Adobe Offering Photoshop CC and Lightroom for $9.99/Month to All Users Through December 2 [Updated]

[milo]

No, perhaps you should read my post above.

Or perhaps you shouldn't make assumptions about what other posters have read.

I'm under the impression that that is a reasonable upgrade schedule

You think there's only one "reasonable" upgrade schedule?

I have no idea what your talking about.

I'll make it real simple. I pointed out the stupidity of your remark about not buying all the upgrades meaning you don't have an intel version of the software.

Even if you were to buy ($600) and then upgrade ($200) ONCE in TEN YEARS, you will have had a cost of $6.66 per month for your software ($800 / 120).

Paying 50% more than that is supposed to be a good thing? And in all your calculations you assume $10 per month over all that time. The website makes it sound like that rate is only a promotional one for one year, presumably it's $19.99 after that which shifts the price comparisons way in favor of buying the software. And that's also ignoring that Adobe can raise their subscription price as well.

 

[throttlemeister]

Under what rock have you been living? The photographers package is not an introductory offer. The 9.95 is the normal price. This has been explicitly stated by Adobe in writing on their website. Anyone that has some reasonable common sense knows that a company cannot say that the price will stay the same forever. Especially not in suing happy America.

For me personally, it is cheaper. By a long margin. Why? Because I am one of those people who likes to keep the software I use on a regular basis up to date. I don't go stretching it for 5 years and then complain and whine that the latest version of OS X I had to have on day 0 all of a sudden breaks my ancient legacy software, like half the people on MR. Or so it seems reading some of the threads here.

So, $79 for LR upgrade and $200 for PS upgrade is $23.25/mo every year. Now it's only $9.95/mo. Saves me more than half. And if at some point in the future it gets to a point where it is not economical for me anymore, I dump it and get something else. I am not married to software. I use what I can afford and gets the job done.

No need to get my pants in a twist over what may or may not happen in the future. I may run under a bus tomorrow too. What happens next year or the year after is irrelevant. It's something that can and will be dealt with when that time comes. Not now.

 

[citi]

Seems like a good deal. Think I'll get this for my daughter for Christmas/Chanukah.

One or the other man. You can't do both. Edit, well you can apparently do Thanksgiving and Hannukah together...but that's another story.

 

[twisted panties]

?

 

[BinaryTim]

Seems different

Does anybody know what will happen to the price after 1y is up?

The terms of the other offer Adobe made for owners of previous versions of Photoshop locked them in to the $9.99 price after the first year. It would be nice if they would make the same offer to everyone else.

 

[HMI]

It looked like a good idea, but Adobe has a huge problem with security. It starts with Flash, which is a plugin, and is full of ways to circumvent my computer's security because it's a plugin. The way they handled the breach was also revealing: first they talked about a low number of possible breaches, but it turned out that 30 million or so had their usernames and passwords, and their credit cards, out there for thieves to go for.

It's not all Adobe. The users of these accounts used passwords like "123456" and "password" and the like, making themselves easy prey. Part of why passwords are broken. We need a better way of id'ing yourself that doesn't involve passwords primarily.

But it seems that my graphic artist friend who said he wouldn't use Creative Cloud on a bet was very right.

Actually, it was 150 million accounts that were compromised.
They only reported 2.9 million.

Some of those weak "123456" passwords were for people creating dummy accounts, so that they could access the free trial software, but you are correct that many/most people do create weak passwords, not knowing how easily their accounts can be compromised.

Adobe has shown how incredibly little they understand/care about proper computer/Internet security, and this needs to become a top priority for them if they hope to survive on a cloud-based subscription service business model.

If one needs photoshop for their job, I understand their need, but most people can get by with other alternatives with much less cost/risk.

 

[Smigit]

This is a wonderful deal...FOR ADOBE.

$120/year
$600/5years

What a great deal for Adobe given that we don't really need to upgrade. This is their way of forcing people to keep paying them for the same thing.

I think its a pretty good deal unless you only use one product or you don't upgrade when new versions are released. I think it is a pretty safe assumption that software WILL be upgraded in that time. In six years we've had five released of Lightroom for example. If for some reason Adobe decided never to update anything, then you have the option to not renew the subscription so it isn't like you need to sit on the software for five years to realise you aren't getting a good deal.

If you do have multiple products and upgrade each cycle, then this should be cheaper than the upgrade costs. If you already own Adobe products then even if you skip a year or two worth of standalone purchases, I'm sure your software you own today would qualify for upgrade pricing if you want to move away from the subscription down the line.

If anything I think you run a bigger risk of them not updating the standalone versions of the products in 12 or 24 months time based on where the company is headed.

 

[iSRS]

Do what I did. Click on the "terms" in the description for your answer.

----------



Stop being silly. Sadly lots or companies are being hacked. So extend your concerns and stop using all your cards. Tear them up and trash them. Then you'll feel safer.

