I don’t know if the previous model was actually that good foe users. Because the releases were static every time there was a breaking software or hardware change you would need to buy a new version of the software.
It also reduces accessibility for lower income people. Not everyone can force over $1000 for Photoshop software but paying $30 a month is a much easier pill to swallow.
> "It also reduces accessibility for lower income people. Not everyone can force over $1000 for Photoshop software but paying $30 a month is a much easier pill to swallow."
Companies didn't switch to SaaS out of the goodness of their hearts or out of concern for low income people. If the old pay-per-version model were making them more money, they would have stuck to it like a barnacle on a ship.
The SaaS model has always been more profitable than pay-per-version because it took control of when to do a version upgrade out of the hands of the end-user.
>It also reduces accessibility for lower income people. Not everyone can force over $1000 for Photoshop software but paying $30 a month is a much easier pill to swallow.
Hard disagree. Pirating was easier, but even legal avenues were cheaper. Whenever a new version rolled out, you could pick up a license for the old version dirt cheap. I bought Photoshop outright for the price of 2 months of subscription, and had full access to a very usable program for years.
I see the above justification a lot from the same companies pushing this obviously more profitable model.
I think you are undervaluing the global market. Photoshop was $500+ one time fee. In many countries that’s a monthly salary. Most of those countries pirated Adobe products.
By switching to subscription they made the barrier to entry lower and unlocked a greater market.
I was very happy with that switch, even though I have a subscription fatigue and general dislike of subscription model misapplication.
But we can’t run away from it. This model is here to stay and more and more businesses will switch if they can.
Best is to adapt your own processes, budgets than to fight or reject.
It also reduces accessibility for lower income people. Not everyone can force over $1000 for Photoshop software but paying $30 a month is a much easier pill to swallow.