Sketchup subscription
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I really don't understand what you're defending.
It's easy to state that more money means more development of the pro app with powerful new features, but that's not been the case with Sketchup as it's developing the free features (3d warehouse, extensions, new shape drawing tools...). It's easy to say ditch away the free users as they should have not the right for an almost as powerful app as the pro users, but that's how sketchup got an hold of the market and we don't see new Pro features with every release.
What Sketchup has been doing is getting a hold of the free basic users, not of the Pro users.
What Sketchup is doing for pro users is allowing for better extensions. That's not direct development, that's using the force of a huge market that Sketchup (Free
created and still stands and naturally evolves when more people use it.Example: I can show the incredible renders I do with Sketchup, but they are in fact done with Thea. I can show the incredible geometries I can generate, but I use a lot of free and paid plugins for that.
The exception is Layout but, coincidence or not: it has no plugin developing environment; it has developed it´s native features but not that much; there are new features but it's a very long way from what we need; it could go further with plugin developers but...
So...
@sketch3d.de said:
ask not what SketchUp can do for you, ask what you can do for SketchUp.
I do a lot for Sketchup, Plugin developers do a lot more for Sketchup, but I'm a consumer I should ask what sketchup can do for me.
And SU does a lot! Without it I couldn't do half the things I do, however that has been true since SU8 and with only a few major changes (Layout and 64bit) if I now do more than before it's because of scarce Layout development and a LOT of new plugins.
@sketch3d.de said:
nice try
It would be only fair that Sketchup development would fit Sketchup developers AKA Trimble AND Plugin devs.
@sketch3d.de said:
used for commercial purposes without paying anything for the efforts developing SketchUp further...
They build stuff for 3D warehouse, they import stuff from 3D warehouse, they learn the software, they try printing stuff, they have fun and they learn enough and do enough that they then feel the need to buy Pro. Or at least that's how it should be... as long as the extra Pro features justify the buy (IMHO only Layout does.)
@sketch3d.de said:
Autodesk and Adobe seem to be very successful with their subscription models,
Autodesk and Adobe products are necessities, Sketchup is better. Sketchup is a software around a community of free and pro users that SHARE huge amount of things, ranging from tools, models and knowledge.
There's a lot of business opportunities for the community too: new plugins, models, knowledge... You pay for those when you need you don't rent those.
Trimble just has to create killer features and keep updating what they have for it to work much better than before. If that would happen users would really want upgrades, a renting model wouldn't have to be imposed. That isn't yet happening though since Trimble came along after Google, a LOT has changed for the better.
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@jiminy-billy-bob said:
What do you guys think of Corona's pricing model? They offer both subscription and one-time licensing.
@unknownuser said:
FairSaaS - 24,99 €/month
- Unlimited access to all major, monthly, and daily experimental builds
- Paid monthly, with option to pre-pay 1 year
- Cancel any time without any penalty
Box - 548 € (= almost 2 years of subscription)
- Time-unlimited access to the version 1.5 and all relevant bug fixes
- One time payment
- Eligible for future paid upgrades to versions 2.0, 3.0, …
We're exploring a similar model for Skatter, so I'm genuinely interested. We will have much more public discussion about this, but let's have a first one in this thread.
Subscription is an interesting model for the developers, because it offers a good forecast for future revenues. It allows to better plan work, secure jobs for growing the dev team, etc.
I like subscription models when updates are frequent and features are added. If it means I pay less for the app in the short term.
If you had Skatter Libraries on the cloud I could grab content/submit content etc that would be a good reason for me to pay a sub along with continuous improvement.
Corona's model is good.
Regards SketchUp moving to sub I would to see a roadmap of development. That would justify, IMO, funding the continuous improvement and job hires.
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The thing with subscription software is that they never seem to take into account that users use several software, and if they are all subscription those "small" monthly costs quickly add up and make it impossible to continue using them.
I surely can't justify not giving my children food on the table just to be able to afford all subscriptions.Buying software may a higher one time cost but it's one that can be planned and when you have the money you buy the software and can use it as long as you like.
Plus that buying software puts the pressure on the developers to make the software better so people will upgrade to new versions. With a subscription the users will continue to pay even if there is no real development just to be able to access existing files.
Corona's subscription model is a tiny bit better than Adobe but I still don't like to rent software.
Also, when companies offer a "boxed" version it seem to be a not quite as good a deal to force users into subscription.At least some new software companies have got it.
Affordable prize to sell more and NO subscription.
