Comment on Audio dongles and the ghost of USB 1

EndlessNightmare@reddthat.com ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

• rabidhamster@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

  I remember it as far back as the 90’s. Usually referred to things like SCSI dongles that authorized the use of expensive software like Maya (which was ~$50k at the time), because online DRM activation wasn’t really a thing yet. Probably goes back further than that.

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  • Brewchin@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    The 80s, I think, thanks to AutoDesk. AutoCAD required their DB9 serial dongle (in-line with the mouse) for the software to function.

    As you say, well before DRM was the default for everything. I thought they were an awful company for it, but little did I know how things would pan out due to the DMCA… 😒

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    • rabidhamster@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

      Lol, tell me about it.

      And the serial dongle sounds much more sensible than requiring what amounted to a SCSI terminator, of which you could typically only have one. Need to use other software with a SCSI dongle? Shut down your machine, swap them out, and start it up again, 'cause SCSI don’t like that hot swapping.

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      • Brewchin@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

        I’d forgotten about that. How dumb. 🤦🏻‍♂️

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• pastermil@sh.itjust.works ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

  It is absolutely not gimmicky.

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  • EndlessNightmare@reddthat.com ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

    I dunno, sounds gimmicky to me.

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    • cardfire@sh.itjust.works ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

      Perhaps it is an ESL thing? We were using it in the States in the 90’s to describe a hardware authenticator key on parallel port that allowed CAD software to run, in a drafting class.

      Later i(00’s) i heard it used for all manner of peripheral USB accessories.

      I’m trying to imagine what the gimmick would be.

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      • EndlessNightmare@reddthat.com ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

        The word “dongle” itself. The actual hardware is serious business.

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• Venator@lemmy.nz ⁨1⁩ ⁨month⁩ ago

  It’s basically just a synonym for any adapter cable, but usually more specifically, ones that have a short cable so they dangle from the port if they don’t have anything plugged in.

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