Adobe introduces cheaper Creative Cloud with Photoshop + Lightroom

I'm holding out as long as possible, which will be until I buy another camera that is not supported in ACR. Been using Photoshop - and paying - since 1996, and have paid for all versions and upgrades. Given them a ton of money, but no regrets as I got to keep them all. I would even pay for CC if there were a way to keep my version when and if I discontinue it, but I will not rent software. I am actively looking for something - GIMP doesn't cut it yet for me - that provides most of the tools that I need. Unfortunately, I have not found it yet. Fortunately, my CS6 should hold me for a good while. It's a shame they are such tin-eared pigs. I was perfectly ready to pay for another upgrade. I have not been one of those version skippers, even when I could have been. You have torched almost two decades of trust with me.

I believe that we are getting precisely what we want. More and more monthly payments. "It's only $10 per month!" "It's only $49.99!"

I say we like it. No, we LOVE it. Not just Adobe, but everything. 90-day same as cash. Netflix. Cable. Smartphone data plans. Health Club memberships. You name it, we (as an aggregate) love our monthly payments!

I of course am dismayed by this development, and also by the attitude of some posters here who have taken the "if you don't like it, just shut up and leave us" attitude. For a group of people who like to fancy themselves as accepting of other creative ways of thinking, this is not very open minded thinking. You're winning anyway, why be such poor winners?

Just don't insult those of us who don't want more monthly payments, okay?

Its a question of principle. I won't rent software. I want to OWN the software (i.e. the licence). And I don't want to depend on any sort of "cloud", plus I don't want my (rented) software to "call home" regularily and give the issuing software company the possibility to take control over the software I am using on MY computer (they can "turn it off" via remote control at any time). No thanks.

I am a new user-photographer who needs Photoshop and Lightroom. But I do not have the legal previous version.
Today, there is no way to get Lightroom in the cloud, so I have to buy it for $150, and plus $20 per every month?! Or, as option for the future, $20+$20? I am not afraid cloud software, but it's really expensive! $10 - it's a tasty price, that I agree to pay, but this price is not for everybody! Well, I will continue to use pirated Adobe software.

Surprisingly, Adobe still has some feet left after starting this whole debacle, as evidenced by the fact that that is clearly where they are aiming to shoot yet again.

So, this isn't an "introductory price", but you have to sign up by the 31st of December? That could only seem to mean that they are going to have higher prices after the new year, which is not going to go over very well, as you'll have customers paying two different prices for the exact same service. The longer that lasts the more unfair it becomes. People are going to complain and hate on Adobe for this. If Adobe raises the early adopters' price, they're screwed, and if they lower the latecomers' price, some of the early birds are going to feel lied to and that Adobe was using hard-sell tactics on them.

What morons have taken over at Adobe?

People want to be free, every living form wants to be free. It's in our genes.

The Cloud will take away your freedom. That's why the idea is so repulsive.
To become a business plan, a milking cow. Like we are a bunch of f*cking imbeciles who would fall for such idea as a Cloud.
I pity the great programmers responsible for Adobe software, and I hope they'll leave that sinking ship and unite to make a new healthy company.

Flush Adobe.

Photoshop world must be a sad place this year.

I have purchased every upgrade Photoshop ever put out. I use it daily.
But I'm old fashioned: I'm looking for a product, not a service.
So I'm looking elsewhere.

If I buy PS CC now for 9.99/mo for the 1st year, what does that cost revert to the 2nd and 3rd year?

If Adobe is trying to curve pirate coping of Photoshop or any other programs, why don't they do like Apple's itunes. For example, have reduce price for everyone who wants to use the program. Older members have $9.99 per month and newer members at $15 to $20 range per month. This will help Adobe cause in the end, by increasing membership, they are also increasing their profit margin. By not doing it, they are taking a huge risk and they might lose in the end.

But I will not buy Photoshop CC at $ 49.99 for new members, that is just wrong on so many levels.

Now would be a good time for photoshop competitors to woe users away from adobe.

