The Cost of being Obstinate:
So far I fail to see the benefit of Subscriptions. Adobe's senior management has alienated a significant portion of their user base, mobilizing them into opposition, lost a significant portion of the support community (like book writers and publishers) with the CC product and had to provide lower earnings guidance to the investment community through the next two years as well as paint a big target on their back. The only short term positive return has been the performance of their stock. Given time I predict that it will trade lower. Had Adobe been a retail company, the investment community would not have treated lightly, Adobe's squandering of its customer's goodwill.
Adobe knew they were going to have a problem with their user base and preceded their subscription announcement with lower projected earnings, but I think they under estimated the lack of gullible people who would sign up for their subscription service. I rather doubt the "good will pronouncements" that they have listened to the Photographers, but rather this is motivated by their need of another vehicle to build up their subscription numbers before the next quarterly earnings release. As it is, this latest twist from Adobe raises as many questions as it satisfies.
There has been a rather complex discussion of the relationship between LR standalone, LRCC, PS6 and PSCC. Had Adobe made this offering at the time they made the subscription only announcement, I would imagine there would have been less of an angry outcry, as it is, people like me refused to subscribe to CC in total, purchased LR and reluctantly signed up for the temporary $9.99 PSCC option to bide time. Now, as I understand it, I will be automatically rolled into the new offering which will include the purchased LR (assume this is LRCC which is supposed to have PSCC options) that I have already made. Now comes the problems.
The Adobe FAQ page on this offering says that the $9.99 rate will be permanent. There will be NO price changes for this offering. I find this hard to believe but I suppose at $120 a year, for PS and LR is less than I was paying now, but then I was a Creative Suit member which I will no longer pay for. But here are some of the real issues. What is now Adobe's commitment to maintaining PS6? What happens to my LR license in the future when I receive my upgrades and new releases from CC? Will I have to maintain both? Let's say, a year from now, Adobe releases a new version of LR (will there be new version releases of LR?), will I have to pay for a new license as well as receive in through CC? I know this ruffles the ears of some of the contributors here, but I no longer trust the senior management of Adobe.
Another question, after being direct to the FAQ page on "Photoshop Photography Program" I also read the FAQ's listed there on other Adobe Programs. One word that repeatedly jumped out at me was the use of the word "purchase." i.e., "Work with your Adobe account executive regarding purchase options for Creative Cloud for enterprise. Request a consultation now" and "Available in July, government customers will be able to purchase the Creative Cloud Desktop Applications subscription via Adobe’s CLP-G licensing program. " How is this term used here? What are they purchasing?
Finally, in various posts and comments, there is the repeated reference that the subscription program "is here to stay and that there is no turning back". Let me echo the observations of several users here that "nothing in the future is certain." If senior management is not able to garner the revenues and subscription rates they promised the Board of Directors, the Board will replace them with new management.
Yesterday, an analyst for the automotive industry made an interesting observation regarding the turn around of the US automotive industry. The old management of 5 years ago made cars to make money. They were replaced by senior management who believe in making cars based on what customers wanted. Right now Adobe's management is focused on making money and now on what their users want. As such it will be a long tough road downhill and it is better for us to find a new vehicle to ride in.
Earl Robicheaux