Photoshop

[Bill Pierce]

Adobe has announced that the latest version of Photoshop will only be available through subscription and the cloud-based Creative Cloud. I would imagine they are mostly interested in doing this to put Photoshop on a monthly payment basis rather than the more conventional and traditional "one payment, buy a disc, put it on your computer" basis. How do you feel about that? I think its a strong argument for Capture One.

Here's Adobe's argument for their decision.

http://www.adobe.com/cc/letter.html

 

[alienmeatsack]

I personally love the -idea- of it but -hate- what it represents.

I don't always get the latest versions of apps. I don't always have the money to pay for them and sometimes I don't care for the changes they make in them.

I still run older versions of the Creative Suite because of budget and because those versions still work wonderfully for me.

Until Apple took Rosetta out of Mac OS, I was more then happily still running an older CS at work and an older Photoshop Elements at home as well as my old Freehand and other illustration/layout/design apps.

I think this move by Adobe is partly to keep up with changing times. No doubt about that. But I also think it's a way for them to control who runs what and reign in the pirated copies, the "borrowed" copies and those who have more then their 2 installed versions going more then anything.

I also believe that their "accidentally" releasing the hard link to their CS2 downloads with serial numbers a while back was completely purposeful and was aimed at this goal. Every person who got a free copy and was "not supposed to" is a new potential customer for their CC service as they realize they enjoy the tools and want more. And every Mac owner who doesn't have VMWare or Parallels or Bootcamp who couldn't run CS2 are also potential customers for CC, being pushed towards it by promises of low per monthly costs and frequent updates and new features.

I applaud them for having the cahones to try something this bold with such an important set of tools. But, I also think it is going to tick off a lot of customers. Including long time customers who might look elsewhere for their next app.

sadly, there is nothing out there like Photoshop or Illustrator that truly can replace them. Not to me.

 

[brusby]

What happens when your internet connection is down?

 

[Roger Hicks]

What happens when your internet connection is down?

Surely this could never happen.

But thinking of Adobe: many years ago, when he was still funny, David Frost did a very short 'news' piece on either TW3 or NSMAPMAWOL:

"And now, a message for the inhabitants of Gomorrah. Sod 'em."

Cheers,

R

 

[Murchu]

Ouch.. I guess that rules out casual photoshop users, or those who don't have a burning need to upgrade each version. Brings a whole new level of meaning to 'Adobe Tax'..

 

[Dan]

What happens when your internet connection is down?

The way I understand it, the software resides on your computer but it also 'calls home' a couple of times each month. But I may be completely misinformed!

 

[user237428934]

What happens when your internet connection is down?

It's still a local software that you downloaded or what was the intention of your question?

 

[sevo]

Surely this could never happen.

Fun is, the German Telekom (near-monopolistic in most rural areas) has just added a new clause to their ToS, degrading the connection speed on all future "Flatrate" contracts to 384kbit/s (from 16,000kbit/s) once the 75GB contingent for the running month has been used up. Taking both together it might be a new business proposition to establish yourself as a "second half of each month" post-pro expert, monopolizing the weeks when all competitors are locked out of their Photoshop...

 

[user237428934]

When I'm informed correctly, PS alone costs 25 EUR / month in the cloud while it costs around 1000 EUR when I buy it. The cloud solution does sound like a good deal. Don't need PS though, Lightroom and Photoshop Elements is enough for me.

 

[bobbyrab]

Initially I thought they might be trying to raise more revenue from their users, having read the introduction I now realise they just want me to reach my creative potential and improve my communication with other members of the creative community, sweet of them really.

I suspect that most PS users will be like me and only ever use a fraction of the softwares potential, so I've passed on the last couple of upgrades and I'm still using the very capable CS4. For the monthly fee they're looking to charge ( I don't remember exactly but remember it being quite steep ), I can only see it making sense to very heavy users. Maybe an opportunity for another company.

 

[brusby]

I was wondering whether an internet connection was ever necessary to use the software. 'Can just imagine needing to get something done and being unable to log on.

In any case it just rubs me the wrong way. If my system is stable the last thing I'd want is for Adobe to change anything without my permission. That's just an accident waiting to happen.

Just seems like greed hidden behind a thinly veiled attempt to disguise it as something done in the customers' best interests.

It's still a local software that you downloaded or what was the intention of your question?

 

[Contarama]

Corporate tyranny!

GIMP works just fine for what I do.

 

[user237428934]

? I think its a strong argument for Capture One.

If you see Capture One as an alternative, then PS was oversized for you anyway. No?

 

[bobbyrab]

If you see Capture One as an alternative, then PS was oversized for you anyway. No?

At the moment that's the problem, there's no alternative if you need to do anything beyond the basics available in LR or aperture. There are some shoots I do that can only be properly worked on in PS, but I'd be so resistant to this sort of user model.

 

[brusby]

Yep, I'll bet that's the case. I was told the a pirate copy of CSx in Thailand is under $10 US.

Just thinking aloud -- the switch to a cloud based system won't take any of the existing illegal or legal copies out of circulation. Seems Adobe's customer base will be narrowed to people who can't do without the very newest features. Everyone else would probably be wise and frugal to stick with older, fully paid-for versions.

I wonder if Adobe would actually increase their net profits by reducing the cost of their software. They'd surely sell more copies and reduce some piracy albeit at the cost of lower per unit margins.

Anyway, this cloud thing all just seems so wrong headed to me.

 

[Chuck Albertson]

Surely this could never happen.

It *can* happen. And don't call me Shirley.

 

[Exdsc]

Photoshop CS2 + Faststone image view/organizer + RAW Therapee / RPP.

Thats more than enough for any serious photographer, and at the cost of $0.

 

[bwidjaja]

I am not opposed to the idea of monthly payment per se. This has been the basic premise / business model for most services in the USA. Think of wireless service, internet, or even pest control.

However, at the moment, I think the price is not attractive enough for the mass. Of course comparing the price of upgrade every 18 months make it worth it. But I wonder how many people (other than professionals) always upgrade to the next version when it comes up.

But if enough people ditch PS, I am sure Adobe will adjust the price accordingly. It's all supply and demand. As far as the subscription model, i think we better get more comfortable with it. The idea of paying monthly for using a car but never actually buying it is not a far stretch.

 

[icebear]

How many security glitches for even more sensitve data than photos have already exposed millions of SSN's, credit card numbers, retail account data etc. etc.
Does anyone believe the Adobe CC will be less vulnarable for criminal intent, human error or business propositions ?
What happens with your photos when someone bigger gets an appetite and buys them out?
I don't need to share my pictures on any social network other than RFF. And I want to keep it that way. I do use LR4 and PE10 (?) but not in some big steam in the sky.

 

[Gordon Coale]

I use Photoshop, Lightroom, Premiere Pro, Audition, Dreamweaver, and Acrobat X Pro. The monthly subscription has been a very good deal for me.