Like many I use SolidWorks on a desktop (most of the time) and a laptop (occasionally). For as long as I can recall, SolidWorks has let users install the application on the desktop and laptop and activate it on desktop and laptop. At any one time a user could have 2 activations running. This was convenient and (from my perspective) a USP for SolidWorks. I use other software where it is either locked down to a single machine, or dongled or you have to activate/reactivate a single license between machines.

Today I was setting up a new laptop. I uninstalled SolidWorks from the old one, ran the installer on the new one. Started up SolidWorks and tried to activate it. It failed - giving the error message I had exceeded the number of activations. Somewhat puzzled I called my reseller, who I know, can log into the SolidWorks activation server and turn off activations (as I had to do a few years back when a heard drive failed).

The reseller told me SolidWorks has changed the activation policy now. You have to transfer the activation from a desktop to a laptop and vice versa. This, for me is a totally backwards step. The issue is that when you are running in and out the office you can easily forget to do this, so when you get to the meeting off site, you find you have a dead app. Before it was simple, and reliable.

I am interested to know if this new policy applies worldwide or only in the UK?

The reseller told me it was brought in because companies were abusing it and running two licenses with two designers. So the solution is to punish customers who don't abuse it? If this is the issue, then why can't there be a web activation site where a customer can log in on a smart phone, get a code back and type that into the laptop to activate SW?

If SolidWorks are going to change policy then at least put a system in place that allows customers to maintain usability at the same level as before. If the intention is to force users to buy extra seats just for the convenience of not having to remember to activate/deactivate it will fail miserably. They will just say, bugger this, I'll switch to a more convenient platform.

As we transition to the new platform I sincerely hope this new licensing regime is not part of the process where "it will get to the point where moving to the new platform will be less painful than using the old one".