Still not interested, even at that price. Lack of any type of perpetual license is a deal breaker for me. For full time professionals using it for client work, the new cloud model is mostly a great benefit. For non-professionals it is a bag of hurt. Anyone who thinks this cloud model is a good idea - think ahead to being retired and living on a fixed income. Or think of losing your job. Suddenly that 'cheap' 9.99 a month starts to compete with things like food, housing, and basic living expenses.

It's not the money. It's the Cloud that is the problem. Not been able to own the software is the problem. Paying each month 'or else' is the problem. Fancy deals but with strings attached is the problem.

The Cloud is the problem. And since I don't buy Cloud software, just like many-many professional and amateur users all over the globe, Adobe has a problem.

'Forever' what does that mean? 'Always' what does that mean? Nothing.

Is this happening? Why is ADOBE doing this to its customers? I like to buy the software and have it FOREVER without being bound to a cellphone like subscription deal. ADOBE is playing with fire because your average JOE is not in favour of being bound to a deal which at the end of the deal, you are left with NOTHING. Shame shame shame on you ADOBE for betraying your customer base- outright shame!

Wrong: "That price will never change, as long as you sign up before the end of this year. "

As ProDesignTools said "The price is not strictly guaranteed for life. What Adobe said is that this is not an introductory price, but rather the regular rate… However, it still could possibly change (up or down) sometime in the future."

See the comments at:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/amadoudiallo/2013/09/05/adobe-answers-photoshop-cc-uproar-with-low-cost-bundle/?utm_source=alertsnewcomment&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20130910

There is no price guarantee, and it is still software rental with no viable exit, unlike the Autodesk rental program where you can continue to use a permanently licensed version that is up to date as of when you stop renting.

All that has changed is the price - and the apparently misleading press release that has caused DPReview and others to believe that there is a lifetime price guarantee. Adobe "expects" not to increase the price for the second year subscription.

Why can I not get the same 9.99 Euro deal based on my existing Premium Design CS 5.5 license ? Because Adobe thinks this loyal guy could afford that more expensive package (including Photoshop 5.5, Bridge and more) and its upgrades so we are not going to offer him a deal like that. He has to bleed for going to a Photoshop CC only package or more with Lightroom included or really suffer for a big CC package that does not even contain Lightroom. No way.

Most people complain about the "rental" aspect, it is not what is bothering me. It is better for Adobe, constant revenue stream, predictability of income - so they can plan and invest accordingly.

I would not mind paying a monthly fee for it but the current proposal is unacceptable and for one reason. If you stop paying, you can't use the software any more. i.e. I can't use Lightroom even so I've been paying for 2 years ($240 for Adobe) !

Why would we stop paying ?
1. Cannot afford it any more (rare case)
2. Do not see Adobe delivering enough value (or too much price increase)

There is a single thing Adobe need to put in place to address it -
If someone has paid for a period (say one year) - and then stop - they can keep using the software, frozen - just get critical security patches. It is fair and transparent.

If Adobe keep its word and keep features coming - I don't see why anyone subscribing at $9.99 would stop paying - so they have nothing to loose. People need a stick.

I am sorry, but I cannot read the most important bit from the Adobe release, i.e., that the rental fee is fixed for a lifetime. The Adobe FAQ says:
> Customers who sign up by December 31, 2013 will be able to continue their membership. This price is not a special introductory price for your first year only; it is the standard price for this level of membership. But if you cancel your membership in the future, you will not be able to re-join at this special price.

So, Adobe says that $9.99 is the "standard" price. It does NOT say it will never increase. Where did DPR read this most important bit from?

Without, this newest offer is no different from previous ones for PS CC alone.

I think Adobe could have been a lot smarter in the way they introduced subscriptions. Maybe offer two years of free subscription for anyone holding a license of any of the CS products. Then started charging monthly. Then people would probably have focused their attention to hunting for old license keys, and felt like they were scoring a good deal. Rather than the feeling like Adobe is trying to charge you again for software you already own. This way, the voices of paying customers wouldn't be mixed in with people who've never paid for the software who are currently campaigning for the software be changed back so it is not regularly verifying license keys online.

My thoughts on CC, I think just the automatic (and natural looking) keystoning corrections and the camera raw filter alone is worth the upgrade.

