Make the registration data in the titlebar optional

[icfu]

@pdavit:
What's wrong with the word "stubborn"?
Titlebar change is a "feature wish", I'd call it a bug, being discussed for several years and ghisler doesn't even feel the need anymore to answer in a hot topic like that. I can't call someone "open-minded" when someone refuses to take part in inconvenient discussions but prefers to say nothing at all or just answers one time like "No, it doesn't fit on a floppy disk or no, I don't like it because [insert whatever reason here]".
An "open-minded" developer would listen to and implement features he doesn't like himself, too, at least sometimes...

That is why I used the term "stubborn", BUT, it's nothing bad in general!

Some of the best features in TC we see today have survived only because the author is so stubborn and doesn't implement each and every wish.

But still, he could do better and AT LEAST tell us more about his sometimes strange decisions to not implement desperately needed features. If he would tell people in a thread like this "stop discussing, I don't change my opinion anyway", that would be a clear signal and I could stop wasting my time here.
It's not that I would like discussing cracks and fighting against 50% of the TC community because I have a different opinion.

As long as I don't get a STOP signal from the author I will continue to be an inconvenient board member and tell my opinion regardless if other people like it or not.

Still waiting for angry mails from board members and the author btw...

Icfu

[pdavit]

2 icfu

Christian did answer actually on the other related thread with a perfectly clear statement:

Quoting Christian:
"Yes, the name in the title is the only "copy protection" Total Commander has - it's kind of a psychological copy protection.

I don't like programs which are locked to a certain PC, or which are time-limited (limited to x days of operation is OK), but no protection at all would also mean no sales. So far this strategy has been very successful, so I don't plan to change it."


Now, I'm a fan as well on getting rid off the name on the title bar but my wish is purely aesthetical. On the other hand, Christian is taking a (unnecessary) risk here according to his sayings and whether he's right or wrong we have to respect that. It's his head in decapitation here can we blame him for that? If TC is his full-time job and brings food on his table, then for this issue, he can be as closed-minded as he wishes.

Oh, and I never said you should be silenced. On the contrary, the opposing political party is the one pushing a government in keeping standards high while both parties fight for the very same cause.

[Clo]

2pdavit
Hello Panos !

• This is a good (cool) résumé of the problem.
* Two compromises which could be accepted by Ch. Ghisler, when really necessary (?) :
- The user's name as short, in example John C. B.
- The title of the user's Web-site, "John's Homepage" or so...


Kind regards,
Claude
Clo

[icfu]

@pdavit:
Unfortunately I know that statement from ghisler.

It's a "copy protection" in quotation marks, right. All people NOT willing to buy TC have *whatever* name they wish or *no name at all* anyway while all people buying TC are forced to use the name they registered TC with, this is rather perverted.

It's the same like copy protection on music CDs. It doesn't help protecting music at all but at least it criminalizes customers, a really great idea to punish people for buying something.

I am honest, I don't and will probably never understand it because I know what's going on in reality. People buying TC do that because they wanna support the last unicorn in developers guild and not because they don't know where to find a crack.

@Clo:
Name is something intimate, it doesn't matter if you call someone J.C.B.G.O.H.A.R.L.N or John Christian Being Guilty Of Having A Really Long Name or just Little Doggie, you know what I mean?

People's homepages are even more intimate than their name because they usually reveal even more personal details. Why should *anyone* be forced to tell other people his identity if it's not the authorities?
I believe in good old privacy. If someone wants to know who I am he has to ask me. People with their name tattooed on their forehead are looking rather stupid, don't they?

Icfu

[wanderer]

Some time ago I even suggested to the authors of another indispensable tool of mine that they could start a forum like the Total Commander Forum. This way the user community could share experience and participate in the development process more easily. Unfortunately they replied that they don't have such plans currently.

Well, it's understandable. It must take a lot of Christian's time to do TC development, read the forum and emails and answer to them. I would not be surprised at all if a team of people exists behind Christian supporting him.

[wanderer]

@pdavit:
What's wrong with the word "stubborn"?

Well, it's a little agressive. You could call someone stubborn if for instance you discuss with him on a decision you have to make in a project you are working together. There is no point on trying to force someone to do something the way you like it, in one of his projects. The odds of that happening are very slim. If he believes there is a point in what you say, he'll at least have your request in mind.

Titlebar change is a "feature wish", I'd call it a bug, being discussed for several years and ghisler doesn't even feel the need anymore to answer in a hot topic like that. I can't call someone "open-minded" when someone refuses to take part in inconvenient discussions but prefers to say nothing at all or just answers one time like "No, it doesn't fit on a floppy disk or no, I don't like it because [insert whatever reason here]".
An "open-minded" developer would listen to and implement features he doesn't like himself, too, at least sometimes...

Don't forget he's not only developing TC but he's also answering emails and posts here in the forum. If he participated fully in every discussion that takes place here, TC would still be at version 0.99999 I assume he tries not to participate very much in order to have time for development and of course let's not forget personal life... Also, let's have in mind that he is expecting a profit from TC so he has to keep some balance on some matters...

