As far as the economics of the CC for Adobe, actually, it's been the success of the whole subscription model (and the technical difficulty in doing dual application versioning for subscription & perpetual licenses) that have driven Adobe toward doing this. Yes, it will alienate some users who reject the whole "cloud" thingie...which I understand (assuming the rejection is made based on real facts and not FUD).
As a book author, my life just way more complicated because I can't write for a fixed target with a known lifecycle...now it's a moving target that will be tough to do for paper based publishing (easier and perhaps better done with ebooks).
I'm also kinda melancholy about the whole change to the old model...as a long term alpha/beta tester, I always looked forward to a new dev cycle and seeing what the engineers came up with (and hammered on them to fix stuff). But this new model allows a freedom and flexibility that will, I think, lead to more rapid advances with new features on a more regular basis. But I'll miss the old way...
Jeff,
It is puzzling why you would defend Adobe's decision. I understand the emotional attachment you share with Adobe as a corporation, but come on, man !
. Photographers are usually not working in corporation: think wedding photographers, portrait photographers, landscape photographers, even small studio photographers. Many also freelance.
. Adobe's new approach is more geared toward Fortune-500 companies... Yes, many use photoshop or Creative Suite for different purposes (graphic design, ads, ...)
. Your own customer base is mostly the small business or freelance photographers, or hobbyists.
Why you would turn against your own customer base, to protect Adobe's misguided decision, is simply puzzling.
Listen, as a freelance photographer, and former owner of a landscape photography business, I would not be able to justify the new model in my business today or in the past. Here are a couple of reasons:
1. Cost -- the new model is NOT the same as the old one. Do the math beyond the first introductory year, and check it for yourself.
2. Upgrades -- I learn a new feature or new layout on my timeframe, not someone else. If Adobe decides to push yet another camera raw interface, I don't feel I have to interrupt my project to learn it. We don't have that luxury in the real world
3. I happen to be away on long trips without internet for more than 30 days...
4. Sony's network was down for more than 30 days last year... all gamers and owners of PS3 remember these days. Can't use Netflix on your PS3 because Sony's servers were down. Imagine this happening to Adobe's server (being hacked)... and tell me how millions of user would feel if their 30-day ping happen during this period
5. Companies don't live forever.. do you remember Pan-Am ? One day, Adobe will decide they want to exit Photoshop. With a purchase model, we could still use the software for few more years. With rental, we will have 30 days to convert all of our library and move on
6. Ligthtroom ... well, Adobe stated last year that the rental model for creative suite is an option, and that we are not forced into it. They lied. Clearly. It is going to take a lot to convince me that they wouldn't do the same with Lightroom. Why would I keep investing time in cataloguing my files with Ligthroom ? Done.
Now if your business is teaching / writing about competing software tools, I would understand your excitement and support for this decision by Adobe. Knowing that a major source of YOUR INCOME it at risk based on a decision by Adobe, you should be the first in line complaining about this approach.
Clearly, it seems that Adobe is not listening to its customer base. Nor to its network of power users (you). Nor to the secondary market (ecosystem) that made Photoshop so successful (books, lessons, seminars, plug-ins development, sales of tools...)
It used to be exciting to learn about new releases and new features. Moving forward: Yawn... it will be pushed down our throats without any ceremony.
And you think we should celebrate ?
Wake up, man !