Digital BW, The Print

Jimbo,

Yes Adobe did backtrack on the upgrade path. Back around November 2011 they announced that in order to upgrade to CS6 one had to own CS5.
There was not going to be an upgrade path for owners of CS4 or CS3, etc. Up to this point Adobe had always had an upgrade path for owners that include older suites. This had several implications, but in short it meant that long time customers of Adobe that did not have CS5 would have to pay full price, not an upgrade price, to enter CS6. There was a well documented and huge backlash against Adobe then as well. Here is just one link, but google around and you can find lots of info on this.
http://scottkelby.com/2011/an-open-letter-to-adobe-systems/


I know firsthand, it very much affected me. CS5 was the only Adobe upgrade I had not made since about 1991-about the time I started using photoshop. Why? I had a Mac pro G5 and CS5 was not compatible. I was waiting for Apple to upgrade the Mac Pro. The latest Intel version had been out for a long time, it seemed an update to the machine was imminent–so I waited. Well in that process Apple never upgraded its Mac Pro–even though a new one is now imminent, they still haven't. I was not alone in this conundrum. So I was faced with either buying CS5, which I couldn't use, just so I could get CS6 when I could finally get an upgraded Intel Mac OR I could pay full price for CS6 by skipping CS5. It was a pickle. But Adobe's sudden policy change made it even more infuriating. Well, Adobe backtracked and provided an upgrade path to CS6 for CS3 and CS4 owners. I could't wait for Apple to quit dragging its feet so I upgraded to the current version of a Mac Pro
 and upgraded to CS6.

Long story, but yes Adobe has been flip flopping all over the place for a couple years now on its policies and price changes and upgrade paths. There is not a lot of trust right now among many long term pro users of Adobe's products.

The biggest fly in the ointment by far, by far, by far among my colleagues is the issue of CC file access. Price is of varying concern. (For me and the tools I need, the price is quite steep, but that is my issue.) But the fact that I will not be able to open my files if I stop paying the rental fee (MY creative work–not Adobe's). I face the very real possibility of having effectively useless files. The longer CC develops away from CS6 the more this becomes an issue. If Adobe had say a plan where after each year or two the user could "own" a copy of CC up to point of not renting, then I bet they would have many many people on board. But paying in perpetuity for guaranteed access to my files is simply an non-starter for me and many others. This trumps price completely.

Thanks for listening :-)
John



________________________________
 From: jimbo <mrjimbo@...>
To: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com 
Sent: Monday, September 9, 2013 7:35 AM
Subject: Re: [Digital BW] Re: Photoshop Create Cloud program for photographers
 


  
Sorry , I guess I didn't get it when I read it but 
I'm not sure what I didn't get.. 
You said "I 
rushed to buy CS5. Guess what? Adobe then announced you could buy CS6 even if 
you didn't buy CS5. I'm finished with them!"   
 
I assumed that 
you meant a CS6 upgrade not a CS6 Retail package as the CS6 upgrade would not 
work unless you had CS5 installed.. If you bought the retail package of 
CS6  having CS5 wouldn't matter and you wouldn't need CS5. 
 
Adobe to the 
best of my knowledge, and I follow it pretty close, never offered to allow 
a CS6 upgrade package to license unless you had a valid CS5 licensed 
install. I in fact called them on that very issue as I had one work station 
at CS4 and was told the upgrade path was CS5 for CS6. As far as I know Adobe 
never back tracked as you say... but they did change their upgrade path 
policy with the entrance of CS6 so may be that's the issue at hand.....but that 
was made known from day one of the CS6 intro. So no biggy..
 
jimbo
  ----- Original Message ----- 
From: grdglass 1 
>To: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com 
>Sent: Monday, September 09, 2013 6:59  AM
>Subject: [Digital BW] Re: Photoshop  Create Cloud program for photographers
>
>  
>Jimbo,
>
>I suggest you have the misunderstanding. Read my  original post more carefully. I bought CS5 in order to be able to buy CS6,  which I have. You seem to be forgetting the history of Adobe's back tracking  on their original policy regarding this issue.
>
>Helene
>
>
>The upgrade to CS6 was only valid if you owned CS5. So an upgrade 
  from say CS3 or CS4 to CS6 was not allowed. This was published on most of the 
  sources such as B&H , Adorama etc etc.. included being listed in the 
  upgrade requirement listing on Adobe's site..( you can easily view them as 
  their still up) That was from day one.. So if you were at CS4 you had to buy 
  both the CS5 and CS6 upgrades to get there or just buy the CS6 retail 
  software.. The CS6 upgrade software will not work with CS3 or CS4.. So I  suggest somehow you have a misunderstanding.. The tough part now is that  unless you stumble on an upgrade for CS5 say on ebay or Craigs list your out  of luck. those have pretty much been sold out and are no longer being  produced.. The CS6 upgrade today typically comes directly from Adobe unless  you find one on Craigs list or eBay.. or?? You do have one more option.. and  that is to call Adobe Support..... If you validate that you have a working  license for CS4 and their are no CS5 upgrades in the pipe what they may do for  you is ship you a retail version of CS6 and charge you for both upgrades..  They did that for me while back to resolve an issue I had. It saved me a few  bucks..
>
>Not sure if it's ok to do this or not but I have a brand new 
  unopened boxed PS CS6 for Windows (two computers allowed) retail package that 
  I can live without.. If anyone wants it I will make a good deal it sells for 
  600 bucks on Amazon..I've never even opened the package.. 
>
>jimbo
>
>----- Original Message ----- 
>From: grdglass 1 
>To: 
  DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@y 
>ahoogroups.com 
>Sent: Saturday, 
  September 07, 2013 4:00 PM
>Subject: [Digital BW] Re: Photoshop Create Cloud 
  program for photographers
>
>I bought every upgrade since PS 3 in 1995 
  (?). After CS4, I decided I would skip a version. Adobe announced if you 
  didn't buy the CS5 upgrade, you wouldn't be able to buy the CS6 upgrade. I 
  rushed to buy CS5. Guess what? Adobe then announced you could buy CS6 even if 
  you didn't buy CS5. I'm finished with them! They are not exactly a corporate 
  example of trustworthiness.
>
>I was shocked this morning watching Michael 
  Reichmann's interview with Thomas Knoll on Luminous Landscape when Reichmann 
  announced he skipped every other version of Photoshop. Imagine 
  that! 
>No virus found in this  message.
>Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
>Version: 2013.0.3392 / Virus 
  Database: 3222/6648 - Release Date: 09/08/13