I like the Cloud

Question

I've been using Adobe software since 1995.  I'm among the 80% who really enjoys having access to more software today than I ever had before under the old perpetual licenses.   
Do I use all of the Cloud software and services?  No, of course not.  But I am using much more than my heretofore core list of products.   Were it not for the Cloud, I probably never would have tried the others.
In the past, if a client sent me a file from the latest version of product X, I had no way to open it unless I ran out and purchased an upgrade.  With the Cloud, I no longer have this lingering problem.  The latest product X is always just a few clicks away.
Is the Cloud perfect?  No.  As with anything new and as revolutionary as this, it has some kinks to work out.  But I'm confident Adobe is taking necessary steps to ensure a good user experience for everyone. 
Change is hard.  There are always going to be a few unhappy people who resist it on general principal.  Initially, I was very skeptical of the Cloud, too.  I didn't think the subscription model fit my business.  But after a year, I'm very happy to report that the Cloud vs Perpetual Licenses is actually a much better deal for me.   I am more productive, competitive and have a much bigger toolbox at an affordable monthly price.
The pundits argue that there is no "exit strategy."  My exit strategy is simply this.  I'm going to work until I die.  It's an economic fact of life these days.  80 is the new 50.  70 is the new 40.  And if I can't afford a $50/month professional subscription fee, chances are I'm not long for this world anyway, so who cares...
In summary, my overall experience with the Cloud  has been a good one.  If anybody is still on the fence about this, don't take my word for it.  Sign-up for a 30-day trial and test it for yourself.   I think you'll be as pleasantly surprised as I was.
Nancy O'Shea
Alt-Web Design & Publishing
Web | Graphics | Print | Media Specialist 

Answer 1

It is nice to see that some users are enjoying the cloud experience and I do genuinely see how it can benifit users.  The problem is that adobe has removed freedom of choice... the choice to buy or to rent. In legalese perpetual license or rental.
Adobe validates this move by offering Cloud users an "all you eat buffet" of applications to use.. and while this seems wonderful and fluffy it really just a bait and switch tactic. Take away the right to own with a nice big basket of rentals. Initially this will see a huge surge in Adobes revenue but eventually growth will slow down and in order to grow you will find products suddenely being placed into a new seperate cloud (perhaps called Creative Cloud Pro) that will require additional expense. Prices will go up and before you know it, you are paying double if not triple of what you are paying now.
Adobe cannot be trusted when it comes to pricing.. look around the world and the difference in pricing really raises eyebrows.. US $49 per month UK $72, Germany $80... and a recent NZ post shows the cloud costing twice the price.  you could argue that you have to take into consideration operating costs in each country.. Well if this is truly a cloud ..it shouldnt matter on where you are..a high speed connection is all you need.
And we all know by now that if you dont pay that monthly bil your software turns off... if you work till you die no problem... but what happens if someone steals your identity? What happens if your Internet goes down? What happens when the cloud gets hacked or if it goes down?  Electronic arts recently felt the wrath of hackers and theirs servers went haywire for over a week. Annoying for gamers but can you imagine not being able to operate your business? Can you imagine explaing to your client "Cant deliver that poster to the printers for your big opening as adobe is down" these are serious concerns..Is adobe liable in such a scenario? A quick dash over to the EULA and I think you'll find they have legalistically washed their hands of it.. You as a business owner are certainly liable..and its you losing clients not them. I would love all my customers to pay me a subscription fee for a year.. the reason they dont is because as a small business in a bad economy it keeps me on my toes.. it keeps me lean hungry and customer aware.. Owning software on your own machine doesnt stop this from happening but it sure as hell reduces the chance of it happening.
I own my software and when I install software my computer goes online and validates the license..with the new cloud you essentially do the same thing..install the software but instead of a one time license check you may be required to go online once a month and have it revalidated.. so same software, both validated online... so why cant we own again? we cant own becauses owners only upgrade when the see the need to... Adobe has to keep impressing us with new features to keep us coming back... under the cloud the motivation switches... sure un-subscribe adobe says...but good look with that old project that needs an update.
Adobe argues that with the new cloud users can be pushed new featues instantly....and patches and bugs can be attended to far quicker... but bugs and patches could be download with previous versions so there is no real improvement here.. as for new features adobe could have said "hey we have a new function $50 and its yours to keep" the user could have looked at it and said ..humm yeah could use that sure... good for the consumer and good for adobe.
My frustration with Adobe has started to make me digress here.. the reality is the product is pretty much the same but the licence has now change... we have gone from owner to tenant.. If you wish to be Adobe's tenant and that business model works for you then wonderful. but if owning is a better model for you then that should also be an option.. Some people need to own.. users in smaller towns or countries that have limited or no internet access are now excluded from Adobe's software.. you may say that is a minority... but the reality is that it is a far bigger number than you think.  Some countries dont even have an option for the cloud so owning is there only option..
I do hope you have not felt flamed by this post ..(it is a little rant) it really was not my intent. I really understand your side and I hope you see mine
charles