the subscription thing is just a bad idea due to human nature.
boil it down to essential basic facts.
humans like to own stuff.
given the option, most people would rather own a house than rent; own a car rather than lease.
that's why itunes works and is favored more so than the subscription models of online music delivery.
software for the most part breaks down into entertainment (games) and tools (things you use to make a living).
i work as a designer, and i know lots of people who use old machines because they work for them and they don't care to spend the money to upgrade them; so perhaps they are still using OS 9 and an outdated version of photoshop, but they don't need to buy the new one, it does the job.
now if people are forced into some sort of subscription restraint, what happens to those not able to, or not wanting to buy new hardware and operating systems etc... do they get hosed? does the writer who is using a 10 year computer and Word need to start paying monthly or annual fees to use the program to do his job?
I think if anything, this will add fire to Linux and things like Open Office, GIMP, etc... as well as increase support for companies that sell the tool at a set cost.
If I buy a skill saw, I want to be able to use that skill saw whenever I want to without having to pay for it again or for the honor of using it, it's mine... now if they come out with a newer fancier one - it's my choice if i want ot buy it or not, but i still have the one i bought to build my stuff. and i think that's how most people feel.
Not that long ago most gas stations were all full service, they'd check your oil, water, air; air and wter were free, they'd clean your windshield, and kids got free little toys now and then. huge companies these days charge for every little thing now; and it sucks for the rest of us. the service and support in general is much worse than it was 10-20 years ago.
i don't think it's as much about piracy as it is about creating additional/new revenue streams.
i run a small business and i have not upgraded all my software in a few years, because the new versions were either buggy, i can't afford to, or i dont' need to. i don't need my monthly overhead going up to rent software, it would make it much harder for me to get by.
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the subscription thing is just a bad idea due to human nature. boil it down to essential basic facts. humans like to own stuff. given the option, most people would rather own a house than rent; own a car rather than lease. that's why itunes works and is favored more so than the subscription models of online music delivery. software for the most part breaks down into entertainment (games) and tools (things you use to make a living). i work as a designer, and i know lots of people who use old machines because they work for them and they don't care to spend the money to upgrade them; so perhaps they are still using OS 9 and an outdated version of photoshop, but they don't need to buy the new one, it does the job. now if people are forced into some sort of subscription restraint, what happens to those not able to, or not wanting to buy new hardware and operating systems etc ... do they get hosed? does the writer who is using a 10 year computer and Word need to start paying monthly or annual fees to use the program to do his job?
I think if anything, this will add fire to Linux and things like Open Office, GIMP, etc ... as well as increase support for companies that sell the tool at a set cost.
If I buy a skill saw, I want to be able to use that skill saw whenever I want to without having to pay for it again or for the honor of using it, it's mine ... now if they come out with a newer fancier one - it's my choice if i want ot buy it or not, but i still have the one i bought to build my stuff. and i think that's how most people feel.
Not that long ago most gas stations were all full service, they'd check your oil, water, air; air and wter were free, they'd clean your windshield, and kids got free little toys now and then. huge companies these days charge for every little thing now; and it sucks for the rest of us. the service and support in general is much worse than it was 10-20 years ago.
i don't think it's as much about piracy as it is about creating additional/new revenue streams.
i run a small business and i have not upgraded all my software in a few years, because the new versions were either buggy, i can't afford to, or i dont' need to. i don't need my monthly overhead going up to rent software, it would make it much harder for me to get by.