HMonitor ... a warning ...

[Carol Haynes]

Just had a bad experience and felt the need to express myself.

I purchased a copy of HMonitor http://www.hmonitor.com/ a while back.

It is a key based system (which is fair enough) but be warned if you buy this software.

If at some future date you need to reinstall Windows the key will not work and if a new version is released the author will not supply a new code unless you buy the version upgrade. I have not changed my hardware so I do not need an upgrade, or gain anything if I do.

This would be fair enough if I upgrade my hardware and need the later version for support but I don't !!

To my mind this is the worst of practices (and pretty unique in my experience).

Effectively you are held hostage to upgrades.

If you want a hardware monitor I would suggest looking elsewhere !

[mouser]

carol - this sounds outrageous.

are you saying that you can't even reinstall your old copy, because you were given a license based on your hardware (or windows install info), and now that you've upgraded your windows, he won't give you a new license key based on your new windows/hardware install info?

i don't care if you are reinstalling windows or replacing your computer and getting another one, that would be totally unacceptable, and very uncommon.

if that's really the case then i would advise everyone to steer very clear from this company,

and with your permission i would like to email the author to let him/her know in a polite fashion that he is going to very quickly develop a bad reputation if he insists on this.  if sites like this one, and zaine's, etc. take the time to write to these authors and let them know that this kind of stuff is going to backfire on them maybe they will change their views.

[Carol Haynes]

That is exactly the situation.

I emailed him again saying it was outrageous and verging on illegal and just got a reply - there is obviously some sort of confusion.

I'll let you know the outcome.

[mouser]

ok.  definitely let us know.  feel free to mention that this forum is keenly interested in the answer.

[jpfx]

I bought v4.1 in january 2004. I'm not entitled to the current 4.2 or an upgrade pricing
quote:

We have received your registration request for Hmonitor.
We need to note that new registration accepted for 4.2 releases only.
All revisions below 4.1 are obsolete  and not supported anymore.

The developer's a renowned twunt.

[Carol Haynes]

Haven't heard back from him yet (!)

Actually I have version 4.1 and have now managed to reinstall a really old version (Feb 2003) but with works with my mobo. The key supplied doesn't even work with later versions of 4.1

Alternatives ??

Motherboard Monitor http://mbm.livewiredev.com/ works but hasn't seen an update in over 12 months, and last I heard had stopped all development now.

SpeedFan http://www.almico.com/speedfan.php has similar functions and is still being updated. I haven't tried the latest build yet but it used to work well, and if your system is running cool can seriously quieten down noisy fans.

I think I'll go back to speedfan - it's free and works well. HMonitor can stuff it .... and I've started posting reviews on download sites to that effect!

Anyone know any other good alternatives?

[jpfx]

You've named them. mbm is no longer being developed but speedfan is excellent, (donationware).

[Carol Haynes]

If anyone is interested here is a useful list of freeware system monitoring tools (not just Temp/Fans but all sorts)

http://www.softpedia...atList/92,1,1,1.html

[zridling]

I hate when that happens! I bought VideoZilla only to find out that you have to email tech support to get a new license and download location with every minor update. They update the program every other week, and when I wrote to the company and explained what a pain in the ass that is, their response, "Eh, so what."

Lost business is bad business. Why build software if you're going to tell users to f--- off!

[Carol Haynes]

This is precisely my gripe with copy protection - the only people actually inconvenienced are the genuine users. ANyone who wants a cracked version, illegal serial numbers or a key generator can find them easy enough in any of the major search engines!!

[Carol Haynes]

Oh well absolutely no response to my email.

I recommend speed fan instead it works well and is free - what more can you ask. There is also a growing set of downloadable configurations submitted by users.

[mouser]

i've emailed hmonitor, just to give them a heads up and friendly note from a developer's standpoint.

[mouser]

heard back from hmonitor author - said he would not change his mind.
all i can say is i wouldn't buy from such a company.

[Carol Haynes]

I've already started going round the standard shareware boards he uses and leaving a "review" !

[Renegade]

This is precisely my gripe with copy protection - the only people actually inconvenienced are the genuine users. ANyone who wants a cracked version, illegal serial numbers or a key generator can find them easy enough in any of the major search engines!!

-CarolHaynes (August 31, 2005, 03:00 AM)

Man... I really don't get it sometimes...

For my own licensing, I'm pretty cool about the whole thing. I prefer "user" licenses myself, and that's what I issue. So, if you want to install my software on 2 computers - that's not a problem. There are a lot of developers that are pretty paranoid about it though. I can't really blame them too much because I've seen their software cracked and given out for free. And when you've got to put food on the table and support a family, it's tough if you're selling 5 licenses a day and all of a sudden it drops to 3 because of piracy. But if someone won't upgrade a point release, bugger it - I'm outta there. 

[Carol Haynes]

But if someone won't upgrade a point release, bugger it - I'm outta there. 

-Renegade (September 19, 2005, 07:24 AM)

That was the big frustration - Ididn't even want the upgrade as I haven't changed my hardware. I just wanted to reinstall the version I paid for, however when you reinstall windows his keys won't work in the new install and he refuses to issue a new key without paying for an upgrade.

I actually think what he is doing is nothing short of theft - but life is too short and since there is a better free tool out there I just hope no one will be stupid enough to buy software from him.

I have posted a few reviews around the web pointing this problem out but life is too short to go to all the download boards ...