Yes Adobe, [it used to be written “I’m”] we all are looking at you. I tweeted at you 182 days ago, not heard.
As being professional, I buy each app I discover to simplify my workflow and thus, raise my productivity. And if it is cheaper, I am happy to support that software engineers that had the idea and the guts to compete with the software giants.
For years, I was looking to the all acclaimed CS from Adobe. Why looking and no touching? Just because of its pricing policy. When Adobe announced that CS will have a pay-as-you-go subscription, I was telling myself: “Gush, so cool, should be cheaper, let’s go for it”. I was wrong. Well, I took my card to pay for a full year of Creative Cloud Membership with the Complete plan and surprise: €61,49 / mo. (EU) instead of $49.99 / mo. (US). OK, VAT, taxes etceteras. Guys, that’s not fair. As of ECB today rate (March 28, 2013), 49.99 US Dollar equals 39.09 Euro. You can easily count in numbers or percentage. Yes, I am living in Europe – Romania, but that’s not a burden in your shoulders, Adobe. You should have made it fair for all, and you could have counted me in your yard.
Nope, nada, YAY!
Thanks God that real, I mean real, good alternatives exists. At least for me and other happy switchers. And available for buying on Apple’s OSX App Store.
The fully fledged Photoshop has been replaced by Pixelmator. At a mere price of €13.99, now for almost 6 months in sale, Pixelmator does the job regardless the promotion or the real cost. I’m not comparing apples with pears, I know exactly how many features have PS compared to Pixelmator. You can achieve the same results with Pixelmator, trust me.
Illustrator has its counter part, also. It is coded by Bohemian Coding and the app is called Sketch and it has a meaningful tagline: the designer’s toolbox. At its €44.99 pricing, the app is priceless. Just give it a try, AI guys. You’ll love the interface and the tools. It’s as simply as Pages, Keynote and Numbers.
Total? €58.98. Try the apps and draw the line.
I can’t say that PS or AI are bad apps, it’s the business selling model. And none of my feelings are directed to the team that actually did them. My hat is down for them and always has been there. I just wrote this article so that other guys like me to achieve the same results with less money, or at least with a fair pricing policy. Fair from the geolocation point of view.
Adobe, please do not hate me as I do not hate you. I am not paid by any of the apps mentioned. I’m just a happy switcher.