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My experience with VideoStudio 11.5 regarding installation and activa-
tion, is that you have to type in a certain sequence of numbers and le-
tters, known as the installation ID. Is this still the case with version 12 ?
I am asking this, because I hate the idea of exposing my PC to an
one-time Internet connection to some server, just for an online acti-
vation to take place (a practice favored by, say, Adobe for Premiere
Pro but also other software vendors , who worry about piracy).
By far in my opinion, the smartest and most worry-free choice is that
of Avid, which involves a USB flash drive (a dongle), which HAS GOT
to be connected to a user`s Vista Business running PC for the noto-
rious Media Composer to work. I ABSOLUTELY HATE the idea of being
forced to install various anti-malware programs, so I can go out there
in the wilderness of the Internet to convince a company that I am not
using a pirate, "cracked" copy of the software, and to enable it to function in the first place !!
Let`s hope Corel doesn`t go down this road...

Corel is moving in that direction. With programs like Paintshop Pro Photo, and Coreldraw Graphics Suite, there is a small, annoying, utility installed called Protexis Licensing. This service must be running in the background in order to run the programs. So far this has not been implemented with VS.

That being said, I would highly recommend against activating any trial (TBYB) version. The main reason is that with Corel's products, these activated TBYBs, have problems installing patches. The patches tend to see these activated versions as still being trial versions, and will not install to them. So we recommend you uninstall the TBYB, purchase and install the full / upgrade version. You will have to download the files again, and some of them can be quite large and very time consuming if you don't have a broadband internet connection, but still worth it.

When MSP8 was first released this on-line activation was tried. The MSP community quickly got this changed, since most use the program on dedicated machines, that did not have any means of connecting to the internet. With video editing, a lot of people use machines that do not have internet browsers, and will not be connected to the internet. So hopefully Corel does not attempt this nonsense again...

Note: I split your post from the Announcement post on the Patch for VS Pro, since it deals more with activation, and not the patch itself...

GRDVDjunkie wrote: By far in my opinion, the smartest and most worry-free choice is that
of Avid, which involves a USB flash drive (a dongle), which HAS GOT
to be connected to a user`s Vista Business running PC for the noto-
rious Media Composer to work. I ABSOLUTELY HATE the idea of being
forced to install various anti-malware programs, so I can go out there
in the wilderness of the Internet to convince a company that I am not
using a pirate, "cracked" copy of the software, and to enable it to function in the first place !!

Smart, as long as you don't lose or it gets damaged or malfunction....
For Windows, all you need is to activate firewall, activate application and then disconnect. No need to exaggerate.

GRDVDjunkie wrote:.... I ABSOLUTELY HATE the idea of being
forced to install various anti-malware programs, so I can go out there
in the wilderness of the Internet ......

I have 2 computers permanently connected to the internet and 2 others that are connected for several hours each day and another which is connected when required. I also have about 20 virtual computers that connect to the internet when required. I have had my 10mb broadband connection for several years.

I guess it is easy to get paranoid about these things.
In my experience the biggest computer bug or virus is about 6' tall weighs 180 pounds and sits in front of your keyboard and doesn't need an internet connection.

Xyzzy2 OF COURSE you don`t lose or damage the USB dongle that`s
in the Avid Media Composer package of bundled programs ! You look
after it like the iris of your eyes, because if you lose it, you are toast.
Every little thing counts and shows why Avid is Hollywood`s favorite.
A Hollywood studio can`t afford to play with fire : it`s got deadlines to
meet, and the last thing they need is to go virus, rootkits or any other nasty-hunting. Likewise is the case with the insanely expensive (and
insanely state-of-the-art) Scenarist DVD (and now Blu-ray) authoring
application, which Hollywood uses for outputting the blockbusters to the
four corners of the Earth - it, also works only with the USB dongle
attached. Vidoman thank you for the info about Corel`s Paint Shop Pro
and Draw X4 (i.e. the Protexis Licensing). You are absolutely right
about NOT activating a try-before-you-buy download. The only wise
tactic is to get it in its package, as a bootable CD / DVD.
sjj1805, one can never be cautious enough these days when surfing
and visiting sites in the Wide Wild Web !! YOU NEVER EVER use a single
PC as your main productivity machine with all your favorite programs
and personal files in it and as your gateway to the Internet ! This is the single most critical mistake huge numbers of people make around
the globe, either because of financial limitations or because they get
the misleading idea that darling Microsoft (even with Vista`s supposedly
beefed-up Defender app or Firewall with Advanced Security) or other
self-proclaimed "saviours" will protect them from the various threats.
The only realistic approach is TO BE PARANOID AND VERY SCEPTICAL
about some people`s REAL LONG-TERM intentions out there.
That is, before you make that fatefull click...
So, you gentlemen at Corel`s Board of Directors be very reluctant to
do anything that will force a good number or users to turn their backs
on your products. YES, software vendors have a legitimate right to
protect their creations from misuse (cracking etc.,and the loss of reve-
nue that follows), but remember that COMPUTING (and content crea-
tion) and NETWORKING with the entire planet were never in the min-
ds of those who started the computer revolution back in the `40s.