Poll: What concerns you most about Adobe's move to subscription software?

Today's amateurs are tomorrow's professionals. Lose the beginners and amateurs today and you will lose the professional market tomorrow.

That was a difficult poll. I had two answers. No1 and No2, repeatedly have to pay and the price being to high. I assume many have the same dilemma, and then those two answers will get half the amount of polls they are "worth".

I want to pay just once for every PS update, like I have done so far. I will never pay any fee every month to use any software. Otherwise, competitors will have a new customer :(

I think I will continue to use CS5 and just go to a different raw converter like Bibble for processing my raw files when I get a new camera that CS5 doesn't support. CS5 has all the editing tools I need. For me, the future is not cloudy!

Adobe really stepped in it this time. Their response to the backlash to CC implies that they have a fundamental lack of knowledge in their customer base.

1) The average customer (especially the starving artist and/or photographer) will not be willing to pay a monthly recurring cost, which is higher than the sum of what they are currently paying for the boxed version.

It simply won't work. Customers do not budget that way. Imagine adding a $20 to $50 bill along with all the other monthly bills that have to be paid!

2) Customers are relatively happy with the existing boxed versions. What will the subscription substantively add of value that the customers would be willing to pay for?

Nothing. (The service better be top notch. Customers will leave in droves.)

3) What happens to beta testing?

wow, dpreview are really milking this story, surely theres a camera phone somewhere that needs your attention now?

If the new CC is so great, why not give users a dual option: periodic standalone Photoshop upgrades like normal and/or the CC? A company the size of Adobe can easily do both.

The piracy issue is a non-issue. I personally know several people who got their hands on unlicensed copies, used it for awhile, then purchased Photoshop because they liked it. Others eventually erased it off their computers because the learning curve was too steep or they just didn't need it.

I can only infer that this is an arrogant money grab. I'll continue using my licensed CS6, but I won't be doing the CC thing.

None of the above. There are better products and I have been using them for years.

http://youtu.be/67Iw9q2X9cU

Right now, my biggest concern is that Corel did not implement linear DNG mode in their photo processing software.

How about a poll of what Corel needs to add to their Photo processing suite?

I don't see how this model would suit many commercial users either. If you're working to a deadline the last thing you'd want is the software being updated under you. Menu items moving around to accommodate new features, tools suddenly working subtly differently - quite apart from the potential for an unforseen problem with an update borking your work at a critical moment. That's why many big organisations are ultra conservative about updating their OS - some even still use XP because it's a known quantity.

They'll choose to update and if necessary retrain staff at a time that suits them. Having the vendor constantly fiddling with the program strikes me as a BOFHs (and users) total nightmare!

Madness.

I feel the need to post that Gimp's current development version, 2.9, works in 16 and 32 bit color per channel. It will soon be released as 2.10, with 16 and 32 bit color in the stable version.

It seems that the Adobe paid posters have "Gimp is 8-bit color" in their talking points, which, by the way, is another useful way to spot them.

This is a public relations nightmare on Adobe's part. Put the software back into a box sold at their Adobe Store. Secure it with a USB hardware dongle with encryption. Adobe knows how to do this, they did it with Adobe Capture version II scanning software. Problem solved.

Rot in hell, Adobe - and all who sail in her.

All this endless whining. Adobe don't want to sell me any upgrades? Fine, I'll continue to use CS3 until the competition improves. If you have CS it will continue to work, what's the problem?

Most non-commerical users don't NEED Photoshop, it is just a name they've heard or they are fetishising the most polished toy, rather like people who buy a sports car and just use it to drive to the shops.

Although I'll never would buy software with this model I welcome the new approach of Adobe - simply because the offer and quality of the competitors will increase (I use Topaz and Nik with LR).
I'm only afraid that quickly Adobe will understand the mistake they made and will return to the previous model.