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Personally, I detest subscription models for reasons many have mentioned above.
Let me buy it, I will use it as often / seldom as I choose for as long as I choose. Give me the option of being able to update to a current version at a fair price (for example the annual maintenance like SU currently has) and I'll see if I can afford it and if the progress justifies it.
Subscription model software makes me feel like I'm being milked. Not cool at all.
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I hope this is a joke. I want to be able to decide if an update is worth my money or if I can stick with the current version because not much has been added that's actually worth it to me.
Subscription = ea$y option that mainly benefits the shareholders and not the users.
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@kaas said:
I want to be able to decide if an update is worth my money or if I can stick with the current version because not much has been added that's actually worth it to me.
@juju said:
Give me the option of being able to update to a current version at a fair price (for example the annual maintenance like SU currently has) and I'll see if I can afford it and if the progress justifies it.
@pixero said:
The thing with subscription software is that they never seem to take into account that users use several software, and if they are all subscription those "small" monthly costs quickly add up and make it impossible to continue using them.
I surely can't justify not giving my children food on the table just to be able to afford all subscriptions.Buying software may a higher one time cost but it's one that can be planned and when you have the money you buy the software and can use it as long as you like.
Plus that buying software puts the pressure on the developers to make the software better so people will upgrade to new versions. With a subscription the users will continue to pay even if there is no real development just to be able to access existing files.
Finally:
@pixero said:
At least some new software companies have got it.
Affordable prize to sell more and NO subscription.If everybody knew about Affinity, Adobe would be no more.
Everybody knows about Sketchup and, though not everybody knows Layout, if Sketchup+Layout would have a dozen of long standing needed features, Autodesk would be no more.
IF, in 12 months, Sketchup's+Layout would make those features available in a roadmap, I'd happily pay for that subscription even IF they wouldn't develop a single thing in years after that.
However if I'd have to pay for a subscription and keep having a secretive roadmap, I'd really have to consider alternatives...
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NEVER
dtr Architect -
Well I am glad that I am not the only one that dislikes a subscription based licence.
To me the software developers become slack in developing the software with a subscription based model. Maybe its an indication that the software has reached its peak.
PS I have been using Sketchup since V3 and have always upgraded as soon as a new version is released.
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@pixero said:
Plus that buying software puts the pressure on the developers to make the software better so people will upgrade to new versions.
As a developer I actually feel the opposite. I'm kind of nervous about offering subscription, because then users expect regular updates each month, as they pay every month.
With a "box" model, you get what you paid for, so it puts less pressure on the devs. -
Well, if you feel that way maybe you should stay with the current model.
Then both you and most people here would feel better.
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and be aware too, that the uprgade right of lics of SketchUp Pro v8 (and older) will retire at 25.04.2017. Which will be valid for all lics with the maintenance period expired more than 3 years also (currently some v2013).
After the date above affected lics cannot be upgraded to the recent version anymore but needs to buy a new license.
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I hate the whole idea. But pay every month? That would really cut down on my SW use. I'd just have to give some of them up. I have enough to keep me busy rather than dealing with monthly payments on every little piece of software I use. This will drive the overall cost up. Smaller payments but many of them will allow prices to creep up.
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@kaas said:
I hope this is a joke. I want to be able to decide if an update is worth my money or if I can stick with the current version because not much has been added that's actually worth it to me.
Subscription = ea$y option that mainly benefits the shareholders and not the users.
This is not a joke. I completed the survey late last week.
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I seem to be the one of the few who likes the subscription model.
From a business stand point I know I will always have the latest greatest without worrying about when a software version is outdated and becomes unsupported.
I do not like to have to come up with lump sums every time a software has progressed enough to justify upgrading.
A known monthly amount for various subscriptions can be easily figured into an overall business plan and when spread out over a full year does not price one out of the market.
Using software to make money costs money. Plan for it, charge for it, accept it.
For hobbyist...I feel your pain.
p
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I guess it depends on the pricing. For example Adobe PS used to be $700 and now it is $240 a year. Similar with AutoCAD LT. It used to be $1,200+ and now it is $380 a year. If it is say under $250 a year it won't be that bad. We'll see I guess.
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@glenn at home said:
If it is say under $250 a year it won't be that bad. We'll see I guess.
f you've bought your PRO licence, currently it costs you US $120 per year to stay current...
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@juju said:
currently it costs you US $120 per year to stay current...
$0.32 a day for Sketching Zen
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