 > > http://www.mic" target="new">http://www.mic=">http://www.microsoft.com/security/glossary.mspx#d">http://www.mic= rosoft.com/security/glossary.mspx#d> &n= bsp;=20 > =20 >> =20 > > = digital=20 rights management (DRM)> =20 > =20 >> =20 > > = Any=20 technology used to protect the interests of owners=20 of> = > =20 content and> =20 > > = services=20 (such as copyright owners). Typically,=20 authorized> =20 > > = recipients=20 or> =20 > > = users must=20 acquire a license in order to consume = the> =20 protected> =20 > > =20 material=97files, music, movies=97according to the rights=20 or> = > =20 business rules> =20 > > = set by the=20 content owner.> =20 > =20 >> =20 > =20 >> =20 > > = Rich=20 wrote:> =20 > = > =20 > What does this have to do with DRM? = Or do=20 you> use DRM=20 for> =20 > > =20 everything> =20 > = > >=20 from actual DRM to encrypted email to=20 password> protected=20 ZIP> =20 > > = files=20 to> =20 > = > >=20 SSL/TLS?> =20 > = > =20 >> =20 > = > >=20 Rich> =20 > = > =20 >> =20 > = > =20 >> =20 > = > =20 > "Rich Gauszka" <gauszka{at}dontspamhotmail.commailto:gauszka{at}dontspamhotmail.com">gauszka{at}dontspamhotmail.com A>> =20 <mailto:gauszka{at}dontspamhotmai=">mailto:gauszka{at}dontspamhotmail.com">mailto:gauszka{at}dontspamhotmai= l.com>> =20 > <mailto:gauszka{at}dontspamhotmai=">mailto:gauszka{at}dontspamhotmail.com">mailto:gauszka{at}dontspamhotmai= l.com>> =20 > > = <mailto:gauszka{at}dontspamhotmai=">mailto:gauszka{at}dontspamhotmail.com">mailto:gauszka{at}dontspamhotmai= l.com>> =20 > = > =20 > <mailto:gauszka{at}dontspamhotmai=">mailto:gauszka{at}dontspamhotmail.com">mailto:gauszka{at}dontspamhotmai= l.com>>=20 wrote in> =20 message> =20 > = > =20 > news:45e4792a$1{at}w3.nls.net...= > =20 > = > =20 > Adobe - If you use a disk defragger=20 the> activation=20 doesn't> =20 > > = like=20 it?> =20 > = > =20 >> =20 > = > =20 > > =20 > > =20 > > =20 > http://weblog.infoworld.com/gripeline/archives/2007/02/acrobat_ac= tivat.html">http://weblog.infoworld.com/gripeline/archives/2007/02/acroba= t_activat.html> =20 > = > =20 > when it comes to stupid IT designs as = far as=20 the> = > =20 activation> =20 > > = issues=20 I> = > =20 > > =20 encountered with Adobe. I upgraded from=20 Acrobat> 7.0=20 to> = > =20 8.0,> =20 > > = because=20 the> =20 > = > =20 > demos and features looked great.=20 After> installing=20 it,> = > I=20 didn't> =20 > = > =20 > really use=20 it> =20 > = > =20 > for a few months. Then I went to use = it and=20 it> said=20 it> = > was=20 not> =20 > = > =20 > =20 activated."> =20 > = > =20 >> =20 > = > =20 >> =20 > = > =20 > When the reader went to the menu, he = was=20 puzzled to> =20 > see both=20 the> =20 > = > =20 > =20 "Activate'> =20 > = > =20 > and "Deactivate' buttons turned off.=20 "Seems> stupid=20 --> =20 > > = shouldn't=20 one> =20 > = > =20 > = always> =20 > = > =20 > be highlighted?" the reader wondered. = "After> calling=20 in,> =20 > > = Adobe=20 told> =20 > = > =20 > me = to> =20 > = > =20 > run the repair function. I did, and = it=20 worked> for one=20 day,> =20 > > = and=20 then> =20 > = > =20 > it = was> =20 > = > =20 > deactivated again and both buttons = were=20 off> again.=20 I> = > =20 called again> =20 > = > =20 > and=20 waited> =20 > = > =20 > on hold forever to be told to = uninstall=20 and> =20 reinstall.> =20 > So = I> =20 > = > =20 > uninstalled=20 and> =20 > = > =20 > it deactivated. I went to reinstall = and it=20 said> I=20 did> = > not=20 have an> =20 > = > =20 > =20 original> =20 > = > =20 > product to upgrade from. Wow, like = I'm=20 supposed to> =20 > keep=20 all> =20 > = > =20 > hundred-plus=20 key> =20 > = > =20 > codes I've ever had from Adobe. So = after=20 about> 3=20 more> = > =20 people> =20 > > = and=20 a> = > =20 > > = lot=20 more> =20 > = > =20 > time on the phone I got around the=20 installation and> =20 > =20 activated> =20 > > =20 again> =20 > = > =20 > with = a> =20 > = > =20 > temp key. Then within hours it = deactivated=20 again."> =20 > = > =20 >> =20 > = > =20 >> =20 > = > =20 > The reader then entered a support=20 nightmare> from=20 which> = > =20 he is> =20 > > = yet=20 to> =20 > = > =20 > = awaken.