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I just bought Powerdirector 14, can I install on my laptop too?
Wallace88 [Avatar]
Newbie Joined: Jan 30, 2010 17:14 Messages: 8 Offline
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Can I install Powerdirector 14 on my laptop and my Home pc? Please advise! Thanks!
All vodi
Senior Contributor Location: Canada Joined: Aug 21, 2009 11:24 Messages: 1431 Offline
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No. One copy per PC is the rule. Win 10, i7
optodata
Senior Contributor Location: California, USA Joined: Sep 16, 2011 16:04 Messages: 8630 Offline
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Unless you bought the LIVE version. You can install that on multiple machines as long as you actually own all of them

YouTube/optodata


DS365 | Win11 Pro | Ryzen 9 3950X | RTX 4070 Ti | 32GB RAM | 10TB SSDs | 5K+4K HDR monitors

Canon Vixia GX10 (4K 60p) | HF G30 (HD 60p) | Yi Action+ 4K | 360Fly 4K 360°
Neil.F.1955 [Avatar]
Senior Contributor Joined: Mar 07, 2012 09:15 Messages: 1303 Offline
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This situation doesn't just apply to Cyberlink profuct, it applies to any and all software, but considering the cost to buy the product, the licencing requirements are a bit over the top, in my view. If I buy a video or audio record(or capture) and editing software, then it should be my choice on how I use it, and how many desk-top or laptop computers, on which I install it.

At this moment, I only have a desktop computer(tower, keyboard, screen, printer, scanner and three external hard-drives, add to that, capture card device, SD-Card reader, and analogue audio mixer connected into the line-in auxilliary, audio fed to a good ol' stereo amplifier. Should I, at a future date, wish to acquire a laptop computer, I would wish to use software I hold now, on that laptop.. That should be MY choice, and mine alone to make. The software companies have already made their money, it's now up to me, and me alone, how I use that software.

Cheers for now!

Neil.
TonyL [Avatar]
Newbie Location: Nr. Coventry, UK Joined: Oct 10, 2015 04:07 Messages: 46 Offline
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With respect and not wishing to be a clever so-and-so, HD edit isn't quite correct. It's not one per PC. But I'm not of the legal fraternity. All software has "Usage Terms" or a EULA.

The Terms or End User License Agreement ("EULA") of a product is what you need to read - if you can understand them.

You can read PD14's EULA here http://www.cyberlink.com/support/product-faq-content.do?id=18610&prodId=4&prodVerId=1199&CategoryId=-1&keyword=EULA

For an INDIVIDUAL CONSUMER it states:
"If you acquire the SOFTWARE under an individual license it is for your own use under the general terms above."

To paraphrase the general terms they say - you (the licensee) may "install the accompanying PowerDirector software program on a certain number of computer(s)/ device(s) in accordance with the number of the license(s) you purchased." It goes on to say, " You shall not reproduce the SOFTWARE unless for backup purposes and limited to one copy only."

So for PD14 it's about the number of licences purchased.

Neil is also incorrect. Usage Terms/EULAs differ. For example, I use Proshow Producer and Photodex state. "If you own one license of ProShow and own more than one computer, it is okay to install a copy of ProShow and register the software on one desktop and one mobile computer of your choice." Check it out http://kb.photodex.com/2133/can-i-install-proshow-on-more-than-one-computer/

So read up on terms. I've done so as a potential buyer of PD14 and am not impressed by Cyberlink's stingy EULA. What would it cost them to take Photodex's approach. It's one reason why I haven't purchased it. I need to also have it on my laptop like Proshow and I can't justify buying two licences.

Shame on you Cyberlink.

TonyL
Self build Xeon W3690, 12GB RAM, 850EVO SSD, Asus 2GB GTX960, Win10H 64bit, PD14
iMac 27" Retina 5K i5, 24GB RAM, Radeon M295X 4GB, Bootcamp Win10H 64bit
optodata
Senior Contributor Location: California, USA Joined: Sep 16, 2011 16:04 Messages: 8630 Offline
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I don't know that shaming CL for their license terms is justified, but whatever.

