So far I have managed to avoid dongles for my music software, I have used Hasp and Sentinel dongles extensively at work an they have always been problem free.
 
I am seriously considering buying XLIS4, but it needs a dongle. There are two options iLok or eLicenser, as the eLicenser is being offered free with the software I am tempted to take that option.
 
I know iLok opens up more GAS opportunities but my main concern is reliability, the debate rages about the reliability of iLok but I see very little written about eLicenser? Has anyone had good or bad experiences with eLicenser?
 

I won't get into the dongle debate.
I have both, never had any problems with either.
 
I got my original iLok in 2003 & still works (but Ilok2 is usually needed for most software today.)
The original elicenser I needed for Tascam's Gigatudio years ago is also on my computer & running Cubase daily.
 
PS. I picked up a few elicenser spares for about $10.00 per, don't remember where though. You could probably find deals on them if you look around & get extras just in case.

carl
I won't get into the dongle debate.
I have both, never had any problems with either.
 
I got my original iLok in 2003 & still works (but Ilok2 is usually needed for most software today.)
The original elicenser I needed for Tascam's Gigatudio years ago is also on my computer & running Cubase daily.
 
PS. I picked up a few elicenser spares for about $10.00 per, don't remember where though. You could probably find deals on them if you look around & get extras just in case.

^^^^

What he said...

I normally would not buy anything that required a dongle, but I did make an exception in the case of Cubase.  A DAW is such an all-encompassing piece of software that I felt an exception could be made.  As it turns out, I also picked up Halion at the same time (and in an attractive bundle deal with Cubase for an incredibly good deal).  It needed the same dongle as Cubase, and one came free with the software, so that part embodied no pain.
 
The eLicenser usage has been painless.  I had an iLok briefly and it was a major pain when I sold it and the one piece of software that required it.  Should I ever need to sell Cubase (highly doubtful), I might have some negatives to report.  But so far, no problems at all.

I agree, DM, the eLicenser is far less hassle then the iLok...

But both have been worry free for me for the most part.
Only problem I had with iLok 1 was when it would only work with a
32 bit browser.  That drove me crazy till I figured it out...

I had both the iLok 1 and now have the iLok 2.  The iLok 1
I got with Pro Tools... and that's where it stayed...everything
else I transferred to the iLok 2...

The new iLok manager software is a MILLION MILES ahead of the old...
it's been completely hassle free...for me.

No problems with iLok for me. Works without issues. Because it allows me to operate certain software that only works with it, and because I value those tools, I'm fine with iLok as part of the equation.

dmbaer
I normally would not buy anything that required a dongle, but I did make an exception in the case of Cubase.  A DAW is such an all-encompassing piece of software that I felt an exception could be made.  As it turns out, I also picked up Halion at the same time (and in an attractive bundle deal with Cubase for an incredibly good deal).  It needed the same dongle as Cubase, and one came free with the software, so that part embodied no pain.
 
The eLicenser usage has been painless.  I had an iLok briefly and it was a major pain when I sold it and the one piece of software that required it.  Should I ever need to sell Cubase (highly doubtful), I might have some negatives to report.  But so far, no problems at all.

I balked & balked at spending $40.00 for a $3.00 USB stick, but finally bit the bullet and sprung for it, begrudgingly all along the way so that I could use my Waves plugs.
 
I've had the exact same experience as dmbaer, including the same software deal, except my ilok just stopped working in less than a year.
 
If it wasn't for Waves themselves bailing on the ilok system that they've used for so long, I would have lost all those licences as well as my $40 for the ilok crap.
 
Since then, any products I've looked at the require the ilok garbage instantly get kiboshed right then & there.
 
Incidentally, more companies are adding themselves to the elicenser protection system now.
There are many still using Pace's ilok, but it seems some are jumping ship.

Thanks for the responses. Looks like a free eLicenser is the way to go if I do buy XILS4

elicenser i just bought and I use it with my vengeance plugins and it was super simple. Ilok in the past has had me pull my hair out. along with newer profanity that I made up trying to get it to work. Glad I never got hooked on waves or plugins that needs Ilok.

Waves stopped using iLok over a year ago, now people moan & groan about their License Center.