JD750 Loc: SoCal

Reportedly there are a lot of Adobe customers who do indeed like the subscription model.

Adobe does listen to customers. That’s how they stay in business. Like it or not, and I get that you don’t, a majority of customers are ok with the subscription model.

The minority who want only the stand alone model are not sufficient numbers to justify the costs of maintaining it.
It’s not personal, it’s just business.

RonDavis Loc: Chicago, IL

No disagreement here. Of course it's just business....if you make and sell a good product at a "fixed price" for a perpetual license that (at the time) included free upgrades...that's a one time profit. If you stop supporting the product and it's availability...AND introduce a subscription only alternative...that's obviously a more profitable revenue stream. That benefits the business....(but more money out of consumer pockets in the long run). There's no "non-subscription" product choice for new users, they come "locked-in".

The big question is, how many of the satisfied user/owners of Lightroom Classic 6.14 immediately switched or converted to the Lightroom CC subscriptions? LR was and still is very popular....I think there's a large base of 6.14 users still out there, I'm one of them. Oh, for added capabilities to LR6.14.....I have found that (non-subscription) plug-ins as mention earlier do the job just fine. My personal choice....it's all good here.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

I'm a huge fan of the subscription model. It means predictable cash flow. It means my current version will work with my current operating system and hardware. I WILL have to upgrade hardware every five to seven years, but I have always done that, anyway, and plan for it.

I worked in a photo lab for decades. When Photoshop came along, and we quit using film, we started using Ps for retouching senior portraits. When Adobe upgraded, we always had a choice of a big lump sum expense for 20 seat licenses, or wait a couple of versions and have a big training issue.

As employers in a town with five other photo labs (15 years ago in Charlotte), we competed for seasonal employees. Some of them left us to work across town because they could learn the latest software there, and we lost some great people that way. The subscription model solves all that. Accountants are happy (monthly license fee, and no lump sum expense hassles), and employees have less to learn at one sitting. The program evolves over time, and the few new features every quarter or so are easily assimilated.

Plenty of folks are angry with Adobe and Microsoft for their subscription models, but frankly, the products in subscription plans were meant for businesses and professionals.

JD750 Loc: SoCal

I was happy to switch and did so as soon as it became available. I liked the idea of updates and bug patches being sent out real time instead of having to wait a year for them.

RonDavis Loc: Chicago, IL

Hi JD......the bottom line of photo processing software is "RESULTS". It's a matter of choice of how we achieve them. I prefer not to use subscription services to achieve my desire results. Good luck to you (and me) on using your choice of software....via subscription services or as standalone product. They both have advantages and disadvantages. So far, I'm happy not to use or commit to subscription services....I just like ownership of my assets

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

But we don't own software. No matter how it is "sold," we are just buying a license. The EULA (end user license agreement) explains the terms. It's that three acre tract of legalese we have to agree too to install the stuff. I read one, once...

RonDavis Loc: Chicago, IL

Understood....but no further charges $ are associated/expected with the perpetual (as is) license agreement.

JD750 Loc: SoCal

Sure. I’m not trying to convince you otherwise. I was just commenting on:
And the answers is “at least 2.” ;)

RonDavis Loc: Chicago, IL

Humm.....that would be surprising and disappointing....(lol)

Tonytee Loc: Beaverton, Oregon

You may want to consider GIMP. It is huge and a bit complicated, but overall does a great job. My personal favorite,
which I have been using for over ten years now is: FastStonesImageViewer. It is a very capable program, is free and I have never had any issues with it. The upgrades are free also. It can upload and edit both JPEG and RAW images. BTW, GIMP is free also. Hope this helps. Tonytee :)

Larry Maxon

I use Adobe Lightroom. It is fast, easy and does everything I need to do.