Radar contact comes from a time when waiting for the registration code to come through was nothing compared to how long it took for the CD to be delivered in the mail

 

You gentlemen appear to be willing to forgo the facts and inject illogical scenarios to defend a software, and/or developer, you're found of.  I have ZERO problems with that stance and appreciate your efforts; more to the point, I thoroughly enjoyed RC4.  However, from a consumers perspective, I find your logic severally flawed.  The CD comment was especially trivial as it has NOTHING to do with our discussions.  Procuring applications via CD has gone the way of the dodo bird.  Moreover, for this statement to have value, one would have to procure the CD each time they needed to load it.  Also, and primarily, most of us DIDN'T procure RC4 via CD, so interjecting this scenario into the discussion is pointless.  Please tell me what's unreasonable about a consumer expecting a seamless and prompt activation process?  Why is up to me, the consumer, to exercise patients, vice the developer fixing his broken system? Shouldn't the culpability be placed on the developer to implement a security system that's not overly obtrusive and WORKS? Since we're throwing out pointless scenarios, tell me, if you bought a car, would you be willing to wait 7 days for the keys? I simply have a hard time grasping why the flight sim community accepts this level of service...Please don't give me the one man developer scenario that has a "real-job."  Once you accept a fee for your product, you loose that argument.  In closing, the developer obviously doesn't view his software as antiquated, if he did, I doubt he would be charging a premium price ($44.99). 

I have always got a key for RC4 promptly, the automated key delivery has always worked for me, the procedure is seamless as long as you can follow some simple instructions.

And yes the last new car I bought I did have to wait more than 7 days for delivery from the factory.

I have always got a key for RC4 promptly, the automated key delivery has always worked for me, the procedure is seamless as long as you can follow some simple instructions.

And yes the last new car I bought I did have to wait more than 7 days for delivery from the factory.

Good for you; for many of us, it hasn't worked, despite following the instructions.  I don't believe the fallacy of the key generation system is in dispute as several people have experienced issues with it. I have purchased between 75 to 100 FSX/P3D add-ons and this is the ONLY one that takes several days to activate. In fact, I believe its the only one that takes more than a few seconds/minutes to activate.  You and I have different expectations for developers    

 

Concerning your car, did you wait 7 days to receive your keys ONCE IT ARRIVED from the factory?  After all, that's what we're talking about...

Procuring applications via CD has gone the way of the dodo bird.

Really? You're assuming all customers have fast broadband access. That is not the case in the UK and I imagine there will be plenty of rural areas around the world that don't have it either. For those customers the CD remains the only realistic option.

 

Moreover, for this statement to have value, one would have to procure the CD each time they needed to load it.

I don't know what made you come to that conclusion. That's certainly not the case for me where I received the CD back in 2006, installed RC4 and haven't needed the CD since except to install it in replacement PCs.

 

Also, and primarily, most of us DIDN'T procure RC4 via CD...

I don't have access to sales records. Do you?

 

Please tell me what's unreasonable about a consumer expecting a seamless and prompt activation process? Why is up to me, the consumer, to exercise patients, vice the developer fixing his broken system?

How do you know the fault lies with the process and not with the customer?

 

People do make mistakes such as not including the - when pasting the key into RC4. Other customers upgrade their systems frequently thereby requiring a new key and there is a limit to the number of keys per user before human intervention is necessary. Others don't follow the correct procedure to generate a key automatically and then complain the system is broken.

 

Others purchase RC under one email address, change it later and then request a new key with a new email address. Those require JD to manually check the purchase and he can't be at his computer 24/7.

 

I hope that goes some way to explaining the process and why sometimes delays occur.

 

One final point. You suggest $46 is a premium price. It's around the same as Pro-ATCX which retails for 49 Euros. ATC programs are extremely difficult to program which is why there are so few of them. Given the work which went into RC4 I don't think $46 is an unreasonably high price.

"Really? You're assuming all customers have fast broadband access. That is not the case in the UK and I imagine there will be plenty of rural areas around the world that don't have it either. For those customers the CD remains the only realistic option"\

 

Come on, do you honestly believe there are more CD/DVD sales than downloaded copies?  I completely understand that some people may not have access to Broadband and require physical mediums; yet, those people are in the minority.  Surely we agree upon that?  BTW, I have lived in both the UK and Germany, and was able to access Broadband at both locations.  Although, i freely admit the latter was spotty.  Also, there are some rural places in the US where people don't have access to Broadband too; however, as stated, they are in the minority.  A quick google search will provide you with all the evidence you need that physical medium is being eliminated...

 

"I don't know what made you come to that conclusion. That's certainly not the case for me where I received the CD back in 2006, installed RC4 and haven't needed the CD since except to install it in replacement PCs."

 

It's rather simple, a poster equated waiting for a security key with the time it takes for your CD to be delivered.  However, such a paradigm is irrelevant unless you ordered the CD EVERY TIME you needed to reload the software. I'm not saying you need to order the CD every time, I'm only stating for his axiom to be true, you would need to order the CD every time.  

   

"I don't have access to sales records. Do you?"

 

Come on, Mr. Proundfoot...now you're just being intellectually dishonest and nitpicking.  You appear to be a very reasonable and intelligent man, I don't believe for one second that you believe physical mediums are more prevalent than digital downloads.  