----------



Agreed. I'll never pay Adobe a rental fee for a program like Photoshop.

Right. My state DOR did too. Not like I can tell them, sorry, not going to pay my taxes to you anymore, you've lost credibility with me.

I signed up. Right now it's cheaper than upgrade pricing was on PS and LR per year. I'm also looking for a backup plan to kick Adobe to the curb if need be. Onone might just be that alternative. And let's not forget it wasn't just Adobe who screwed the users but in my opinion supposed user advocates like Kellby who appeared to be advocating for Adobe.

A decent backup plan, depending on your needs is Pixelmator. I love that app. Admittedly, does not do everything PS does, but they are always adding. And it is MAS, so you get updates (bought 1.x - now on 3.0). As for Lightroom, I use Aperture. Not as robust, but have the old DVDs of it, and Apple just moved that to the MAS, so looks like that is on the permanent upgrade path now, too.

 

[dysamoria]

No. Will not ever subscribe to software.

 

[blanka]

I have both PS Cs1 and 6. Still I use CS1 for 95% of the work, even if I work on D800 images in 16 bit on Rosetta. The feel is still snappy and straightforward. But I use NX2 for the camera specific stuff as it is better fit to Nikon than Adobe, so I don't miss that part of the modern CC.

I have to give Adobe Kudo's for their PSD format. It still works flawlesly between versions. This is still the biggest pain in the but for me when it comes to their other software, Illustrator and especially InDesign with its file-system horror.

 

[geomiga]

good bye adobe! hello pixelmator!

 

[brucebrendon]

Great! Now I have an easy, affordable option for my personal information to be leaked! I can't believe it; this is just what I was looking for!

If I were one of the hackers, I'd be very tempted to sign everyone up – actually, that's probably what all CC accounts are.

iDobe.

 

[Berserker-UK]

Just bought CS6 and LR5 outright (admittedly at student rates - I can't justify full price). I'd much rather have a credit card bill to deal with now than an Adobe bill for eternity.

 

[Dambuster43]

If the idea of Adobe CC applications by subscriptions was to outwit the crackers ...it failed.
The only people who "save" are those in busines paying big money in license fees, paying monthly is better than annual lump sum payments.

 

[itguy06]

Now if this is a hobby, just go and buy PS Elements..

Have they finally added layer masks to PSE?

Better bet would be to just go out and try Pixelmator or Acorn. Or even suffer through GIMP.

 

[throttlemeister]

Have they finally added layer masks to PSE?

Better bet would be to just go out and try Pixelmator or Acorn. Or even suffer through GIMP.

Neither of which support working on 16bit files, let alone 32bit files for HDR.

 

[SVTmaniac]

And you will be paying for it THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.
Lucky you.

No, I'll pay it until I no longer need Adobe. Looking over my last few years expenses, I easily spend double this on Adobe products with updates and new releases. I don't really have a problem spending $240 a year. It's really pocket change compared to the overall expense of being a photographer.

 

[repete7]

Have they finally added layer masks to PSE?

Yes, in PSE 9.

 

[AppleFan1984]

Does anybody know what will happen to the price after 1y is up?

Whatever they want it to be, because with their proprietary file format you'll have no choice if you ever want to see YOUR content YOU created using their tool again.

CC is essentially just holding your content for ransom.

GIMP FTW! Or even Pixelmator. Or anything other than rewarding content kidnappers.

 

[throttlemeister]

Whatever they want it to be, because with their proprietary file format you'll have no choice if you ever want to see YOUR content YOU created using their tool again.

CC is essentially just holding your content for ransom.

GIMP FTW! Or even Pixelmator. Or anything other than rewarding content kidnappers.

What are smoking? I'd like some.

This package is intended for photographers. Photographers who are most likely shooting in RAW (propriety format! Eek!), doing cataloging and initial editing in LR. Editing in PS from LR dumps it to PS as TIFF (not an Adobe format) and saving it in PS will dump it back to LR as TIFF.

Even if you work just with PS and like to use the native Adobe format, which is PSD, you still end up with a file that can be read by any program that has remotely something to do with images.

And just so you know, Pixelmator has its own propriety format as well. As does GIMP. Neither can be read by any other program btw, contrary to PSD.

Not directed at you, but in general: it must be really in fashion at the moment to piss on Adobe, because if that is not it than the level of total ignorance in this thread is astounding. It's ok if you don't like Adobe. It's ok if you don't want a subscription service. It's ok to be vocal about it. It's not ok to be stupid about it and spout of all kinds of nonsense or stuff that is flat out not true.

 

[ChrisA]

Whatever they want it to be, because with their proprietary file format you'll have no choice if you ever want to see YOUR content YOU created using their tool again....

Did you know that even Apple's Preview can open that "proprietary file format". Adobe's PSD file format is nearly universally sported by all graphic software. If you decide not to pay the license fees you can still open the PSD files with just about anything.

