A question that we’re often asked by the Livescribe community here in Australia and New Zealand is whether MyScript for Livescribe can be used on more than one computer (i.e. a work laptop and a home computer).Many of our customers use their Livescribe Smartpen on multiple computers – I do the same.
As it stands, the license agreement for MyScript doesn’t permit this – so a user wanting to use MyScript across multiple machines would need to purchase additional copies of the software.
My question for the community is whether there is sufficient demand for a multi-machine option? Would it help if we had a single user/2 machine option for MyScript
This type of option is quite common in the software world, so we’ll ask the question and see whether we can encourage them to offer a multi-machine bundle.
Please let me know your thoughts
To be honest we don’t understand why MyScript just doesn’t come with Livescribe Desktop out of the box. It is almost an essential part of the overall solution and it seems absurd that it has be be separately licensed. LiveScribe and Vision Objects should simply do a deal and Livescribe should be able to absorb the cost within their product pricing.
In answer to the question – YES. MyScript should be available wherever you have Livecribe Desktop installed. I have it installed at home and in the office and currently MyScript seems like a bolt-on that’s not really in step with what is an awesome technology (Pulse pen) and solution.
Gerard,
Thanks for your comment – I share your sentiment. We’ve packaged MyScript with the 2GB and 4GB Livescribe pens – but this was something we’ve had to do on our own.
As we see more and more customers wanting MyScript, how it’s licensed needs to evolve also.
cheers Mark
It seems unreasonable not to allow multiple computers as almost anyone using this software would have more than one location or computer. I travel extensively internationally and I have several job descriptions and different computers and different offices. Therefore, there needs to be some way to work around this. The vendor can always ensure that the license is licensed to the same owner through an email or registration trace.
But when I consider my computers, I have the following:
1. 2 offices at location #1 – one office has two computers and one has 1 computer
2. 1 office at location #2 – with desktop and laptops available
3. 1 office at location #3 – think of this as my personal office; again multiple computers to reflect differing business needs.
So in total, I use 8 computers. It is simply impractical to only be able to use one computer to change my scribbles into words… Additionally when I upgrade to a new computer – how will this license work???? I upgrade computers at least annually – sometimes more often. It’s easy to take my Livescribe pen with me when I travel but then I cannot use the written to typed feature so that I can send out word documents from wherever I am.
I have not activated my code yet as I am not sure this was a smart purchase. I don’t see how it will work for me under these rigid conditions. I have lots of software Macromedia, PhotoShop, etc that I am licensed on for all of my computers (they just verify my registrations through email address and online registration).
So, I would really appreciate further negotiation on how best to handle this problem. I am definitely not going to buy half a dozen or more licenses – when I have only one pen. I am surprised the pen can’t send back that information as it’s registered???? Maybe this pen is not as “smart” as it’s advertised to be.
Kingsley,
thanks for your response, you’re probably at the extreme end of the scale in terms of licensed users and machines – but your point is a good one. There doesn’t appear to be any mechanism to add additional users to a license without a 100% commitment to a new license.
cheers
Mark
Having just bought the pen today this was one of my first questions! I have three computers that I regularly use and was wondering about the software licensing (hence the reason I even clicked on this question in the first place). It seems absurd to have a single license for a portable product. I fully affirm everything said by the 2 previous users including the need for the software to be an integrated part of the livescribe solution. Having to attain it separately is an unnecessary added level of confusion. I personally believe the software should be integrated into the livescribe software rather than as a separate entity.
Cheers,
Jane
Jane,
thanks for your response. Are you referring to MyScript or Livescribe Desktop? I wasn’t able to determine this from your comment?
MyScript has been developed by a third party vendor – so any bundling of the software would need to involve cooperation across a couple of companies.
thanks for your feedback
Mark
Hi Mark – yes please! I’d use myscript on at least two computers if possible – silly to buy two copies but that’s what I’m about to have to do… Ta for thinking of this.
I looked at this pen on the weekend and whilst I don’t have all the detail, the one factor that is deterring me is the issue of being able to use the one pen on multiple computers. Currently at work I have access to at least 4 computers plus my laptop, if I can not use the pen in all areas then it is basically useless to me. If I have to license every computer then this I may as well just stick to the current typing and handwritten notes that I currently use.
