Beyond Pissed Applied Ballistics Licensing

[USMC22]

I bought in to the Applied Ballistic's desktop program October 21st, 2020. I had initially purchased a cheap windows computer to run the software on. . . like most things I got what I paid for and the computer would not run / install programs in short order. We'll call this "license #1"

I then had an iPad Pro for a period of time. "License #2"

I "upgraded" to a MacBook Pro February 28th, 2023. . . "License #3"

The MacBook Pro screen went out on me earlier this year. Had to log in remotely and "sign out". This deleted all my apps etc. Got my Mac back with the screen fixed and @DocUSMCRetired is saying my computer is reporting a "new serial number".

I cannot be the only one experiencing trying to reinstall the Applied Ballistics Program on a computer they've had it on but needed to do a reboot on. I'm beyond pissed because at this point I'm being asked to purchase a new license.

WTF! ! ! I don't care what the software is "supposed to do" I'm on the user end saying it's not a new computer and the software is getting it wrong. I'd like to hear from you about the same to say this isn't as "isolated" as its being spun off.

I'll go to my damn grave and die on this hill that my integrity is above this software issue.

 

[Threadcutter308]

Out of curiosity, how much does a license cost ?

NVM, looks like $100.00 "Ultralight"/$300.00 "Elite".

Which one are you being asked to renew ? A total of $400.00 vs $1,200.00, either way, is a lot of dough. I'm not a user, but I hope the juice is worth the squeeze.

 

[USMC22]

Out of curiosity, how much does a license cost ?

NVM, looks like $100.00 "Ultralight"/$300.00 "Elite".

Which one are you being asked to renew ? A total of $400.00 vs $1,200.00, either way, is a lot of dough. I'm not a user, but I hope the juice is worth the squeeze.

$200.00 https://thescienceofaccuracy.com/product-category/tech/

On principle. It's not the money at this point. It's the value that I put on my integrity.

 

[Threadcutter308]

$200.00 https://thescienceofaccuracy.com/product-category/tech/

On principle. It's not the money at this point. It's the value that I put on my integrity.

yeah, no, I get it. No one probably needs to hear this from me, but the price seems a bit salty. But, I'm not a user, so I have no understanding or appreciation of the value of the utility. And, it's not like we're in a hobby that is "cheap". I'm sure that it wouldn't take very many swings of a dead cat to come up with examples of other shooting related products that are even more expensive for what they have to offer.

I am a user of Adobe Photoshop and being forced to buy a subscription (that you have to "renew" every year) leaves me with some of the same feelings that you have.

 

[USMC22]

yeah, no, I get it. No one probably needs to hear this from me, but the price seems pretty salty. But, I'm not a user, so I have no understanding or appreciation of the value of the utility. And, it's not like we're in a hobby that is "cheap".

I am a user of Adobe Photoshop and being forced to buy a subscription (that you have to "renew" every year) leaves me with some of the same feelings that you have.

I’m right there too with Lightroom.

If it had been a subscription that’s one thing. Buying the product and someone telling you it’s a “new computer” when it’s not rubs me the wrong way. I’ve got a kestrel elite, vectronix binos etc. now the app is a subscription. The desktop is only “3 licenses” but I’m being told it’s a new computer after coming back from Apple… yeah, no, they didn’t give me a new computer.

 

[_Windrider_]

I’ve had multiple computers and have been using analytics for over a decade. I have never had to purchase a new license as long as it’s only installed on one computer. I just contact doc show my proof of purchase and get a new license. Now I’ll admit the install process and how it runs is a bit windows 3.5 but it is what it is. I do think are working on a modernization of it though.

 

[wvfarrier]

I would be pretty salty over it as well

 

[Baron23]

I bought in to the Applied Ballistic's desktop program October 21st, 2020. I had initially purchased a cheap windows computer to run the software on. . . like most things I got what I paid for and the computer would not run / install programs in short order. We'll call this "license #1"

I then had an iPad Pro for a period of time. "License #2"

I "upgraded" to a MacBook Pro February 28th, 2023. . . "License #3"

The MacBook Pro screen went out on me earlier this year. Had to log in remotely and "sign out". This deleted all my apps etc. Got my Mac back with the screen fixed and @DocUSMCRetired is saying my computer is reporting a "new serial number".