This is very worrying. What if Apple, Dxo....do the same. The worlds economy is going down the pan, businesses can`t be sustained. Hence the introduction of compulsory subscriptions. This is a very bad president. It wouldn`t surprise me if Adobe is the first of many.

A lot of people will switch to capture one pro now or DXO optics elite,Adobe have no respect for the customer's so the user's should take their custom somewhere else... PhotoNinja is another very good alternative..

This will be a great service for Hasseblad Lunar owners...

Makes you wonder why we should be so reliant on a particular company to get our jobs done.

If Toyota/VW went bust overnight, it wouldn't the end of motoring world, would it?

Who would rent a house, if they could afford to buy one? Even though it is a massive investment, most people would prefer to live in their own place, rather than at the beck and call of a landlord.

Who would live with a hired care forever, if they could afford to buy one of their own? Again, though it's a major expense, most people are willing to sacrifice other things to pay for it.

Now if a RENTED house cost more than one you owned, or a HIRED car cost more than buying and running your own - NO-ONE would rent a house, or hire a car. We'd ALL buy and be done with it.

And yet here were are, where Adobe now wants EVERYONE to become RENTERS ... but for MORE that it used to cost to become OWNERS.

Pigs in the trough don't get close to describing their cynical greed.

Photography is a hobby for me and I live in an area where the internet is served by verizon wireless that is spotty at best with a limited bandwidth and spotty service. I update Photoshop about every 3 revisions so this subscription service will cost me thru the nose. I hope I can get on line when they want to check if I've paid the rent. If I go over my data limit that's another bunch of money, which would be quite likely if I want to use the camera motion correction and had to upload full picture files. I will be evaluating alternative workflows as I don't need photoshop.

Remains to be seen whether Adobe stick with it or make a U-turn, in any event I think the CEO should be looking for a new job. The amazing thing is that don’t seem to have done any research on how this would affect there business. Some Adobe staff must also be shivering in their shoes realising that many of them will not be needed if Adobe goes completely cloud based not to mention Adobe’s official retailers and stores.

Once their stock prices start plummeting they will realize what a blunder this CC has been, I just hope they see the light before it’s too late.

And what will happened to digital assets (stored locally by users), when one day Adobe vanish (as a result of bankrupcy, earthquake, asteroid or whatever)?
What if US gouvernment will restrict access to the service for some countries?
Soft will stop working in a less than 1 month.
What next?

The answer is that I will no longer upgrade to Photoshop, if they're going to completely refuse to listen to customers. Once they lose a lot of money they are likely to come around.

Arrogant jerks!

It has little to do with piracy and everything to do with increasing Profits.
Just as I have nothing to do with renting new versions of Microsoft Office I use my old Office 2003 as well as the free Open Office, I will find alternatives to Adobe Photoshop if rental is the only option.

I think people will figure out how to steal Adobe while it is even on the cloud. They will loose a lot of users and some paying users.

I like coca cola far better than its competitors, this doesn't mean i drink it all the time but so once in a while i buy a bottle.

A couple of days ago coca cola announced they want to make me pay on a monthly base and promise me they'll make sure my fridge will never be empty again.

If the cloud is only to be used for validating that you are paying the rent fee to use the software, it only benefits Adobe and not me. If I can download it to my computer, I should be able to use it until I decide that I need to upgrade. But until such time I would like to use it without being Forced to pay an ongoing fee for upgrades that may not benefit me. The point is Adobe is taking away my control of how I spend my limited funds if I want to use and access my files that were created using their software. I will seriously look for alternatives and in the mean time export my files to non proprietary formats so I can access them from other software. I want to retain control of my work and not be at the mercy of another entity.

Back to film and chemical darkrooms! Buy an enlarger once, you own it forever.

Adobe will make hostages of Lightroom users next.

I wonder what ADOBE CEO would think to come to his car in the morning and the speedmeter is on the other side of the dashboard, windows lever is on the back seat and whipers levers on the other side of driving wheel. Next weeks the gears are reversed etc... anyway he enjoys the latest features of his RRoyce

Ssssh listen......... that's the sound of Apple, Phaseone, Corel, DXO etc laughing all the way to the Bank.

