Re: Opinions: Warn about online registration checks?

On Oct 4, 7:23 pm, JT <j...@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
On Oct 4, 5:54 pm, Peter Duniho <NpOeStPe...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:





JT wrote:
[...]
As for the repeated tries, it would happen once per session of the
application (at startup).

I do understand that. My point is that as a computer user, I have no
interest in having some software I'm using attempt to access the
network, never mind the Internet, unless I have specifically told it to.

That's not to say automatically accessing the Internet isn't appropriate
in some cases. Some programs allow the user to enable a "check for
update automatically" feature. Other programs are specifically about
network access, and so the simple act of running the program is
sufficient indication from the user that network access is desired.

But nothing about your description so far suggests the behavior you're
asking about falls into those scenarios.

It would only happen if there was not
already a local copy of the registration code, meaning the application
had not been registered yet or the code was removed from the storage
location.

I understand that. But I don't think it's appropriate for the
application to check a central registry every time it boots, even if
it's not registered.

If there's some advantage to checking that registry, the user will be
motivated to explicitly tell the program to do so at the appropriate
time. There's no need for the program to make that attempt
automatically when the software is started, and there are various
usability and privacy issues associated with doing so that are violated
when your program makes that automatic access.

Opinionsdo vary, and I hope others who have some will weigh in with
their own thoughts. Then you can judge for yourself which philosophy
has more merit with respect to your own ideas and goals.

To sum up my own philosophy: software should only do what I tell it to.
Automatic behaviors themselves should only be enabled inasmuch as
either the software simply doesn't make sense without them, or inasmuch
as I the user can control whether they happen. This is true generally,
and it is especially true when dealing with features that involve the
software interacting with entities outside of my control (such as a
centralized registration database).

Pete

Hey Pete,

You make a very good argument, and I think your opinion will prevail,
especially in these times of questionable web sites and potential
virus propogation. Hopefully, I will at least get many people
supporting your opinion. I'd still like to see if anyone can provide
an argument for the other side. However, I think it would only be in
favor of avoiding annoyance and having a "Wow, it just worked without
me having to do anything." kind of experience.

Other programs are specifically about
network access, and so the simple act of running the program is
sufficient indication from the user that network access is desired.

I don't want to tie this to a specific type of program, so I want to
leave it open to purely stand-alone applications as well as
applications that access the Internet.

Once again, your opinion is very much appreciated.

JT- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Still want more opinions! Here's a wrinkle.

What good does it do for an application to ask a user if it is okay to
do something if when the user says, "Yes", it does something
completely different?

Is that a realistic question? What is your opinion on asking before
performing an online database registration check?

JT

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Opinions: Warn about online registration checks?
    ... network, never mind the Internet, unless I have specifically told it to. ... sufficient indication from the user that network access is desired. ... application to check a central registry every time it boots, ... You make a very good argument, and I think your opinion will prevail, ...
    (microsoft.public.dotnet.languages.csharp)
  • Re: Opinions: Warn about online registration checks?
    ... Other programs are specifically about network access, and so the simple act of running the program is sufficient indication from the user that network access is desired. ... Then you can judge for yourself which philosophy has more merit with respect to your own ideas and goals. ... Automatic behaviors themselves should only be enabled inasmuch as either the software simply doesn't make sense without them, or inasmuch as I the user can control whether they happen. ...
    (microsoft.public.dotnet.languages.csharp)
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