> =20 > = > =20 > For weeks on end, tech after tech = would tell=20 him to> = > =20 run the> =20 > > =20 repair> =20 > = > =20 > =20 function> =20 > = > =20 > and reinstall. When that wouldn't = work, the=20 techs> = > =20 would begin> =20 > = > =20 > speculating=20 as> =20 > = > =20 > to what changes he should make to him = computer to> =20 > placate=20 the> =20 > = > =20 > =20 activation> =20 > = > =20 > gods. "Gee, the guy would say, why do = you=20 need to> = > =20 mirror your> =20 > > =20 hard> =20 > = > =20 > = drive?"> =20 > = > =20 > the reader wrote. "Then they send me = to=20 another and> =20 > the guy=20 says,> =20 > = > =20 > gee, = if> =20 > = > =20 > you upgrade or restore your drive, or = change=20 your> =20 > > =20 configuration, or> =20 > = > =20 > = backup> =20 > = > =20 > to Ghost, or use a RAID array, or use = a=20 disk> = > =20 defragger, the> =20 > > =20 activation> =20 > = > =20 > doesn't like it. Then they start = asking why=20 I> need=20 to> = > do=20 these> =20 > = > =20 > things,=20 which> =20 > = > =20 > is none of their=20 business."> =20 > = > =20 >> =20 > = > =20 >> =20 > = > =20 > Some of the Adobe techs mentioned = that what=20 the> =20 reader> = > =20 really> =20 > > =20 needed> =20 > = > =20 > to = fix> =20 > = > =20 > the activation problem was "Patch=20 2.70."> = > =20 Unfortunately, it seems> =20 > = > =20 > Patch=20 2.70> =20 > = > =20 > is not provided to just any old=20 Acrobat> customer, and=20 the> =20 > > = reader had=20 to> =20 > = > =20 > supplicate his way up the support = ladder to=20 find> = > =20 someone who> =20 > > =20 could> =20 > = > =20 > =20 authorize> =20 > = > =20 > sending it to him. "I finally get to = the=20 right> guy=20 and> = > he=20 asks me> =20 > = > =20 > why I=20 need> =20 > = > =20 > it and why I can't stop mirroring=20 and> defragging=20 and> = > =20 using Ghost.> =20 > = > =20 > Finally=20 he> =20 > = > =20 > says he'll escalate the issue and = I'll have=20 an> =20 e-mail> = > =20 in 24> =20 > > =20 hours.> =20 > = > =20 > Next=20 day> =20 > = > =20 > there's no e-mail so I call back. It = was=20 never> = > =20 escalated and> =20 > > I=20 have> =20 > = > =20 > to=20 start> =20 > = > =20 > the process of filing to get the = patch all=20 over> =20 again."> =20 > = > =20 >> =20 > = > =20 >> =20 > = > =20 > The reader is a stubborn man, though, = and=20 he> = > =20 eventually prevailed> =20 > = > =20 > upon=20 Adobe> =20 > = > =20 > to send him Patch 2.70. It didn't = help.=20 Several> =20 more> = > =20 weeks of> =20 > = > =20 > escalations=20 to> =20 > = > =20 > supervisors and higher levels of = Adobe=20 support have> =20 > =20 followed,> =20 > > =20 without> =20 > = > =20 > success. Last week Adobe promised to = send him=20 a> =20 copy> = > of=20 Acrobat -> =20 > = > =20 > =20 presumably> =20 > = > =20 > the corporate version - that would = get=20 around> the=20 problem.> =20 > > = But at=20 last> =20 > = > =20 > report it still hasn't shown, so the=20 reader's> copy=20 of> = > =20 Acrobat> =20 > > 8=20 remains> =20 > = > =20 > =20 deactivated.> =20 > = > =20 >> =20 > = > =20 >> =20 > = > =20 > "The amount of time, support, and = money=20 that> Adobe=20 and> = > I=20 have> =20 > > =20 wasted> =20 > = > =20 > on = this> =20 > = > =20 > is crazy," the reader wrote. "I=20 understand> protecting=20 your> =20 > > = product,=20 but> =20 > = > =20 > these people have gone way overboard = with=20 this> = > =20 activation that's> =20 > = > =20 > tied = so> =20 > = > =20 > closely to the hardware that you = can't do=20 anything> =20 > that=20 doesn't> =20 > = > =20 > upset=20 it.> =20 > = > =20 > Many people back up, restore, defrag = and=20 mirror> disks=20 and> =20 > > = many=20 more> =20 > = > =20 > will = do> =20 > = > =20 > so as the prices come down. I think = Adobe=20 needs to> =20 > clean=20 some> =20 > = > =20 > =20 management> =20 > = > =20 > house, toss out this stupid = activation=20 process, and> =20 > get=20 something> =20 > = > =20 > that=20 works> =20 > = > =20 > instead of the=20 runaround."> =20 > = > =20 > ------=_NextPart_000_0588_01C75AB6.BE95BB20-- --- BBBS/NT v4.01 Flag-5
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