I applaud Adobe's efforts to address our complains. But this new iteration - while definitely better - still falls short of the mark.
The main issues that people have with the new system are:
- They don't want to lose the user license to the updates if they stop paying
- They also want the ability to discontinue, then at some point come back without paying full price.
These issues can be fixed. For instance say a user pays the monthly fee during an entire calendar year, then he can continue using the end of year version forever. If he stops the subscribing, he will have to commit anew to a one year subscription to get the discount price (the yearly cost of this subscription is about that of the upgrade in the old system so we're back to an expense similar to what it used to be before CC).

I stopped renting years ago. I'm not about to begin.

It really is quite simple. Offer both options, even if the current boxed version is a little behind in the development curve. If your "Creative Cloud" is such a good option people who want it will flock to it by the millions. The fact they are unilaterally forcing people into CC, for both photo and video editing, is a sign that they know only too well this is not an option many customers would choose. And to those customers they are saying "S***w you."

Here in Australia users who have long complained that they are price gouged by major companies such as Apple, Adobe, and Microsoft. In fact, pricing is such a source of contention within Australia that executives from Adobe, Microsoft, and Apple have been summoned to appear before Australian Parliament to answer questions specifically about pricing.

All three of these companies had previously refused to appear before Parliament.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juM46ny1WhM

Check out this link, then tell us your thoughts? (after being sick!)

Almost 40,000 folks have signed.They don’t like Adobe Creative Cloud licensing.Show @Adobe how you feel. https://www.change.org/petitions/adobe-systems-incorporated-eliminate-the-mandatory-creative-cloud-subscription-model

Another more fiscal way to show @Adobe you dont like the CC licensing scheme.http://adobe2014.tumblr.com #adobe2014

Adobe's CC move is a good path for creative houses that depend on those products, and having automatic updates, and a cost to be written off rather than asset to be depreciated. But Adobe was not thinking that the needs of a separate customer base they have had and took for granted, the amateurs and hobbyists who do not need or use the entire suite. I use Dreamweaver, LR CS6 PS and Premier Pro only occasionally for business work so the only real choice is look somewhere else or use my existing programs that will not be updated for new models of cameras and lenses. Adobe ought to figure out another marketing and distribution method if they want to sell to that amateur market.
The fact is that many people have spent a lot time becoming skilled in their programs and if sent elsewhere, they will lose them forever when they build a new skill set, even if they turn to commercial work. In the long run, they are killing future sales to creative houses if the new workers are not Adobe trained

It's "hostageware", for a buck a month, or a hundred, the price doesn't change what it is.

Adobe unilaterally changed the terms on which I may use their software. Once trust is gone, it is gone.

Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen repeatedly dodges a question directly asked about Adobe's huge price discrepancies for software in Australia compared to other parts of the world. The person on the video asking the question repeatedly asks why Australians are charged AU$1400 and more for traditional software delivered over the internet than people in the United States.

This is a common complaint by Australian users who have long complained that they are price gouged by major companies such as Apple, Adobe, and Microsoft. In fact, pricing is such a source of contention within Australia that executives from Adobe, Microsoft, and Apple have been summoned to appear before Australian Parliament to answer questions specifically about pricing.

All three of these companies had previously refused to appear before Parliament.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juM46ny1WhM

Check out this link, then tell us your thoughts? (after being sick!)

We live in Australia where Adobe has blatantly committed photophilia on us for years.
USA pays USD$1500 for the CS6 Suite. I was quoted between AUD$3400 to $3800! (Our dollar at the time was above parity at about 104cents)

Australia is blocked from purchasing these products from open competitive market sectors! We are not the only Country held to ransom!

Just listen to the CEO speaking on this subject then tell us you still feel the same way?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juM46ny1WhM

Kind Regards, .... Barry M. Australia

I wouldn't even bite even if they offered a free subscription. Listen Adobe, I want to own my tools. I don't like to rent my tools.

I'm curious about something. Is the price discrepancy on Adobe products due to taxes (VAT) or does Adobe charge more in Europe/UK/Australia because they think they can get more--and then taxes go on top of that?

A reminder to EVERYONE, you DO NOT OWN the software you use, unless you wrote it or purchased the intellectual assets of the company that created it or live under the delusion that you are the center of everything.

If you don't like the subscription model to lease the license, go somewhere else.