If you'd like to use PD14 on more than one device, you should contact customer service and ask about their policy with a subscription license. During their MVP webinar last week, they explicitly stated that the subscription license wasn't limited to a single device, but I haven't seen any reference to that in the online documentation I've looked at.

This is a similar arrangement as Office 365/2016, where the download version is limited to a single device but the subscription allows installation on up to 5. See the first FAQ item here: https://products.office.com/en-us/office-365-home

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at Oct 10. 2015 13:52



YouTube/optodata


DS365 | Win11 Pro | Ryzen 9 3950X | RTX 4070 Ti | 32GB RAM | 10TB SSDs | 5K+4K HDR monitors

Canon Vixia GX10 (4K 60p) | HF G30 (HD 60p) | Yi Action+ 4K | 360Fly 4K 360°
TonyL [Avatar]
Newbie Location: Nr. Coventry, UK Joined: Oct 10, 2015 04:07 Messages: 46 Offline
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Maybe my last statement is unjustified. CL do have every right to set their own terms.

I'm looking at their PD14 product and terms with a view to purchasing as an Individual Consumer. I like the product but consider the terms 'stingy'.

I've haven't spoken to CL but looking at the info available on the site the Subscription License is about always having an upto date product. Like you, I cannot see anything about number of devices. Even if it did allow more devices it's for the whole suite. I only want PD. And it appears to be all about buying into 'the cloud' which is of no interest to me whatsoever.

Subscription is also something I do not intend to start.

I've also looked at Volume Licensing which is about mutiple devices. Understandably it's geared to business not home consumers.

I think this has helped me decide that I'm not going to purchase PD14. I need to have it on two devices at no additional cost - just as with Proshow.

TonyL
Self build Xeon W3690, 12GB RAM, 850EVO SSD, Asus 2GB GTX960, Win10H 64bit, PD14
iMac 27" Retina 5K i5, 24GB RAM, Radeon M295X 4GB, Bootcamp Win10H 64bit
Neil.F.1955 [Avatar]
Senior Contributor Joined: Mar 07, 2012 09:15 Messages: 1303 Offline
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Hello everyone!

This is what I wish to clarify. And as for "shaming" Cyberlink about licencing, Cyberlink is "in the same boat" as any and all other software manufacturers, whatever software they produce, and for whatever purpose. Software is NOT cheap! In some cases you really have to "save your pennies" to buy it. So the software companies have made their money off us "end users", so it really should be our choice as to how we use it, and how many computers on which we want to install it. To be fair, though, there should be the requirement for us to "own" each computer, be it desktop or laptop, on which we install these programmes. Currently I have PD8 Ultra on my computer but have ordered, paid for, and await dlivery of PD14 Ultra(between one and two weeks from today). If I owned a laptop as well as my desktop computer, I may want to istall PD14 on that, so, if I go camping, I can copy content from my camera into PD14 on the laptop, edit what I've shot together for one day's shooting, likewise for any subsequent day's shooting, drop the lot on a flash drive from the laptop, copy to my desktop and "polish it up" on PD14 on the desktop. What's so wrong with that?

Neil.
optodata
Senior Contributor Location: California, USA Joined: Sep 16, 2011 16:04 Messages: 8630 Offline
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Nothing wrong with that Neil.

As far as I know, the single installation rule isn't actively enforced for PD like it is for Office or even for NewBlue FX. In those cases, you have to deactivate the product while you're online for the key to be released, and then you can install (move) it to a new device.

I imagine that the number of times that the PD license key is entered is monitored, and I greatly appreciate not having to deactivate PD before re-installing it.

For example, I do a lot of beta testing and sometimes I have to restore my computer from an earlier backup. It can be a royal pain to try to reinstall the NewBlue plugins on the SAME computer because their server only knows that the key is already active and it takes an email to their tech support to reset the key every time that happens

With all that said, you're entitled to download and install the mobile version of PD as it comes with your new purchase. It's not as full-featured as the main program, but it has a timeline and several effects and I believe you can export to the main program when you get back.

There's also a free Android version out there if you have a suitable phone or tablet.


