Annoyed

[ISHY]

Hi All
I am new to CNC and Cad-Cam (less than 12 months).
After being introduced to EZ-Cams' EZ-Mill I purchased the 3D version found it really easy to use and worked really hard doing drawings and making the parts on my CNC. A couple of weeks ago I had my Laptop stolen, containing all of my drawings and my dongle. I phoned up the UK supplier and was told it was EZ-Cams' policy to charge 75% of the original programme price to re-place a dongle only worth a few ££'s. The retail price over here is £2500 approx $4750 and after a discount being offered I have now been told I have to pay the equivelent of $2660 to replace my dongle. Bear in mind the Police were called and are investigating, I also have a crime number to prove this is legitimate.
I am so infuriated by "Company Policies" such as this I am considering that given I have to spend alot of money to get what I already had, I might as well put that money into a company with more favorable policies. After a phone call to OneCNC over here I am happy that if the same were to happen to me again (God Forbid) I would not be ripped off like this.
Apart from this being a rant and letting of steam, I was wondering if anyone out there has used either or both of these programmes and if you like I would find it easy to pick up "OneCNC" after using "EZ-Cam" bearing in mind my lack of experience?
Can I just add that the EZ-Cam guys over here have been very understanding and have even loaned me a dongle with limited hits just to get me going, Oh and I had no insurance.
Any help would be great, thanks in advance
Ishy

[DareBee]

I suggest you take a good look at VisualMill before buying OneCNC.
5 axis for the price of 3 and it is as good or better than OneCNC.
You may be inclined to wait for version 6 before purchase, but maybe you can talk them into a free upgrade being as it is so close to being out.

My new guy is a MasterCam dude and he is prefering VM to it!

[ger21]

With just about any software that uses a dongle, you lose the dongle, you lose the software. You're lucky they're offering 25% off.

Plenty of people file false police reports, so the fact that you reported it isn't really "proof", even though it's legit in your case.

[HuFlungDung]

I didn't know VM was a solid and surface modeller! Learn something every day

[erase42]

Doesnt it seem like in the year 2000+ that someone could have created a better system? Walk with me in my mental garden if you will. I hereby mentally create a dongle that expires every 60 days unless it gets an encrypted update from the companies website, an update available only by entering that dongles "address number" Then in case of loss, or theft, the company could issue a new dongle with a new address. The old lost dongles address would be retired by the software company, and would simply fail to work any longer since it could no longer be updated. Software thieves would be foiled as soon as the dongle expired of old age in 60 days or less, and the legal owner would suffer no great loss other than some small cost to replace the dongle, and the delay due to shipping. And even this could be avoided if the software was provided with two dongles, one which is stored safely in case of loss or theft. Both having a seperate "address" preventing an owner from ever being able to activate one unless the other was retired.
Thoughts?

Ed

[ISHY]

Don't get me wrong, I fully understand the reasons the software companies do this but I still struggle to get my head around paying for something twice when there is no value in the dongle. The people who win are the thiefs and the software companies there has to be a better way. I like your idea erase42
Any thoughts on OneCnc anyone?
Ishy.

[Matt Berube]

Ishy,
When I evaluated it a while back I was impressed with it's ease of use, simple nature, and value. Especially the value... The power of OneCNC is far more affordable than most CAD/CAM packages.

In the end we decided that Mastercam was a better fit for the work that we do.

I would recommend OneCNC for your consideration.

Sorry to hear about the theft. I would be extremely upset.

Erase42,
Your idea about the time limited dongle is interesting but I suspect that many users would not be interested in fooling around with access codes so often. This would also generate headaches for resellers. Obviously, though, in the event of theft your idea would be of great assistance to the proper dongle owner.

[Matt Berube]

Ishy,

Is it possible that you could make an insurance claim to cover the theft of your laptop and/or dongle ? I would think if it was taken from your car, home, or business you may be able to make a claim...

[rodneydeeeee]

I am from the US but I am very honored to say this would NEVER happen with Dolphin CAD/CAM. Thats a guarantee. They are a number 1 company as far as customer service, that coming from first hand expiereince. Check it out. www.dolphin.gb.com

[HuFlungDung]

I have great empathy for those who endure such a situation.

My take on it is that in today's computer age, a piece of software should be able to make an encrypted hash as part of a file header that would contain proofs. This would be akin to two people sharing public encryption keys for a secure transaction (not that I have ever done it, but I have read about it). In this manner, it should then be possible to prove with the files on your hard drive that you are who you say you are, and that a certain set of files was indeed made in the prescence of a certain dongle with a certain serial number.

It would appear from the quoted figures, that EZcam is offering a 46% discount on the replacement.

I would imagine that something as easily misplaced or stolen as a software protection device would raise the concern of the insurance company if they come to understand how great their liability in this regard could be. Knowing insurance companies, I think I would not involve them for something like this. They will suck 200% of the claim out of you in premiums over the following years.

[cadcam]

ISHY, I too feel for you. and what sucks in most case's like yours is they mostly stolen from a car and the person that took it does not know about the software but just see the shiny laptop and sorry to say will take the dongle and toss it as they have know idea what it does.
At Mastercam country we are understanding, it is fractional of the cost to replace this key if lost or stolen.

However, it does seem that the software polices might not leave a great taste in your mouth they are trying to help by giving you a loner.


MY2CENTS

[erase42]

Erase42,
Your idea about the time limited dongle is interesting but I suspect that many users would not be interested in fooling around with access codes so often. This would also generate headaches for resellers. Obviously, though, in the event of theft your idea would be of great assistance to the proper dongle owner.[/QUOTE]

true Ishy, but what if it auto updated anytime it found access to an internet connection, similar to the way your antivirus will take care of itself if you let it. Then if stolen you report you dongle number to the company and they cancel that one from the update system, and send you a fresh active one.
I dont know why im even worried about this, it just seems like in this day and age it would cease to be a problem.

To the original poster. Is it impossible to find proof that you purchased the software? No receipt?
Surely a cost like that would be claimed on your taxes somewhere? Does an accountant have copies of your old records. Would the company even care if you did have proof?