Even without this latest debacle I have always felt that Adobe have held their customers to ransom in many ways including software price, ACR not be updated for older versions of PS etc, this why I have retained a healthy respect for Corel Paint Shop Pro. After downloading the fully functional trial of PSP I was left wondering why I needed CS6 and have now decided that I don’t. As for Lightroom ACDsee Pro is a much better option for me. Amateur users of PS must outnumber professional users by the hundred if not the thousands. I haven’t spoken to anybody in the last few months who can contemplate using Adobes cloud service. PSP has far more useful tools for photographers than even the latest version of PS and is a fraction of the price. Goodbye Adobe.

A lot of the former big players in hardware and software - also some of the best - made some bad decisions or made bad choices in the past. Today they've been bought by competitors (like Adobe), are minor companies or are left to be forgotten. Adobe seems to be one of these in the future, not understanding the human nature and overwhelmed by greed, probably convinced by "marketing experts"

Big no from me,I cannot afford this type of on going payment. I got Cs4 and Cs6 at a time when there was bit of spare cash, which can happen occasionally.I cannot sensibly commit to monthly payments for something like this which is not actually needed. I am one of those who has Cs because it is there and it is a treat. Not because I have too. Do not get me wrong it is a wonderful bit of kit, but I need water, food and some of the utilities. This is a luxury, a hobby and as we all know we need to make choices with the little spare cash we have. Reality is more and more of those making this type of decision are paid very very well and they seriously do not understand, are out of touch,especially at this time as most peoples household income is being squeezed, this amount being asked for from Adobe is not trivial. Usually if you buy a utility on a monthly plan the price drops dramatically, as there is certainty for the supplier. That in itself rings alarm bells on this decision

How about this: Adobe can do whatever they want, and I'll happily continue using GIMP for free.

Win-win, right? :)

Adobe ...trust comes by foot and leaves by horse. But you shot yourself in your foot so I wish you and your arrogance the best of luck for the future.

If I don't need to upgrade, I have to continue to pay for the previous version for years. Since I seldom upgrade every release (same as with my hardware) - usually only after two generations, it's a big NO for me.

First, I think that Adobe just shot themselves in a foot. This wound will bleed a lot... And second - Adobe does not see whats coming. Google had a reason for buying the Nik soft. Now, all Goggle needs to do is to add file management to this set. The result will be what 99% of photographers actually use.

The price is too high after 12 mos for Photoshop only occassional users (ie the hobbyist/serious amateur market). I don't need cloud storage so am paying for something i don't need. Lightroom, which i use for 90% of the job, still won't have all the features of PS. Keep it @$10/mo with no cloud storage and i'd consider it if adobe really continually improves it like they say they will..we all know this is more about a predictable revenue stream and anti-piracy and nothing more....

"retain access" is vague.

Do you mean retain access to the software or to visualize my files after I stop paying for the software.

For the later it would be swell if they had a free PSD viewer. Something that goes beyond what you see in a Tiff, shredding out the layers etc.

For some companies, e.g. television production companies, access to the Internet from their mission critical networks is not possible for security reasons.

I know that this is a very real problem for the graphics department at my place of employment.

None of the above. It's just that Adobe cloud service HASN'T BOTHERED TO SUPPORT MY COUNTRY so I CAN'T use it. It's not that I wouldn't want to, in fact I think it's a good idea because I'd always have the current version without paying a premium for constantly upgrading, and I would also have access to software I only occasionally use and couldn't justify purchasing with an ordinary licensing model.

Adobe is reminding me a bit of the American telecom companies now, and how they have decided to go full scale in squeezing consumers.

Except of course with the telecoms we truly have little option, and it is done with the government's approval at ever level, city state and local.

Here, we have a bit more choice, and the market will indeed dictate Adobe's future. (It looks grim for them)