Agree with the comment – the myscript should come with livescribe.
Agree with the myscript for multiple licences.
I use three other software options all come with multiple install licence. Current set up is – Home PC, Work PC, Netbook for travel.
Just in passing, what I would love to have is the ability to sync between all three locations as you can with evernote & lotus notes.
Hi John
thanks for the feedback – I agree with you on all counts. The reason I started this post was to gauge support for the idea so I can suggest to the vendor they reconsider their licensing model.
Re your point re multi-location sync’ing – this may be something that is available later this year.
Finally, we’ll be getting the stand alone desktop charger soon – this would make a very nice addition to your Livescribe kit
i agree – single licence 2 machines – eg – home and work
Thanks for commenting Mark – this is an idea we’re taking to Vision Objects.
Well I fell in love with Livescribe from day one. It was the answer to my prayers, being in an administrative position with an injured wrist and unable to take minutes.
I work for a Government Department and am so impressed with Livescribe I have made a Powerpoint presentation on it. From my recommendations alone, I have sold four pens for the company, and that’s after showing the presentations to approx 15 people. I work at a remote location in a Branch of just over 100 people, at the end of this month I will be presenting the pen to the staff in head office – consisting of over 1500 staff members, our IT Dept have recently found out about it, because they have had to install the software and they’re also pretty excited over the capabilities.
I have contacted Livescribe and told them the same, I also know there have been a lot of requests for the ability to connect to more than one pc without too much trouble. The most frustrating thing is that there is a great program available on the Livescribe website that gives you the ability to choose where to save info to, which would help loads with sharing information and connecting to multiple pc’s, but because it’s made by a Developer we’re having trouble getting it approved for installation on our networks. Livescribe don’t seem to be bothered by the situation and I don’t think they will change their minds regardless of how many requests they receive. I can understand why they want to keep it this way, but this pen would be perfect, and would sell alot more units if it had this ability. Our four sections have bought the pens and we’re still working on getting them working as we need them – not giving up yet, but I can tell you there would be another 50 pens sold tomorrow if this was not an issue. I am a little dubious to do this presentation in the Head Office until this problem is sorted.
I know my problem is not widespread, but could be – if word got out and other organisations, both Government and private enterprise, picked up the use of the pen, I just don’t think there’s alot of knowledge of its uses out there – advertising would be a great start. Personally I think it’s poorly represented and the makers are sitting on a goldmine, but it’s like a bunch of children sitting on a goldmine that know it’s worth alot, but don’t know how to turn it into something so much more productive.
I think you’ll also find there will be a lot of ‘different’ cases but essentially it’s all going to come back to one thing – the ability to hook up to more than one pc, most commonly will be the work pc and laptop.
I also work for a Govt dept, have just bought 2 and are now working out how we can use the pens on more than just one computer. We need to be able to use them on the work desktop, the work laptop and possibly the home computer. Unless this issue is resolved, there will be no futher purchases at our end.
Paul,
You can use your Pulse Smartpen on more than one computer. This post refers to MyScript – a separate third party application.
Mark
I have just purchased a Smartpen today with the intention of introducing them to my section, 15 people and then rolling them out into other areas of our organisation. I was not told that this device would work on only one computer and therefore it is going back tomorrow. In this day and age this restricted thinking is very out of date and looks like a money grab. your marketing folks need to get ther strategy together if they want to develeope a market for what look like a very usefull product.
Nigel,
I think you may have misunderstood this post. The post refers to MyScript for Livescribe, not Livescribe Desktop.
To use your Pulse Smartpen you download Livescribe Desktop from the Livescribe site (or if you had purchased from us we would have emailed you a download link). The store you purchased the pen from would/should have explained that you can in fact use the Pulse Smartpen and Livescribe Desktop on more than one machine.
This blog post refers to MyScript, which is a separate, third party application that allows you to transcribe your hand written notes into editable text.
If you have any questions about this, please don’t hesitate to contact me directly.
Mark