CDs that won't play in all your equipment (Or even get semi-permanently stuck, as with certain copy protected CDs and the slot loading iMacs)
Movies with red dots flashing on the screen.
Games that won't play on your computer because you have certain software installed or more than one optical drive.
Games that despite having copied "all files" to the harddrive during installation, still require the CD to be present to play.
Productivity software and OS's that you have to call the manufacturer to get authorization to use it after you reinstall 2 times.
Software that wants to phone home all the time and won't work without, thereby requiring you to have an Internet connection.
etc.
Can it get any worse for the paying customer? It seems like there's much more benefit to getting items through illegitimate channels now, which have all of these annoyances removed. I mean, the software industry used to tout how you only got a manual and customer support with a legit purchase. Are these flimsy little things I get in my game boxes manuals? More like "quick-start guides" that tell you how to work an Installshield. Customer support? EA told me my computer was defective when I called them about my inability to play NFS:U (Which was then traced back to their copy protection - NOT my computer). So where is the benefit in those two "perks" of legitimate buying? I don't see it anymore.
Movies with red dots flashing on the screen.
Games that won't play on your computer because you have certain software installed or more than one optical drive.
Games that despite having copied "all files" to the harddrive during installation, still require the CD to be present to play.
Productivity software and OS's that you have to call the manufacturer to get authorization to use it after you reinstall 2 times.
Software that wants to phone home all the time and won't work without, thereby requiring you to have an Internet connection.
etc.
Can it get any worse for the paying customer? It seems like there's much more benefit to getting items through illegitimate channels now, which have all of these annoyances removed. I mean, the software industry used to tout how you only got a manual and customer support with a legit purchase. Are these flimsy little things I get in my game boxes manuals? More like "quick-start guides" that tell you how to work an Installshield. Customer support? EA told me my computer was defective when I called them about my inability to play NFS:U (Which was then traced back to their copy protection - NOT my computer). So where is the benefit in those two "perks" of legitimate buying? I don't see it anymore.
