In case you have not heard, Adobe announced plans to abandon selling software outright and setup a subscription only model.
As such, you will have to continue to pay, every month, to not only use ‘your’ software, but to access and work on the files you have created. Stop paying and it ceases to function. The issue here is that Adobe does not consider the software ‘yours’. In their opinion, it never was yours in the first place. So from their perspective, this marks a natural evolution in software marketing.
I beg to disagree.
I’m not in Adobe’s pocket so I get to speak out. Any other subscription based software simply ceases to automatically update, but it does not disable itself if you elect to stop paying. This is a new twist on a bad idea, the Software Industry is watching very closely. If Adobe succeeds, more will follow. As far as I’m concerned, this is nothing more than corporate greed taken to a new level. A marketing ploy to stem the decline in gross revenue. I also think it means Adobe has reached its innovative peak and feels the only way it can compete in the market is by ‘locking-in’ as many of their user clients as they can, before viable alternatives emerge.
“Basically, it’s a last ditch effort to avoid hemorrhaging more customers.”
Though this ‘subscription’ marketing model would work for small companies, corporations and hobbyists with deep pockets, it’s a real issue for the struggling free-lancer or smalltime hobbyists like me. I have never been able to upgrade my software as soon as a new version came out. What’s more, many of us skip every other update because of costs. Some updates have been abysmal. Will that change under this new model? If anything, they will no longer be pressed to innovate since they now have a steady source of income. They got rid of the ‘Carrot and Stick’ form of motivation. Where is the incentive to improve their products? I don’t see it.
Another point worth bringing up- The software under this new Adobe plan does not reside in the ‘Cloud’, but on your computer, just like any other software you have. The ‘Cloud’ is only used to monitor whether you are current with your payments. Using ‘their’ Cloud entails an additional expense.
As far as ‘Cloud Storage’ is concerned, I will never, ever trust my images to it. The idea that it’s safe and secure or that you will always have access to your files is a myth perpetrated by marketing.
Nothing is infallible. The Titanic still sank.
I do not expect this new model for marketing to go unchallenged. The Adobe Creative Cloud scheme seems ripe for a ‘class action’ lawsuit. I also don’t think it will go though without scrutiny by the FTC or the European Union, especially France and Germany who have strict consumer laws on the books. They will most likely be forced to create ‘localized’ versions to accommodate different legal jurisdictions. Microsoft has had to do that in the past. This is not a ‘done deal’, just yet.
For some alternative perspective, here are a few links related to Adobe’s Debacle:
DPReview, Adobe Response to Reaction
Photoshop Insider, Scott Kelby
Don’t forget to check out the comments and leave your own 2¢. Input is always good. Adobe needs to hear from everyone, from all sides of the issue.
So what does this mean for us freelancers and hobbyists?
Creative Suite Photoshop V6 (as well as the entire CS collection) will be the last one you can own outright unless Adobe relents under public pressure, but I would be surprised if they do. This is not something they just jumped into. It’s been in the works for a long time.
At some point the CS software will fail to open newer RAW files, it will fail compatibility with your OS (operating system), or become incompatible with new computer hardware.
Many, many Adobe customers have said this is the ‘end of the line’ for them and so it will be for me. I’ve been an Adobe devotee since Photoshop V2.5. I’m NOT talking Creative Suite either.
I’ll bite the bullet and score a copy of Adobe CS V6 Standard edition collection. Then I’ll hold my breath until a clear alternative emerges.
I will probably have to take my iMac off the Net to lock in the OS. So be it. Some of us have dedicated a computer to a specific piece of software in the past, over similar issues. Like when Apple went from OS 9 to OSX. None of our ‘old’ software would run ‘naked’ on the new OS. ‘Virtual Mode’ just didn’t cut it. I had $1,000’s of dollars in software back then, that basically never got updated to OSX. Who remembers TypeStyler or Ready,Set,Go? And tons and tons of Photoshop filters that would not work on the updated OSX version of PS.
It took years for some of the more obscure titles to port over to OSX… several smalltime developers never bothered. I still have a PowerMac G4 I bought new and the 35mm slide scanner I got with it. I have tons of slides and B&W film I need to scan. It’s not worth anything now, but it still runs!
After the dust settles, I expect all the other image editing software developers to rush in and fill the void left by Adobe. That idea thrills me. I do expect Adobe to start throwing around their weight and sue those who might threaten their position of superiority. I always hated that they were the only app out there.
OK, that’s not true, but PS is the de facto standard by which ALL Photo Editing Apps are judged.
In a week or two, I will put up a rundown of all the software I can find that deals with editing photos or managing photos that runs from a PC or Mac with comments and links. Those for Android or iOS will come later. This will be about the tools we need to get the job done, WITHOUT having to pay someone monthly to do it.
I would love to hear from anyone who has a favorite alternative photo app they use.
I really like Pixelmator. A very fun to use app.
NOTE: (Updated to add) Affinity Photo (got mine at the Apple App Store) is looking like a replacement- I’ll be writing more on that!
I’ll get down off my soapbox now, thanx.
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