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Clicked on the comments to confirm that I wasn't crazy about this being a bad deal. I figured most comments would be people knocking the poeple complaining of subscriptions. I was actually in the market for Parallels. I got excited for nothing. Just because I can afford a Mac doesn't mean I can pay through the nose for everything else. I work hard to be able to afford my Mac, and it bums me out that people think I can afford to spend $200+ per year on software.
 
Clicked on the comments to confirm that I wasn't crazy about this being a bad deal. I figured most comments would be people knocking the poeple complaining of subscriptions. I was actually in the market for Parallels. I got excited for nothing. Just because I can afford a Mac doesn't mean I can pay through the nose for everything else. I work hard to be able to afford my Mac, and it bums me out that people think I can afford to spend $200+ per year on software.
Parallels has a non-subscription tier.
 
Well, since this is a bundle that exclusively contains subscriptions, it feels more like being pushed some long free trials than actually receiving "gifts" with the purchase.
And "Get Nine Mac Apps for Free in New Bundle" sounds pretty misleading. "Getting an app" used to mean it was yours to use forever and you had to pay for it again only for fully upgraded versions.
First year you save $558 and you pay $99
After that $600+ /yr 😆
Subscription cartel
 
Paying for an adblocker... So many free options that work fine. Then the argument of adblocker being akin to piracy, as some claim, why not spend the $40 to support who you're viewing instead?
An adblocker is one of the few examples where a subscription makes sense as they need to update the rules all the time. Without these constant updates, the app becomes outdated and useless.

On the other side of the spectrum: a static piece of software, even with a sync service, shouldn’t be a subscription, ever. I’m looking at parallels, 1Password and especially Fantastical and Cardhop.
 
Opinions about subscriptions aside, I was excited about some of the included software as they're things I already use (or would at least consider)! However the main one, 1Password, is only for new customers....so that completely kills it for me.
 
instead of paying these subscriptions just get a windows PC. I haven't had a PC in a decade but recently bought a few for mining crypto and windows runs snappy

I had Fantastical but started using Apple calendar and forgot all about Fantastical. Almost all the same stuff. Lets not complicate the wheel

Safari included popup ad blocker works great. Google chrome YouTube ad skipper extension works perfect. What am I missing here?
 
Opinions about subscriptions aside, I was excited about some of the included software as they're things I already use (or would at least consider)! However the main one, 1Password, is only for new customers....so that completely kills it for me.

All of the deals they have are targeted at new customers. The main reason I switched to subscription though, despite buying four different standalone 1Password applications in the past is that Dropbox charge $18AUD per month when I want to add another device since I have more than 3 devices... which turns out, happens alot more often than I thought (I blame my craving for new gadgets/laptops/etc).

The one upshot to Families is at least you can share it wtih multiple people to make it more worthwhile.
 
I know people probably won't be very familiar with it but I love JetBrains' subscription model. You get a perpetual license for the current version and any updates. If you continue your subscription for a second year, your perpetual license gets upgraded to the current version and you get a 20% discount. Continue for a third year and the discount goes to 40% where it's capped as long as you maintain your subscription. If you decide to cancel at any time, you still have the perpetual license.

Customers feel like they're getting something because they can fallback to perpetual license while also getting an incentive to continue subscribing. The company gets a consistent, reliable revenue stream to fund further development. Seems like a win for everyone but I haven't see this model anywhere else.
And there are free community versions. Plus students and teaching staff get to use all the full versions completely for free!!! Plus there are all kinds of massive discounts for various use cases. They do things right.
 
$40 a year for a calendar? How much yearly innovation is the calendar getting? I'll pay it if the calendar can read my thoughts and apply them automatically.
You get 12 new months each year? Of course they’re gonna reuse naming from last year so not that innovative ?
 
I know people probably won't be very familiar with it but I love JetBrains' subscription model.
I would, but I don't.

The correct model would be that you get a perpetual license for the then current version when your subscription runs out. But instead you get the license for the version when your subscription started.

This means that you do auto-updates during your subscription, which is completely pain-free. But when your subscription ends you have a version installed for which your perpetual license is invalid. They didn't make it easy to downgrade to the correct version, so this is simply a scheme to trick people into subscribing for additional terms.
 
They need to disclose UP FRONT that most of their subscriptions can only be used by new customers and cannot extend existing account. I think that is a cheap shot. I wasted $50.

Also, there still isn't any real Windows 10 available for the M1 Macs. I only need it for my tax software, but still it just ain't there.
 
I just dont like software as service and keep paying to use. i hate it in-fact. I would spend money IF I NEED NEW FEATURES. don't push me. These software companies are getting too greedy.
 
Is every software a subscription service now?
It's not, and for every app in that bundle, there are equivalent apps that you buy 'normally', just paying one time. At least for those that I know and use. For instance, I used to use 1Password but moved to Enpass as soon as 1P started with the subscription model.

It's interesting to see how one or two years ago, the subscription model seemed inevitable and the fate of all software. Even though some companies have gone that route (and again 1Password is a prime example), perfectly functional alternatives are still available. You can prefer the subscription model in case you believe it gives you added value (Office 365 and its 1Tb of OneDrive) but you can avoid it altogether.
 
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