I cannot be the only one experiencing trying to reinstall the Applied Ballistics Program on a computer they've had it on but needed to do a reboot on. I'm beyond pissed because at this point I'm being asked to purchase a new license.

WTF! ! ! I don't care what the software is "supposed to do" I'm on the user end saying it's not a new computer and the software is getting it wrong. I'd like to hear from you about the same to say this isn't as "isolated" as its being spun off.

I'll go to my damn grave and die on this hill that my integrity is above this software issue.

Hornady 4DOF is your friend.....for free.

 

[USMC22]

I’ve had multiple computers and have been using analytics for over a decade. I have never had to purchase a new license as long as it’s only installed on one computer. I just contact doc show my proof of purchase and get a new license. Now I’ll admit the install process and how it runs is a bit windows 3.5 but it is what it is. I do think are working on a modernization of it though.

I get what you’re saying and I’ve been in contact with Doc.

I was given “4 licenses”, “one by grace”. I outlined in my post the issues I had.

(1st License) Cheap/Crap Computer
(2nd License) iPad Pro
(3rd License) Current MacBook Pro

I’ve got so many emails with them I don’t see where a “4th License” was given but I haven’t had a new piece of tech in a few years now.

My MacBook Pro had to go back to Apple under the AppleCare because the screen went. They are saying the software says my computer is identifying as a new computer, new serial number….

I read my serial number shown in Mac. Was told that’s a different one than the one the software grabs.

Now here’s the real ticker, the said serial number is obtained BY THE SOFTWARE which then SENDS information to APPLIED BALLISTICS and needs a new key to unlock “per the government contract” and is supposed to “self destruct” if put on a thumb drive etc. ok, no f’ing way Uncle Sugar is on board with that.

I’m not sitting on a grassy knoll or trying to scam them out of shit, I just want what I paid for. I asked for Doc to help try and run down the issue and that I couldn’t be the only one. He maintains that out of ~1,800 users I am the only one needing a new license because it’s saying my computer is different.

My working theory is it’s just such a pain in the ass that others have given up.

It’s on principle. It’s on my integrity. Those are hard lines in the sand for me that you can’t put a dollar sign on.

 

[USMC22]

I would be pretty salty over it as well

Oh I’m fired up!

 

[USMC22]

Hornady 4DOF is your friend.....for free.

View attachment 8740917

I’m balls deep into applied ballistics. Kestrels, Vectronix Vector X etc. I’ve been happy to pay for them over the years… I’m not into repaying for a product I’ve already purchased and expected support for the life of the product.

It’s bad enough to have a kestrel elite and then have to pay for applied ballistics on the binos versus it being “unlocked” by a kestrel as I’ve already paid for the bullet profiles

 

[TahoeDust]

I get what you’re saying and I’ve been in contact with Doc.

I was given “4 licenses”, “one by grace”. I outlined in my post the issues I had.

(1st License) Cheap/Crap Computer
(2nd License) iPad Pro
(3rd License) Current MacBook Pro

I’ve got so many emails with them I don’t see where a “4th License” was given but I haven’t had a new piece of tech in a few years now.

My MacBook Pro had to go back to Apple under the AppleCare because the screen went. They are saying the software says my computer is identifying as a new computer, new serial number….

I read my serial number shown in Mac. Was told that’s a different one than the one the software grabs.

Now here’s the real ticker, the said serial number is obtained BY THE SOFTWARE which then SENDS information to APPLIED BALLISTICS and needs a new key to unlock “per the government contract” and is supposed to “self destruct” if put on a thumb drive etc. ok, no f’ing way Uncle Sugar is on board with that.

I’m not sitting on a grassy knoll or trying to scam them out of shit, I just want what I paid for. I asked for Doc to help try and run down the issue and that I couldn’t be the only one. He maintains that out of ~1,800 users I am the only one needing a new license because it’s saying my computer is different.

