Special upgrade price from PS CS4 to CS6 ends December 31st

[Byron Will]

Just thought I'd post this notice if you forgot about this deadline.

If you want to upgrade from Photoshop CS4 to CS6 for $199 on the Adobe site, you need to do it before the end of year. It's not easy to find, but here it is:
http://www.adobe.com/products/catalog/software._sl_id-contentfilter_sl_catalog_sl_software_sl_photoshopcollection.html

Be sure to have the license number(s) ready if you need them during installation.

Personally, I've been using Photoshop since 1994, but this will probably be the last upgrade for me. 95% of my work is done in Lightroom now.

BTW, you can use the Cloud for Photoshop for $20/month or choose other options for using more software programs:
https://creative.adobe.com/plans

There's another LL recent thread about the Adobe survey and their move to subscription based software.
Your call.

Best, Byron

[Mark D Segal]

That's helpful - I think it's important to add that the plans for individual items require a one year commitment. I didn't look at the $50/month jumbo option because I don't need it. Nor in fact do I need the single application option either. Like you I do 95% of my image editing in LR and for the other 5% my existing installs of CS5 and CS6 are more than ample. I suspect there are at least hundreds of thousands of users in the same boat. It will be interesting to see how Adobe fares with this business model. I haven't seen any praise for it from any one yet.

[Paul2660]

Byron

Tks for the post I was not aware of this and have a license that I can upgrade.

Paul

[Byron Will]

Mark, yes it is a one year commitment. Thanks for mentioning this. Also, there is a lower price if you are already a CS user (for only one year), and a lower price for educators. Seems like a new way for Adobe to streamline their revenue. Creative Cloud may be worthwhile if an individual or a team use these applications on a regular basis, say, cutting edge web development and need these tools. One just has to do the math, and if one feels they need the absolute latest software. It compels Adobe to add new features in a timely manner across the application spectrum, and Creative Cloud users get them first. I can wait for new features, but, I hope they don't wait on the Lightroom updates!

Happy New Year

[Schewe]

It will be interesting to see how Adobe fares with this business model. I haven't seen any praise for it from any one yet.

Well, the some people seem to think Adobe is doing pretty good see This Software Giant is Flying High. Note, I would not give too much credence to the whining of some users on some forums...there has been an anti-Adobe group of users for years. Some people just hate the fact Photoshop/Illustrator/InDesign are industry standards and hate the fact Adobe has a monopoly on image processing and graphic design. I'm actually surprised there hasn't been MORE carping on the ending of the 3 version back upgrade policy–which of course has zero impact on me because I HAVE to have the most recent versions of everything (it's my job, ya know?).

[Rhossydd]

I HAVE to have the most recent versions of everything (it's my job, ya know?).

If you pay retail prices for that, Adobe are more cruel than I'd imagined.

[Schewe]

If you pay retail prices for that, Adobe are more cruel than I'd imagined.

Actually, I only get one license and have to buy upgrades for my 3rd & 4th machines (one additional license)...it's easier to do that than beg, ya know?

[Mark D Segal]

Well, the some people seem to think Adobe is doing pretty good see This Software Giant is Flying High. Note, I would not give too much credence to the whining of some users on some forums...there has been an anti-Adobe group of users for years. Some people just hate the fact Photoshop/Illustrator/InDesign are industry standards and hate the fact Adobe has a monopoly on image processing and graphic design. I'm actually surprised there hasn't been MORE carping on the ending of the 3 version back upgrade policy–which of course has zero impact on me because I HAVE to have the most recent versions of everything (it's my job, ya know?).

Jeff,

The kind of discussion I'm seeing isn't whiners and isn't Adobe bashers. It's ordinary users asking themselves whether the cost of getting onto this bandwagon is worthwhile relative to the value-added it brings, their imaging needs and other competing uses for their money. If you look at what's happening from a very broad perspective, Adobe is being innovative and at the same time taking quite a business risk on this Cloud adventure - nothing unusual here - innovation carries risk. The risk in this environment is partly created by their own successes. LR has become so good, and PS so mature, that people are beginning to see decreasing value-added in upgrading, yet the costs and inconvenience of it are increasing. I think it's as simple as that. Time will tell. In your personal position, yes, you need to upgrade; many others simply don't.   

[Schewe]

LR has become so good, and PS so mature, that people are beginning to see decreasing value-added in upgrading, yet the costs and inconvenience of it are increasing. I think it's as simple as that. Time will tell.

Photoshop's user base is a lot broader than photographers which makes up less than 10%. It's even smaller with the Creative Suites...clearly LR has had an impact on upgrades to photographers but photographers are simply a small subset of users. Adobe seems to be doing just fine in getting Creative Cloud subscribers which will be the basis for a lot of Adobe growth. It also allows incidental feature upgrades (as shown with the CS 6.1 upgrade) that will get additional user interest. If you wanted the latest features, you'll need to be a subscriber. Something new to consider for many people–that and the fact that the upgrade cycle has been shortened...you can't really sit on a 3 version back strategy anymore.

[Mark D Segal]

For their sake I hope it works out. But back at the ranch I'll be evaluating the need for new features rather carefully before subscribing. Up to now it's been pretty-well automatic.

[Rhossydd]

But back at the ranch I'll be evaluating the need for new features rather carefully before subscribing. Up to now it's been pretty-well automatic.

Same here. The ability to use liquefy on a smart layer doesn't rate as a compelling feature to me.

[Tim Lookingbill]

How much are Adobe's security updates tied to being required to upgrade?

IOW fall behind in upgrades and you risk something malicious happening to your computer. Finding out exactly what that means requires long reads of obscure and non-specific terminology and rating levels on how, when and where this will happen.

If I hear "malicious code" as among the non-specifics one more time...

You too, Apple!