Adobe moves to subscription based software!

Adobe moves to subscription based software!

"Adobe's decision to discontinue the boxed version of Creative Suite and move to a subscription software-based model (also known as the Creative Cloud) has stunned many customers."


After nearly 10 years, Adobe abandons its Creative Suite entirely to focus on Creative Cloud. Adobe first launched Creative Suite 1 back in 2003, and now, ten years and six versions later, the company is taking a left turn: Adobe is abandoning its Creative Suite entirely to focus efforts on Creative Cloud.  

There will be no Creative Suite 7 (CS7).

Some facts and tidbits:

• You download and run the software just as you always did, the software is not running in a browser or on the cloud, this is the major misconception out there...

• If you own CS5 and were thinking of upgrading (i.e. owning CS6) do it now
• https://www.adobe.com/products/catalog/cs6._sl_id-contentfilter_sl_catalog_sl_software_sl_creativesuite6.html?start=20

• $199 ($179 for NAPP members) https://www.adobe.com/products/catalog/cs6._sl_id-contentfilter_sl_catalog_sl_software_sl_creativesuite6.html?start=20

• Currently, Lightroom upgrades can still be purchased separately without the cloud

• The new system means that you have to subscribe and pay monthly with an annual contract. You can view the plans here: https://creative.adobe.com/plans
• Special pricing for existing customers:
• CS3 and later get Complete for $29.99
• CS6 customers get Complete for $19.99
• CS3 and later get Single App for $9.99
• All offers require annual commitment

• If you want to "subscribe" to just "CS7" (not really called that now, upgrades will be continual and you will always get them) then you can pay $20 per month ($10 per month if you own CS6)

• This pricing seems reasonable to me, upgrades were $179 (NAPP) to $200 about every 18 months so $10 a month is the same, except you get the updates as they are released, you do not need to wait.

• The full program is $699, so $20 a month is reasonable for people purchasing the full program and not upgrading.

• The biggest downside I see is that you have an annual subscription and you are basically renting the software. The plus is you get contact upgrades. The downside is that, if, the end of that 12 months if you do not want to upgrade (i.e. continue paying your subscription) you have nothing, nada, you no longer have access to Photoshop, not like now where some people are still using older versions (or even multiple versions) CS3, 4, 5, etc.  And if you purchase a new camera you are stuck with the subscription since we shoot RAW and always want to be able to open your image in ACR (abobe Camera RAW). If you do not renew your annual subscription then you would not have access to ACR anymore and would have to find other software to process your RAW images.

• If you want the entire creative cloud (all of the Adobe applications) then you are paying $49 a month. If you use ALL of the applications then this is reasonable, but if you only use two then this is very expensive!
• Elements is not involved in this new design.
• Read Scott Kelby's take: http://scottkelby.com/2013/my-take-on-adobes-announcements-yesterday-at-the-max-conference/ He does dispel many rumors.

http://www.dpreview.com/news/2013/05/08/Adobe-photoshop-cc?utm_source=notification&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=generic

How do you justify the price increase to photographers?

Last year we actually cut the price of Lightroom in half in order to open it up to a broader market of photographers.

What assurances can our readers have that Lightroom will not become a subscription-only option?

Lightroom is for photographers. And the Lightroom team is very aware of the reaction by photographers to Photoshop CC. We don't have plans to make Lightroom a subscription-only option but we do envision added functionality for CC members using Lightroom.

What support can CS6 users expect?

Barring something unforeseen from Apple and Microsoft, we plan to update Photoshop CS6 for the next Mac and Windows operating system releases. Once Camera Raw 8 is completed for Photoshop CC, we are going to release a version of it for CS6 that includes any new camera support but without any of the new CC tools and features.

What can you say to users concerned that a subscription model removes their option to at least stick with an older version of software if they no longer want to continue paying for it?

That's the trade-off for the benefits of a continuously updated application. At the time you decide to stop paying for it, yes you lose access, but after, say 12 months, you've ended up with a different product than the one you subscribed to, because of the new features that have been added. And for existing perpetual users, Photoshop CS can co-exist alongside and independently from Photoshop CC.

One final point I'd like to address is the misconception that you have to be continuously connected to the Internet to use a CC application. Monthly subscribers can go for as long as 30 days without connecting to the Internet for license validation. Users with an annual commitment can go for as long as 99 days.

Can I still buy Lightroom?

Yes. Lightroom, while available as part of the Creative Cloud bundle, can still be purchased as a standalone piece of software at $149 for new users and $79 for owners of any previous version. Adobe Acrobat can be purchased as a standalone title as well.

Can I still buy Photoshop CS6?

Photoshop CS6 is still currently available for a downloadable purchase here on Adobe's site.

I still have a question that does not seem to be answered yet on Kelby or Adobe. Lisa

You can install the creative cloud on two computers -- just like now. I looked this up  because I have CS6 and LR4 installed on 3 computers. The rules say that you can install and run CC in on two computers, just like you can now. What is not written is if you can  turn on and off the activation on various computers like you can now. So I have Adobe installed on my desktop and two laptops, but it is only activated on one laptop, but when I teach and travel I deactivate my desktop version and activate my second laptop version. 

Not sure if I can still do that. Many people who teach and who travel have a backup laptop...