You should be aware that Adobe is planning to roll out a subscription option for its full Creative Suite for $49.95 a month for a year commitment. That includes the kitchen sink and every update along the way. It is optional, you can still purchase products with a perpetual license if you wish. For some of us, myself included, the monthly lease is even more affordable than my educator’s pricing since I use many of the products on a regular basis.
Upgraders should be aware of something. The current level of CS products is CS5 or CS5.5, depending on your viewpoint. As announced, there will only be discounted upgrades available to people with CS5 and above. So, if you have any products that are CS4 or below, you must first upgrade them to CS5. This amounts to a double dip, if you will.
This has come as a surprise considering that the CS6 software has already started early beta. Some people tend to upgrade every other release and this catches them squarely unprepared. There is a ton of resentment and uproar regarding both the policy and its sudden implementation. To me, I am at CS5 and switching over to the monthly subscription, so I am only looking out for my friends that are more casual users.
Scott Kelby, President of National Association of Photoshop Professionals has issued an open letter to Adobe Systems asking for reconsideration based on these salient points. Who know? It may work! If any one has persuasion with Adobe it has to be Scott. Read more about it on Scott’s Blog: http://www.scottkelby.com/blog/2011/archives/22903