My working theory is it’s just such a pain in the ass that others have given up.

It’s on principle. It’s on my integrity. Those are hard lines in the sand for me that you can’t put a dollar sign on.

A lot of times Apple does not actually repair your device, they just send you one they already refurbished, so it may indeed have a new serial number. I would contact apple and see if that is the case.

 

[USMC22]

A lot of times Apple does not actually repair your device, they just send you one they already refurbished, so it may indeed have a new serial number. I would contact apple and see if that is the case.

same external serial number on device as sent to apple. maybe they swapped something internal but none the less. . . this has gotten ridiculous. The fact its not tied to that "hard" serial number associated with the computer makes me even more pissed off because I'm not trying to get one over here.

 

[TahoeDust]

same external serial number on device as sent to apple. maybe they swapped something internal but none the less. . . this has gotten ridiculous. The fact its not tied to that "hard" serial number associated with the computer makes me even more pissed off because I'm not trying to get one over here.

I agree. Completely ridiculous. You bought it, you should be able to uninstall it and reinstall it on any device as long as it is only being used on one. Software should never be tied to any once device for life.

 

[USMC22]

I agree. Completely ridiculous. You bought it, you should be able to uninstall it and reinstall it on any device as long as it is only being used on one. Software should never be tied to any once device for life.

I did get a new code. . . software isn't working though. . . and in the e-mail I got and I quote "I got permission to drop another license on this purchase. Your license 5 of 3 information is" like, thanks for giving me a code for something I already purchased. Didn't mean to put you out.

Trying to save a profile and use WEZ it doesn't save the rifle information and keeps going back to their "default". . .

uploading a video to YouTube now. . . will post here once its done.

 

[USMC22]

 

[Edsel]

same external serial number on device as sent to apple. maybe they swapped something internal but none the less…

If the fault involved a major component, odds are - they may have swapped out the entire motherboard with a refurbished one.

Ergo, different “identifier,” different computer.

 

[USMC22]

If the fault involved a major component, odds are - they may have swapped out the entire motherboard with a refurbished one.

Ergo, different “identifier,” different computer.

maybe so, so why not base the software of the "hard" serial # engraved on it that shows up when checking the "my computer"

 

[Edsel]

maybe so, so why not base the software of the "hard" serial # engraved on it that shows up when checking the "my computer"

It’s something like this…

Number A: visible to your computer’s system, tagged on manufacturer’s (repair) database to Number B
Number B: visible to you as the Serial Number, computer’s system has no idea what this is (but the manufacturer does)

Softare license looks for Number A.

Ran into a similar issue with some software I had installed a few years ago…

 

[_Windrider_]

It’s something like this…

Number A: visible to your computer’s system, tagged on manufacturer’s (repair) database to Number B
Number B: visible to you as the Serial Number, computer’s system has no idea what this is (but the manufacturer does)

Softare license looks for Number A.

Ran into a similar issue with some software I had installed a few years ago…

I’m guessing that the software looks at the serial number of the operating system when you reformat even though you use the same Windows key or Matt key it does register a new serial number for the software

 

[USMC22]

@Edsel @_Windrider_ you guys know more about the computer/software side of the house than I.

 

[Edsel]

https://superuser.com/questions/1362655/alternative-to-motherboard-serial-for-unique-identifier

Perhaps this may give some context.

 

[USMC22]

@DocUSMCRetired did give me a new code which I appreciate. The software however is not saving any profiles to utilize the WEZ like previously. I've got a screen recording I'm trying to upload to YouTube. It'll show once its able to upload.

 

[Edsel]

@Edsel @_Windrider_ you guys know more about the computer/software side of the house than I.

Not really…

You just need to “adapt to and overcome” things every single step of the way to get to be as old as I am

 

[USMC22]

Not really…

You just need to “adapt to and overcome” things every single step of the way to get to be as old as I am

After a while when I see a closed door I think of breaching it long before I check to see if it's unlocked. Adapt and overcome like you said, sometimes. . . the door is unlocked. I just spent a long time banging my head against a door over what seems like a "glitch".