Objective Discussion of Creative Cloud Options?

Question

I am merrily using my CS6 Suite (mostly Primiere, Photoshop, AE) but looming in the back of my mind is this choice I have to make since there will be no CS7.  Have received nothing from the company...not even promos even though I have licenses going back to Photoshop 2.  Not a good sign.
Has anybody ran across a thoughtful analysis of what it means to move from an installed Suite (I usually upgraded, sometimes skipped a version) to this Cloud thingy?  Personally having a hard time coming to grips with $50+/month for life so I am hoping there is something more reasonable than paying for stuff I am not going to use(?)
Any blogs?  Magazine articles? 

Answer 1

It is difficult to be totally objective, but I will try as best I can.
The subscription method was great for me, and terrible for others. It really is a very personal decision based on your business model, the type of work you do, the programs you use regularly and the programs you only use once in a blue moon.
And yes, people can attack Adobe and get your information. Apparently, easier than they should be able to.
Let's start with the "great for me" part.
I use Premiere Pro, After Effects, Photoshop, Lightroom, Acrobat, Muse, Dreamweaver, Speedgrade (I will soon anyway), Illustrator, Audition and Bridge, And I probably need to figure out Prelude. I may one day figure out the Edge apps also.
I put my photos on Behance and Prosite and I plan on using the file storage for new projects.
Also, I can legally have the software on two computers at the same time and use both.Even if one is a PC and the other a Mac.
I pay a monthly fee. I never upgraded to CS4, or CS5.5. So to get these programs I would have had to pay a LOT of money up front. I could have, but chose not to. Yes, I may end up paying more this way since I can't just skip a version to save money. I don't have to upgrade but I have to pay.
I don't go back to old projects so if I stop paying Adobe it will not have an effect on me. I can either use other programs or start paying Adobe again.
As for the mature products, some of them are getting overhauls that might surprise you.
Let's address one more "great" option before we go the other way.
Adobe came out with a subscription model for photographers. Photoshop and Lightroom for only $9.99/month. That is a HUGE savings.
OK, time to talk about the evil Adobe empire.
If you stop paying you lose everything. Well, you lose the ability to work on your existing projects. The files still exist on your hard drive but you can't open the projects.
For some people that is horrible. They go back and work on older projects, especially corporate stuff all the time.
As I said, you may end up paying more this way.
And what if you only use one product? That costs $20/month. But if you use two or more and are not a teacher or student, or not a parent, child or spouse of one, you pay $50 per month whether you use any programs that month or not.
You pay and pay and you never actually own the right to use it. Stop paying and you are dead in the water 30 days later.
And what I consider the worst part? If you don't live in the United States you really get shafted on the price. Overseas customers pay a LOT more and not only due to taxes and fees. Adobe charges them more for reasons I can't comprehend.
Yes, there are other products from other companies. There are learning curves to consider, and for many, the Adobe Products have the necessary features that other programs do not have. But at what price?
As I said, it is a personal decision based on your business model, and the size of your wallet, and the amount of pain you can afford to deal with by changing products.
I can't quote actual numbers because the subscription model has me using more programs than I used to use. Even more than when I got it al free for being a beta tester, years ago.
All I can say is that I know it will cost more in the long run, it ties me to Adobe even more than before, and I was tied to Adobe pretty tightly. But the benefits outweigh the problems. For me.
You have to decide for you.