Physical license hardware keys are the small dongles a program checks before it fully opens. They connect by USB or by a legacy parallel port and lock the license to the machine you are using. With four listings that range across a wide price span, the real decision is not about styling or brand name. It is about matching the dongle to the software family, the port it needs, and the physical condition you can tolerate.
Quick take
The Alerton Ibex dongle and the AMY key both use parallel-port connections, but they are in very different condition classes. The Alerton listing is used and described as in good working condition as pictured. The AMY key is sold 'For parts or not working' and described as untested. On the USB side, the Simplex 741-780 key is the highest-priced item in this group, while the Micros E7 key is the lowest listed price. Neither USB dongle is listed as new. If you need a Windows 10 unit for Alerton Ibex software, start with the Alerton dongle. If you need a Micros E7 license key at the lowest listed price, the Micros dongle is the direct match. If your project involves Simplex fire alarm software, the Simplex key is the only USB option here named for that family, but the listing does not promise which Simplex program it unlocks.
Price comparison
| Product | Connection | Condition | Listed price | Price bar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alerton Ibex Software Key Dongle for Windows 10 Unit for Hardware Parallel Port | Parallel port | Used | USD 350.00 | |
| Software Security Parallel Port Security Key Dongle AMY KEY Granite Systems DB25 | DB25 parallel port | For parts or not working | USD 24.00 | |
| Simplex 4120 4100 TSW security software hardware USB dongle key sentinel 741-780 | USB | Used | USD 1,200.00 | |
| MICROS E7 SOFTWARE LICENSE KEY 100074-279 = USB DONGLE | USB | Used | USD 10.00 |
Decision matrix
- Alerton Ibex software on a Windows 10 machine with a parallel port: start with the Alerton Ibex key.
- Micros E7 software that needs a USB license key: start with the Micros E7 dongle.
- Simplex 4100, 4120, or TSW software: start with the Simplex 741-780 USB dongle, but know the listing does not state which program it unlocks.
- A DB25 AMY/Granite Systems key for parts or a historical collection: start with the AMY KEY.
Product notes
Alerton Ibex Software Key Dongle
The Alerton Ibex Software Key Dongle is built for a Windows 10 unit and connects through a hardware parallel port. It targets Alerton Ibex software, and the listing marks it as used and in good working condition as pictured. If you are maintaining an Alerton Ibex workstation that still takes a parallel-port key, this is the only listing here named for that software. The software-specific match is what makes it worth considering. The practical limit is the connector: it is designed for a hardware parallel port, not a USB port.
Software Security AMY KEY Granite Systems DB25
The Software Security Parallel Port Security Key Dongle AMY KEY Granite Systems DB25 uses one male and one female DB25 connector and comes from the era when parallel-port dongles protected high-cost professional software. It is listed 'For parts or not working' and described as untested, so treat it as a repair or collection piece rather than a plug-and-play license. The date on the key places it in the 1980s/90s, matching the description of Software Security Inc.'s copy-protection business. The limitation is practical: the key needs a DB25 parallel port to connect, and the listing does not sell it as working.
Simplex 741-780 USB Dongle Key
The Simplex 4120 4100 TSW security software hardware USB dongle key sentinel 741-780 is the only option here tied to Simplex fire alarm systems. The used key carries Simplex part number 741-780, and the description says it is unknown whether it will grant access to the Simplex 4100 programmer, the 4120 programmer, the TSW True Site Workstation programmer, or the TSW Runtime operations. That makes it a serious purchase for someone who already has a specific Simplex application in mind. If you are trying to unlock a particular programmer, the listing does not give you that confirmation. The value is real only if you can identify which of those Simplex tools this key was meant to serve.
MICROS E7 Software License Key 100074-279 (USB Dongle)
The MICROS E7 SOFTWARE LICENSE KEY 100074-279 = USB DONGLE is the most direct USB match for Micros E7 software. It is listed as used, with model 'USB Software Security Key' and part number 100074-279, from merchant i-UayBiQri. The description says to see photos for details and notes that used items may have cosmetic scuffs or scratches. If you already have a Micros E7 environment and just need the physical license key, this is the lowest-priced entry point among the four. The limitation is the used state: whatever scuffs or marks the photos show are part of the deal, so the key's usefulness depends on how much cosmetic wear you are willing to accept.
Final recommendation by use case
- Alerton Ibex workstation with a parallel port: Alerton Ibex Software Key Dongle, USD 350.00.
- Micros E7 USB license key at the lowest listed price: MICROS E7 100074-279 dongle, USD 10.00.
- Simplex fire alarm software when the target program is already known: Simplex 741-780 USB dongle, USD 1,200.00.
- DB25 parallel-port AMY key for parts or historical study: Software Security AMY KEY Granite Systems, USD 24.00.
If your need is immediate and software-specific, the Alerton and Micros keys are the clearest matches in their respective software families. If your project is Simplex, the dongle's high price and unknown programmer access mean you cannot rely on the title alone. If your interest is the hardware itself, the AMY key offers a direct way to get a DB25 parallel-port piece from that era.