 

"|How do you know the fault lies with the process and not with the customer"

I have experienced it personally!  On one occasion, something was amidst with the database and there was no record of my RC4 transaction.  After providing the proof of sales, my key was sent 7 days later.  On another occasion, I submitted my key request and didn't get a reply for 72 hours...there was no errors, it just took 72 hours; an email showed up in my inbox with a key without explanation.  I'm sorry, I find that unacceptable...don't you?  Again, you're being intellectually dishonest...how many threads have been started due to key generation problems?  How many other software developers have the same problem?  Where's there's smoke, there's fire, sir.

 

Mr. Proudfoot, I have seen you routinely and aggressively criticize other ATC programs; in fact, I saw a post where you criticize PRO ATC for using British Airways vice "Speedbird."  Its odd that you don't have the same high standards for RC4. RC4 is not infallible, sir; it does indeed have faulty key generation system.   Thankfully, you're dedication has masked some of those issues as you're kind enough to act a conduit with the developer.  Without you, some of our fellow posters may have never received their keys.  I'm sorry, sir, I'm not aware of ANY other flight sim developer that requires the efforts of a flight sim forum member to handle these types of anomalies.  What happens when you're no longer willing to act as said conduit?  As a result of life circumstances, the developer has devoted his times to other endeavors; we ALL respect his choice.  However, it's obvious that he no longer has, or is willing to, invest the time to provide adequate customer support.  As you stated, you're not aware of anyone not receiving a key, I humbly submit that's not the issue, sir.  Its the expediency, or lack of, receiving said key I take issue with....

 

 

Its the expediency, or lack of, receiving said key I take issue with....

 

For someone who is "100% Vatsim" I am surprised you are getting yourself so bunched up about RC4's registration procedure, it is what it is, and it's probably not going to change at this point in the programs life.

 

Looking at my email records I ordered RC4 on the 20th December 2005 and was advised that delivery would be in 2-4 weeks (the youngsters here would never believe this LOL)

 

That's almost ten years of  usage for £26.50 and until something significantly better comes along it's probably going to be in use for a long time yet.

I think we can all agree that the registration could be simpler but if the alternative is JD folding the tent and walking away, I for one will happily put up with what we have now.

 

 

For someone who is "100% Vatsim" I am surprised you are getting yourself so bunched up about RC4's registration procedure

 

LOL...ironically, the key registration problem was the catalyst for trying VATSIM; I'm glad I did too, because there's going back now!

 

 

That's almost ten years of  usage for £26.50 and until something significantly better comes along it's probably going to be in use for a long time yet.
I think we can all agree that the registration could be simpler but if the alternative is JD folding the tent and walking away, I for one will happily put up with what we have now

 

I have no objections to any of that, Glynn....

Come on, do you honestly believe there are more CD/DVD sales than downloaded copies? I completely understand that some people may not have access to Broadband and require physical mediums; yet, those people are in the minority. Surely we agree upon that?

 

RC4 was released 9 years ago. There was no download option then and for many years because the infrastructure wasn't good enough. I agree that all sales in the last few years have probably been via download.

 

It's rather simple, a poster equated waiting for a security key with the time it takes for your CD to be delivered. However, such a paradigm is irrelevant unless you ordered the CD EVERY TIME you needed to reload the software. I'm not saying you need to order the CD every time, I'm only stating for his axiom to be true, you would need to order the CD every time.... I don't believe for one second that you believe physical mediums are more prevalent than digital downloads.

 

We used to encourage customers to read the manual whilst waiting for the CD to arrive. Clearly people don't need to wait for the CD to arrive each time they want to use RC4. Strange comment.

Over the 9 year sales period I'm sure the CD sales of RC4 will be in the majority. No point discussing other software which wasn't around 9 years ago for comparison purposes.

 

I have experienced it personally! On one occasion, something was amidst with the database and there was no record of my RC4 transaction. After providing the proof of sales, my key was sent 7 days later. On another occasion, I submitted my key request and didn't get a reply for 72 hours...there was no errors, it just took 72 hours; an email showed up in my inbox with a key without explanation. I'm sorry, I find that unacceptable...don't you?

 

I don't defend John Dekker's absence from this forum or claim the registration process is perfect. There are faults on both sides. But overall RC has a good reputation which shows that any shortcomings in the registration process are more than overcome by the quality of the software.

 

Again, you're being intellectually dishonest...how many threads have been started due to key generation problems? How many other software developers have the same problem? Where's there's smoke, there's fire, sir....Mr. Proudfoot, I have seen you routinely and aggressively criticize other ATC programs; in fact, I saw a post where you criticize PRO ATC for using British Airways vice "Speedbird." Its odd that you don't have the same high standards for RC4. RC4 is not infallible..

 

Every software developer has problems with customers be it with registration or issues when interacting with FSX. Have you visited the Pro-ATCX forum or seen the many topics here criticising it? In contrast problems with RC tend to be user error/ misunderstanding or registration issues. Not many relate to errors in the software.

 

I didn't aggressively criticise that program. They were measured criticisms. Any program that has "professional" in its title should get the basics right. That was the least of the problems I found with Pro-ATCX but I don't intend to discuss that further as it's not relevant.

 

Thankfully, you're dedication has masked some of those issues as you're kind enough to act a conduit with the developer. Without you, some of our fellow posters may have never received their keys. I'm sorry, sir, I'm not aware of ANY other flight sim developer that requires the efforts of a flight sim forum member to handle these types of anomalies. What happens when you're no longer willing to act as said conduit? As a result of life circumstances, the developer has devoted his times to other endeavors; we ALL respect his choice. However, it's obvious that he no longer has, or is willing to, invest the time to provide adequate customer support.

 

I won't be around for ever and it is frustrating to have to support a program when the two owners don't visit this forum. Even more frustrating when I see one of them post on AvSim but never here. This is my last post on this.