I can't imagine having any computer permanently offline anymore. The sheer impracticality off it would surely dwarf any possible benefits!

JazzSinger
An additional reason I do not use Dropbox is the terms and conditions.
 
If you are transferring creative material over dropbox, have a look at the terms of use.
 
They may have changed since I was considering using the dropbox service, but what I read then made me balk.

same with hotmail - and plenty more free services i'm sure - all your ips are belong to them

JazzSinger
An additional reason I do not use Dropbox is the terms and conditions. If you are transferring creative material over dropbox, have a look at the terms of use. They may have changed since I was considering using the dropbox service, but what I read then made me balk. 

I mainly receive files over Dropbox, like recordings or sheets for gigs. I use Wetransfer when sending stuff to others. Their TOS seemed fine last time I checked.
I get that people care about a stable and secure system. I do too. If you don't trust yourself to keep it stable while connected to the internet, don't. I was just surprised that so many people seem to do this out of fear for viruses or crashes when that seemed to be mainly a Windows Millennium and early XP problem. The benefits nowadays outweigh any leftover risks by such a huge amount, to me, that I can't imagine working offline with my DAW pc at all.

I don't know if this relates completely, but what I do is go into Device Manager and disable the network connection when I have a session or am otherwise worried about an auto update or something interrupting my work.  Then I just go back to Devise Manager and enable the network when I need to get access to my other computers and/or the I-net.
 
I always move files to my laptop on the network when I am uploading/downloading or emailing music.
 
t
 

If you want to use internet on your music PC, fine. I'm not. Nor will I use anything that requires me to access the internet just to get it to work.
 
It's not fear. Experience has taught me that I don't deal with any of the things mentioned in this thread on my music PC. I don't do this for a living. But when I do go into my "studio" :) I make music.
 
With Win7 Pro, maintenance is almost zilch. I get Sonar working, and don't change anything until an update comes along.
 
And knowing what I know, (and not knowing what it's like to have to depend on my studio work as my family income), that if I did have to depend on this for a living, I still wouldn't hook my main music making PC to the internet. I'd get another PC sitting on the side with a USB hd and transfer whatever I needed right on the spot. Why would I want to install Dropbox software on my main music PC? Or have Win Defender running? Or Firefox/Chrome installed on it?
 
But that's just me.
 
 

Grem. Why would I want to install Dropbox software on my main music PC? Or have Win Defender running? Or Firefox/Chrome installed on it? But that's just me.  

I think it's clear why anyone would want to. You've also explained to me why you think it's a bad idea, even if I don't agree. If you feel it makes you safe to not be online, good on you.

I will say that any virus worth its salt could get on your computer through USB or a LAN just as easily.

EDIT:
Perhaps it makes a difference that I feel pretty confident I could solve any crash or virus apart from a total hardware failure.

I too have two PCs in my studio.  One I use for work and one I use for online stuff.  I have several 8gig flash drives and it's really pretty simple to authorize my software.
 
I have Superior Drummer 2.0 so I don't see the need for AD, especially when they require you to be online to get it.  I did read that you can get a stripped down version by doing it offline...but you don't get the full blown package unless you go online with your DAW.  That is how I read it anyway.

I've seen a couple posts that mention that it's like how you authorize NI stuff. It is similar, but with NI, I don't have to actually install the program on another machine and then copy the folders onto my computer. Just wish they had an easier workaround... Let me ask, for you who have it installed, would you say that it's worth the trouble for me to go the workaround route? I've got DrumCore and the Zildjian/BFD Eco right now, and have been happy with it thus far. Thanks for your help.

Sanderxpander
If you feel it makes you safe to not be online, good on you.

This is your misconception. It's not because of that. I never stated that. Read my posts. I explain clearly why I don't put it online.
 

Sanderxpander
EDIT:
Perhaps it makes a difference that I feel pretty confident I could solve any crash or virus apart from a total hardware failure.

I don't know why you feel that you must state how confident you are in your abilities. Maybe your trying to make yourself feel superior to others.
 
However, I am finding it hard to get you to understand why I don't put my music PC online! : )
Here it is as clearly as I can explain it.
 
I don't want to. : )
 
 

Leadfoot
I've seen a couple posts that mention that it's like how you authorize NI stuff. It is similar, but with NI, I don't have to actually install the program on another machine and then copy the folders onto my computer. Just wish they had an easier workaround... Let me ask, for you who have it installed, would you say that it's worth the trouble for me to go the workaround route? I've got DrumCore and the Zildjian/BFD Eco right now, and have been happy with it thus far. Thanks for your help.

So if I read this right, you can install the authorization program on one computer, then transfer that authorization to the off line PC? That's do-able. I think I have a few programs that do it that way. And I'm good with that. That will work. Hope that's the case!
 
Good question, is it worth it?