Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Adobe Announces New Creative Cloud Apps, Abandons Creative Suite

It makes sense from Adobe's point of view. Would you rather have someone pay you a lump sum up front on no specific schedule, or someone pay you a smaller sum every month?

Still - this is going to hurt a lot of small businesses. I work in a very small shop with 2 designers. $100/month is steep. And we can't stay on CS5 forever. Although I think now we're going to get at least 2-3 more years out of it.

I was against the Adobe Macromedia merger from the very beginning because I knew something like this would happen. I've been asking for it for awhile, but I really with Quark would develop a photo-editing program, a vector program, and a web-design program. Adobe needs the competition.

And the free open-source software - even the small stuff from the independent shops are great, but they aren't industry-standard. We really don't have any other choice but to stick with Adobe. And without any legitimate competition, I see no reason they will backpedal from this new pricing scheme.

I'm seriously pissed.
 
kazmac said:
semi-prosumer, I'm with everyone who thinks this is a bad idea.

Pixelmator works just fine for the few things I use it for.
Click to expand...

Same here, I only use Ps for light work, and I have Pixelmator on my MBP, so its time to learn more about the features.
 
I have been contacted a few times in the last year by Adobe about my preference to use a purchased copy of CS6 and not the cloud - I was assured that the physical suites would still be available.
Of course they are killing the suites - their plan of updating to a .5 release every six months and charging full price for it didn't work.

I will not sign up to pay Adobe every month for the rest of my life just lose any work I've done if I don't. :mad:

PLEASE everyone that uses Adobe products write to them and tell them how this will not get them any more money from you!
Adobe contact.
 
Renzatic said:
From what I know about it, you'll still be downloading Photoshop/Illustrator/Etc and installing them as usual. The only thing that's different about the "cloud" versions is how you license it. It's all about monthly payments and connecting to the internet to verify you're valid instead of buying a key, putting it in, and never worrying about it again.

Question is, does it require you to be online 24/7 for it to work? It'd kinda suck if your internet goes down, and PS won't fire up because it can't connect to the master server.
Click to expand...

The way it works is very much like a trial download.

If you're month to month - it calls home when you install and then once every 30 days (and the software will tell you it needs to call home). If you're yearly or some other plan - same thing.

The software fully exists on your computer. And you don't need 24/7 internet access.

Which leads me to believe that while this will cut down on piracy a bit - ultimately someone will figure out a way to disable the call home feature and/or redirect it.
 
Marbles1 said:
This is the path all software is following. Office is already on its way. Expect most other apps to become subscription based. Best way to stop piracy. It's in every company's interest.
Click to expand...
Nothing to do with piracy, it's all about greed. I for one will not be sucked into this business model.
 
thanks, adobe

I can't imagine anything you could have done to more thoroughly encourage the development of open-source alternatives.

Adobe's strategy is like sailing an ice floe into the Gulf of Arabia -- it works great, up until the moment it stops working at all.
 
Sky Blue said:
So is this all web based or is there still something installed locally?
Click to expand...

maflynn said:
Good question and how do plug-ins fit into the this subscription based process as well?
Click to expand...

It's all installed locally, nothing changes in that regard. It isn't cloud-based software, it's cloud-activated software. It simply checks your license every 30 days online.
 
Gravity said:
More than the annoyance of paying a subscription... what really gets me is that I need to be able to work offline.
Click to expand...

I must say, this is a growing annoyance with "cloud" features.

Requiring a constant or even regular internet service for your software to work is incredibly shortsighted. Many people work out in the field. Many people for weeks at a time. Many people live far from a reliable connection, and only connect when they go to town for coffee. They're not going to drag their Mac Pro with them to the coffee shop.

Software companies cutting off all these people will only inspire them to seek out hacked versions of the software.
 
ProMod said:
It's not cloud based software. It runs just like it always has, on your local machine. You download it, install it, and run it like always.

I guess I'm in the minority, but Creative Cloud has been simply awesome for me.
Click to expand...

I've liked it as well. Access to the full suite of applications allows me to goof around with some of the other products and tinker a bit. But I'm an employee. If I was a freelancer I think I'd be a bit terrified of the forced monthly outlay. What to do in lean months??
 
Gravity said:
More than the annoyance of paying a subscription... what really gets me is that I need to be able to work offline. Sometimes my internet connection goes down. For awhile! How can they address this? How about a renewable certificate where you download the software when you're online... and the certificate is good for one month. When you're online again, the certificate renews along with your subscription payment. At least it can let us work offline!
Click to expand...

That's exactly how it works.

From Adobe's FAQ (http://forums.adobe.com/message/5230885#5230885):
Activation will take place once every 30 days for a subscription license check. If you are not online for 30 days, your product will tell you to connect to the Internet. In the event that we cannot activate the product, we will warn you when you launch the application. Note that blocking access to the activation server will prevent the app from launching.
 
ThunderSkunk said:
I must say, this is a growing annoyance with "cloud" features.

Requiring a constant or even regular internet service for your software to work is incredibly shortsighted. Many people work out in the field. Many people for weeks at a time. Many people live far from a reliable connection, and only connect when they go to town for coffee. They're not going to drag their Mac Pro with them to the coffee shop.

Software companies cutting off all these people will only inspire them to seek out hacked versions of the software.
Click to expand...

You don't need to be online constantly to use it. The name of the program is a bit misleading...
 
Why is everyone complaining? No one I know actually buys CS because it's too expensive, $50 / month is expensive, but for a pro is reasonable.
 
fivedots said:
It's all installed locally, nothing changes in that regard. It isn't cloud-based software, it's cloud-activated software. It simply checks your license every 30 days online.
Click to expand...

Oh, Ok, thanks. So it's like CS7, they've just changed the name and the licensing model.
 
I saw this coming since a few years ago, and it's finally happening to mainstream apps.

In Adobe's case: Now that the licensing has changed...

  • Does the monthly premium cover only one Computer or a number of computers that you own?

    [*]If Yes, then it would really make sense for some people, specially companies.
    • If No, then someone with a Computer and a Laptop would have to spend double per month.
 
I wonder if Adobe realizes how large of a gap this opens in the market for design applications. Who wants to be tethered to a subscription? With this move, many designers may move to other applications even if they're inferior simply to escape Adobe's moronic licensing.

If I were the developer behind Acorn or Pixelmator, upon hearing this news I'd be busting my rear right now producing a professional version capable of properly competing with Photoshop. There's money to be made.
 
This probably has nothing to do with privacy as mentioned. It is simply Adobe (or Microsoft) trying to keep revenue high;.

For example: As someone who does graphic design on the side, I got Photoshop CS6 for $599 and most likely, I will never out-grow its features. Adobe would only get $600 in the next 4 years this way but with their new subscription crap, they will get $960.

Granted, with the subscription model, I will have the latest version, but like someone else said, Adobe will have little incentive to bring new features once on a subscription model.
 
Did not see that coming.

$19.99/mo for students/teachers for the full version of almost all apps is not bad though...unfortunately I wouldn't really get much use out of them to justify the cost.
 
maflynn said:
Good question and how do plug-ins fit into the this subscription based process as well?
Click to expand...

Here is the Creative Cloud FAQ: http://www.adobe.com/products/creativecloud/faq.html

Unless something has changed, it looks like you will still install apps locally and use apps like you always have. I am guessing plugins will work like they always have. The FAQ mentions that the user will have to connect to the Internet at least once every 30 days in order to use the Creative Cloud apps.

I think this is an OK OPTION, but I think Adobe is making a very bad decision to force all users to use Creative Cloud. I really hope this is only for those who want the entire suite and not just individual apps.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back