YouTube/optodata


DS365 | Win11 Pro | Ryzen 9 3950X | RTX 4070 Ti | 32GB RAM | 10TB SSDs | 5K+4K HDR monitors

Canon Vixia GX10 (4K 60p) | HF G30 (HD 60p) | Yi Action+ 4K | 360Fly 4K 360°
Neil.F.1955 [Avatar]
Senior Contributor Joined: Mar 07, 2012 09:15 Messages: 1303 Offline
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Hi, Optodata!

In any case, I was just "musing" about possibilities. It's more than likely I won't get a laptop computer, but if I did, I wouldn't waste my time putting a cut-down version of PD14 Ultra on it, no. I'd install the full version and have it on both desktop and laptop so I could perform edits with the same degree of facilitation on the laptop as I would on my desktop computer. I forked out $119.96 to buy this PD version, so I should be able to use it on 1, 2, 3 or more computers if I so choose. But that's not going to happen as I'm content to use my trust desktop "tower" computer for all my computing work.

Cheers!

Neil.
TonyL [Avatar]
Newbie Location: Nr. Coventry, UK Joined: Oct 10, 2015 04:07 Messages: 46 Offline
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I have a variety of computers but for getting projects done I use three - an i7 desktop I custom built myself almost 6 years ago, a 17" i7 Sony laptop, and a new 27" Imac Retina 5K running Windows 10 in Bootcamp. Hence the need for me to be able to install PD on at least two machines. I too can't be doing with having to use a cut down version. I work in my 'den' on my desktop and iMac during the day and then move to the living room for the evening where I continue on my laptop. All my files are on my NAS so I can easily switch computers.

Having only discovered PD14 in the past week I was quite looking forward to adding it to my video editing toolkit. I can't be the only person that has been turned off the product by the limited Individual Consumer licence. It's such short sightedness that prompts people to find other solutions/products.

TonyL
Self build Xeon W3690, 12GB RAM, 850EVO SSD, Asus 2GB GTX960, Win10H 64bit, PD14
iMac 27" Retina 5K i5, 24GB RAM, Radeon M295X 4GB, Bootcamp Win10H 64bit
Neil.F.1955 [Avatar]
Senior Contributor Joined: Mar 07, 2012 09:15 Messages: 1303 Offline
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G'day, TonyL!

You and I must be "on the same page" with this subject, it seems. Imagine if, in the days before computers, record companies applied a licencing requirement that you could only play your 45s or LPs on one phonograph only in your house and couldn't use those same records on any other player you may have had. There'd be no market for recorded music at all! It's that situation with computer software that has been applied, and it's very restrictive. Okay, Cyberlink doesn't acually "apply" the rule but other software makers do so very strictly, and considering the large amounts money they make off the backs of consumers like us, they should "back off" and let us use the software as "we" see fit.

Cheers!

Neil.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at Oct 12. 2015 09:33

TonyL [Avatar]
Newbie Location: Nr. Coventry, UK Joined: Oct 10, 2015 04:07 Messages: 46 Offline
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G'day yerself, Neil. Bonzer.

Unfortunately CL aren't on the same page with us.

Some software houses are stuck in the past century working on the basis of consumers only having one PC per household. Or they know the actual situation and see it as an opportunity to make more bucks from us individual punters. Multiple PCs per home = multiple licences = multiple profit.

A home consumer like me simply wants to be able to work on two computers at different times without the need to switch installations. A local network installation would solve the problem or a licence to install on two PCs owned and operated by the same person.

By the way. What became of Wallace88? He tossed the first grenade in then exited.

Good health,

TonyL


Self build Xeon W3690, 12GB RAM, 850EVO SSD, Asus 2GB GTX960, Win10H 64bit, PD14
iMac 27" Retina 5K i5, 24GB RAM, Radeon M295X 4GB, Bootcamp Win10H 64bit
Wallace88 [Avatar]
Newbie Joined: Jan 30, 2010 17:14 Messages: 8 Offline
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I am really surprised that I cant use my CL software on my new laptop as well as my Desktop pc. I didnot closely read the useage rules. i was all set to install my software darnit!
TonyL [Avatar]
Newbie Location: Nr. Coventry, UK Joined: Oct 10, 2015 04:07 Messages: 46 Offline
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Wallace

Remember what Delboy used to say. "He who dares, Rodders. He who dares."