Some of the best features in TC we see today have survived only because the author is so stubborn and doesn't implement each and every wish.

If he tried to do that, we would certainly drive him crazy, not to mention (again) that TC would still be at version 0.99999...

But still, he could do better and AT LEAST tell us more about his sometimes strange decisions to not implement desperately needed features. If he would tell people in a thread like this "stop discussing, I don't change my opinion anyway", that would be a clear signal and I could stop wasting my time here.

That's true. Sometimes i've seen some long and interesting threads and I searched around trying to find Christian's opinion but without luck. I guess it's part of a "not getting too involved in the forums to save time for other stuff" policy. It seems though that he at least reads the posts in the forum, even though he may not post an opinion/answer. That's very important IMO.

Still waiting for angry mails from board members and the author btw...

OK then:

Have fun...

[Black Dog]

[face=courier]On 11-06-2004 12:28:17 +0000 Lefteous wrote:

L> "key generator patches"

Dear Lefteous, the thing you are talking about is definitely a "patch" but has nothing to do with "key" or "key generator" - it doesn't produce any file Commander assume as it's registration key or anything key-related. It just puts some text string to title bar and removes nag screen. So the thing you are talking about is not "key generator patch", this is "title bar name&nag screen patch" or just a CRACK.[/face]

[Lefteous]

2Black Dog

it doesn't produce any file Commander assume as it's registration key or anything key-related.

Don't be so sure...What I have seen creates a key file (what for if the crack does the whole job?), but patches the TC executable too.

[Sheepdog]

What I have seen creates a key file (what for if the crack does the whole job?), but patches the TC executable too.

The keyfile is used to patch different installations with the same data you have typed the first time only.

sheepdog

[Black Dog]

[face=courier]On 13-06-2004 22:43:47 +0000 Lefteous wrote:

L> Don't be so sure...

Well, I am pretty sure :).

L> What I have seen creates a key file

I.e. with "KEY" extension?

L> but patches the TC executable too

So if it does make full functional key, what for?[/face]

[Lefteous]

2Black Dog
OK another attempt: An unchanged Total Commander executable is a lock and a valid, offical wincmd.key file is the corresponding key the. The program I'm talking of is doing the following:
1) It creates a key which doesn't fit into the lock.
2) As a consequence it has to modify the lock to make the key fit into the lock.

From my point of view a simple patch just eliminates a nag screen or time limitation. But how will you call a program which includes your personal information into the program or does this by creating a modified key?

This program doesn't remove the lock, which doens't mean there are no programs that will do this.

So if it does make full functional key, what for?

Where did I claim that?


The bad thing is it seems to me as if you have completely missed my message. Instead you took a term which doesn't look round from your point of view. It's a fact that a totalcmd.exe modfied with a "patch" or "place your favorite term here" or whatever looks exactly like a regular bought program.

[Black Dog]

[face=courier]On 13-06-2004 23:44:01 +0000 Lefteous wrote:

L> The program I'm talking of is doing the following:
L> 1) It creates a key which doesn't fit into the lock.
L> 2) As a consequence it has to modify the lock to make
L> the key fit into the lock.

LOL!!! This is like comparing penis with finger, actually - if a key "doesn't fit into the lock", that's not a key, just something, that you can put into the lock w/o any results. The main key attribute is it opens the lock w/o forcing it %).

L> But how will you call a program which includes your
L> personal information into the program or does this by
L> creating a modified key?

Dear Lefteous, after all you said I don't know what do you call a "key" :). It looks like you faced some lame crack. But that is not a key, 'cause valid key should fits the lock as you mentioned above. So I call it a crack.

L> This program doesn't remove the lock, which doens't mean
L> there are no programs that will do this.

Sorry, but if we still talking about keygens (are we?). Of course there are a lot of crack, that just "removes the lock". But the main point of ****** is to generate a registration key, program just can't tell from original one. It doesn't remove the lock, it just open it day by day on each program start.

L> Where did I claim that?

And there did I said you claimed that?! :) But if you didn't, what are we talking about, actually?! %)))

L> The bad thing is it seems to me as if you have completely
L> missed my message.

Oh, I got you completely, don't worry :).

L> It's a fact that a totalcmd.exe modfied with a "patch" or
L> "place your favorite term here" or whatever

Well, much, much better now!!!

L> looks exactly like a regular bought program

Well, just open "About..." dialog... :)[/face]

[Lefteous]

Well, just open "About..." dialog...

Well that's it...It still looks like an original Total Commander.

[Black Dog]

[face=courier]On 14-06-2004 02:22:04 +0000 Lefteous wrote:

L> Well that's it...It still looks like an original Total
L> Commander.

So that "place your favorite term here" ask you about your ZIP code and location and generate license number? Well, pretty solid approach 8). But it hasn't generate any key-like files for that. May be just to make the "registration" picture complete.[/face]

[Lefteous]

2Black Dog
You could investigate such a file and tell us if it contains this informations.
I can tell you one thing: If I rename this file before starting TC the nag screen appears...The title bar says NOT REGISTERED!...