Also, has anyone worked out the after taxes cost? Rented software is deducted differently from purchased software and I think it is a better deduction.

 

[AppleFan1984]

Did you know that even Apple's Preview can open that "proprietary file format". Adobe's PSD file format is nearly universally sported by all graphic software. If you decide not to pay the license fees you can still open the PSD files with just about anything.

Also, has anyone worked out the after taxes cost? Rented software is deducted differently from purchased software and I think it is a better deduction.

Just a few things that turn up when searching for "Creative Cloud ransom":

Adobe's Creative Cloud Illustrates How the Cloud Costs You More
http://tech.slashdot.org/story/13/0...loud-illustrates-how-the-cloud-costs-you-more

Why You Should Hate Adobe’s Creative Cloud
http://fstoppers.com/why-you-should-hate-adobes-creative-cloud

Petition - Adobe Systems Incorporated: Eliminate the mandatory "creative cloud" subscription model (44,775 supporters):
http://www.change.org/petitions/ado...e-mandatory-creative-cloud-subscription-model


Per the earlier comment about drug use: you might get better results asking those who believe Creative Cloud is some sort of philanthropy. The switch was made because it simply makes more money for Adobe. This latest discount price is merely to stave off some of the backlash.

 

[Jiten]

Once enough people bite, they jack up the price = profit!

 

[iMikeT]

How much do you pay Adobe under the old program where you buy Photoshop and own it and then buy the upgrade about every three years. I think it works out to more than $120 per year.

If you are using PS for your business $120 can be written off completely where as in the old system you couldn't. So there is a slight tax advantage to renting that tilts the equation.

Now if this is a hobby, just go and buy PS Elements..

I've been doing photography for several years and it's no hobby.

The first version of Photoshop that I bought outright was CS(1) for roughly $500 for the full version. I bought it just before CS2 came out and received the CS2 upgrade for free. I stuck with CS2 for years until I bought a new machine and upgraded to CS5/CS6. I would have stayed with CS2 but I wanted to take advantage of the 64-bit/Intel platform so I bought CS5 as an upgrade just before CS6 came out for roughly $150, I then received the CS6 upgrade for free.

My upgrade cycle isn't exactly 3 years. Many others that I know who use Adobe CSx apps also don't have a 3 year, let alone yearly, upgrade cycle. In fact, many people I know are sticking with CS3/CS4 for the foreseeable future. There are even people I know who stayed with Photoshop 7. The reason behind this is the fact that much of what can be done in CS6 and CC have been around for more than a decade.

For the 8.5 years that I've been using CSx, it's cost me less than $90 per year by buying it outright instead of $120 (based on the introductory rate of 9.99) , which is a savings of at least $30 per year.

A couple things to think about…. What happens if a user realizes that they haven't used Photoshop CC for a couple months and decides to stop paying for a few months? How would they open a file created in Photoshop when the moment Photoshop is opened it decides to call home and a message pops up saying "You didn't pay so you're screwed, haha!"?

 

[throttlemeister]

I've been doing photography for several years and it's no hobby.

The first version of Photoshop that I bought outright was CS(1) for roughly $500 for the full version. I bought it just before CS2 came out and received the CS2 upgrade for free. I stuck with CS2 for years until I bought a new machine and upgraded to CS5/CS6. I would have stayed with CS2 but I wanted to take advantage of the 64-bit/Intel platform so I bought CS5 as an upgrade just before CS6 came out for roughly $150, I then received the CS6 upgrade for free.

My upgrade cycle isn't exactly 3 years. Many others that I know who use Adobe CSx apps also don't have a 3 year, let alone yearly, upgrade cycle. In fact, many people I know are sticking with CS3/CS4 for the foreseeable future. There are even people I know who stayed with Photoshop 7. The reason behind this is the fact that much of what can be done in CS6 and CC have been around for more than a decade.

For the 8.5 years that I've been using CSx, it's cost me less than $90 per year by buying it outright instead of $120 (based on the introductory rate of 9.99) , which is a savings of at least $30 per year.

A couple things to think about…. What happens if a user realizes that they haven't used Photoshop CC for a couple months and decides to stop paying for a few months? How would they open a file created in Photoshop when the moment Photoshop is opened it decides to call home and a message pops up saying "You didn't pay so you're screwed, haha!"?

So what you are really saying is that essentially over the last 8.5 years you paid $7.45/mo, for which a significant amount of time you worked with outdated technology and without Lightroom.

Personally, I think the CC offer for photographers is a better deal.

And yes, for a photographer that outdated technology is a big thing. Not so much because the stuff inside PS, but all the more between LR3 and LR4 or CameraRaw 5/6 v CameraRaw ⅞, ie process version 2003/2010 v process version 2012. The math and rendering of the current version is so much better and so acutely visible when working with photos that I don't know why any serious photographer, pro or not, would want to keep working with the old stuff.