The subscription is tempting.
CS3 Production Premium Suite Owner
- Upgrade to CS6 Suite: $950
- Monthly Fee: $30 1st year, $50 2nd
- Two Year total subscription cost: $960
So I can upgrade for little cost right now and get access to everything and updates, or pay the upgrade $950 (cost of a two year subscription) and own CS6 PP Suite forever.
The thing that has me concerned about subscription is that it will pretty much be the cost of an upgrade each year. The upgrade you get to keep, the subscription, once over you lose everything (maybe fall back to your original full version before the subscription).
For those that never purchased a full creative suite, starting off at a subscription cost is attractive ($600 over a year for everything vs 1,899 for a random suite). Those of us that paid the full price for a creative suite prior will find it hard to see the benefit going with subscription over just upgrading, unless you plan to use all of adobe's software that wasn't included in your suite. But I suppose that's the reason for the $30 intro offer.
For me, I'm 3 versions behind, so a subscription, especially the first year discount, is moderately attractive, but still demands some attention to the long term outlook. I'm still upset how when I bought CS3, CS2 users were able to upgrade to CS4 $100 less than me. A nice promotion for users two versions behind then. Then when CS5 came out, I looked forward to a similar promotion, but no, it was always considerably more for me to upgrade two versions behind.
LAST THOUGHT. Sure, you can upgrade every year to feel like you are beating the subscription, but 90% of the time everyone skips a version, nothing worth while. So if you are two versions behind, your upgrade may be around $950 for your suite, that's a large lump sum for many. So a subscription with less down gives you everything and updates over those two years. If you hold out 3 versions like I did, then you start saving some money I suppose, but lose out on that one handy new feature all that time.
Too bad Adobe wouldn't give you a bonus option at the end of a year subscription. Sign up for another year for the best rate, or choose a full suite at a discount as a long term customer.
That's true!. I think I just find it irritating that everyone you speak to has a copy of Photoshop. They tend to assume if they have the gear they are as good as you. I have even known a client get his son to do a website because he had Dreamweaver and had made a website at high school. Thankfully that's not the kind of client I want!