TonyL Self build Xeon W3690, 12GB RAM, 850EVO SSD, Asus 2GB GTX960, Win10H 64bit, PD14
iMac 27" Retina 5K i5, 24GB RAM, Radeon M295X 4GB, Bootcamp Win10H 64bit
Wallace88 [Avatar]
Newbie Joined: Jan 30, 2010 17:14 Messages: 8 Offline
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Thanks for the replies everyone, I am itching to install on my new laptop, but I dont want to "mess up" my desktop install!
Neil.F.1955 [Avatar]
Senior Contributor Joined: Mar 07, 2012 09:15 Messages: 1303 Offline
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Hi, TonyL and Wallace88!

It was a sentence from Optodata, as follows: "As far as I know, the single installation rule isn't actively enforced for PD like it is for Office or even for NewBlue FX. In those cases, you have to deactivate the product while you're online for the key to be released, and then you can install (move) it to a new device" which gave me the suggestion about Cyberlink being a bit more "democratic" about installing Power Director on more than one computer. Away from Cyberlink, for the moment, If other software companies want to strictly enforce that one licence per PC rule, they'll only hurt themselves in the long run, through their corporate greed.

Cheers!

Neil
TonyL [Avatar]
Newbie Location: Nr. Coventry, UK Joined: Oct 10, 2015 04:07 Messages: 46 Offline
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Hi Neil.

Yes, I'd noted the comment "isn't actively enforced".

I was ignoring it but now you raise it it's tempting to take it at face value and take a chance that CL do have a more relaxed approach than their EULA states. Optodata appears to be speaking from experience.

Wallace and yourself are already in possession of PD14 so can easily test it, particularly Wallace with his laptop and a burning desire to get it on. It requires me to commit to purchase with the uncertainty.

I'd decided not to buy. Now you've climbed on my shoulder whispering in my ear. Go on. Go on. It'll be OK. You know you want it. Take the chance and go for it.

What's a drongo?

TonyL

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at Oct 13. 2015 09:18

Self build Xeon W3690, 12GB RAM, 850EVO SSD, Asus 2GB GTX960, Win10H 64bit, PD14
iMac 27" Retina 5K i5, 24GB RAM, Radeon M295X 4GB, Bootcamp Win10H 64bit
Neil.F.1955 [Avatar]
Senior Contributor Joined: Mar 07, 2012 09:15 Messages: 1303 Offline
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G'day, TonyL,

I'm not yet in posession of PD14 but I have ordered and paid for it through a Harvey Norman store near me, and I hope to take posession of, and install it on my computer either next Monday(19th October) but it could be as late as Monday(26th October) before I get it. The store will notify me when it has arrived. I eagerly await its arrival! Even with the comments I made about installing PD14 on two separate computers, it's a scenario I'll likely never play out personally, as I only have my desktop computer. But at some future date, I should acquire a laptop, I'd like to have the full version of PD14 installed on it, from the same installation disc used to install on the computer I'm using now to write this post.

Cheers!

Neil.

P.S. - What's a "Drongo"? - The word "Drongo" is Australian slang for "Idiot" but it's a word that has fallen out of use here.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at Oct 13. 2015 09:41

TonyL [Avatar]
Newbie Location: Nr. Coventry, UK Joined: Oct 10, 2015 04:07 Messages: 46 Offline
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Hi Neil,

Well I've committed. I've purchased and am just downloading the first package now. I'm going to put it on my new iMac and then decide what to do next. The current offer ends today. Being new to CL I don't know if it's a regular or one time offer but I didn't want to chance missing it. Plus there's the extra 10% discount from CL membership.

Hi Wallace,

I'll soon be in the same boat as you with my laptop sitting there saying, "Hey what about me?"

TonyL

Self build Xeon W3690, 12GB RAM, 850EVO SSD, Asus 2GB GTX960, Win10H 64bit, PD14
iMac 27" Retina 5K i5, 24GB RAM, Radeon M295X 4GB, Bootcamp Win10H 64bit
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