I cannot believe Adobe's lack of reasonable upgrade: I purchased Photoshop Elements 11 three months prior to the upgrade to 12 and they tell me that I do not qualify for a free...

pedalmasher Loc: Seminole, FL

I purchased Photoshop Elements 11 three months prior to the upgrade to 12 and they tell me that I do not qualify for a free upgrade. I will upgrade, but it will never be to another one of Adobe's products. :(

djlouden Loc: Ocala, Florida

Adobe has forgotten all of us who are not pro photographers. They built their firm on the backs of all of us, pros and amateurs alike, and now that they believe we're hooked they thumb their noses at us little guys.

As I enter my "golden" years I'm not sure to what extent I will be able to support my gear addiction. With Obama-care or lack thereof, rising home insurance costs, etc., we just don't see a good future for those of us working stiffs.

I have used Lightroom and PS for a number of years now dating back to LR 1 and PS 2 but have now stopped my regular Adobe cash donations with LR 4 and CS5. I'm not inclined to continue LR as I don't want to get stuck down the road unable to use my software or access my catalogs because I would rather spend money on food than contribute to Adobe-care. I have been trying various alternatives and hope soon to land on something reliable.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Adobe has long had a policy of offering free or discounted upgrades to buyers who had purchased within 30 days of a new versions release, but NEVER over 30 days. And no other software provider offers free upgrades to new versions at all.
If a newer version offers significant improvements that you want, buy it. If it does not offer anything, don't buy it, you have a choice. Not sure what your issue is here. If you bought a Canon 60D just 3 months before they introduced the 70D would you be expecting them to replace your older model for free???? Obviously not.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

pedalmasher wrote:

I purchased Photoshop Elements 11 three months prior to the upgrade to 12 and they tell me that I do not qualify for a free upgrade. I will upgrade, but it will never be to another one of Adobe's products. :(

Profit. Profit. Profit.

PrairieSeasons Loc: Red River of the North

I've used several onOne software plug-ins to PS, and generally been pleased with them. They are introducing something called Perfect Photo Suite 8 later this month. While they aren't advertising it as an alternative to Adobe's subscription program, it seems like that is the market they've identified.

I agree that $10/month for CC is more or less the same cost as upgrading every two years. With the upgrades, though, I can get off the merry-go-round and still have something to use from that point forward. With the subscription, that is not the case.

I've ordered the onOne suite for less than the hypothetical CS7 upgrade would likely have cost and am eager to see how usable it is.

JCam Loc: MD Eastern Shore

I am an experienced amateur (fifty years with film and 5 with digital -- never sold a photo) and bought PSE 10 about three months before PSE 11 came out. In a Photo Shop Elements course I took six months or so thereafter some of the students had PSE 11 so I had the opportunity to compare both.

I am very glad I have 10 and have found no reason to upgrade to 11, 12, or 13 when they bring it out--probably in the near future.

mel Loc: Jacksonville, Florida

MT Shooter wrote:

Adobe has long had a policy of offering free or di... (show quote)

I purchased PSE12! from Costco recently for $79.00 and uninstalled my PSE11 for my computer. I then put my PSE11 on EBay and sold it yesterday for over $60.00. I did the same last year with PSE10. It's worth the trouble, at least I think so.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

MT Shooter wrote:

Adobe has long had a policy of offering free or di... (show quote)

bingo.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

jerryc41 wrote:

Profit. Profit. Profit.

You say that like it's a bad thing.

All companies exist to make a profit...don't they?

Don't all people who work, do so to have money (profit) to live like they'd like...you included?

I've never understood this criticism of business as if actually (gasp!) making a profit was somehow evil...

profpb Loc: Venice, Florida

I have budgeted $9.99/mo for photography. Thank you, Adobe. I have everything including the latest upgrades to Lightroom, Photoshop and more. I have the best gear. Thank you, Nikon. I have my health. Thank you, parents.

Surely there must be something I can complain about. Please help me. Surely, someone can suggest something.

PrairieSeasons Loc: Red River of the North

rpavich wrote:

You say that like it's a bad thing.

All companies exist to make a profit...don't they?

Don't all people who work, do so to have money (profit) to live like they'd like...you included?

I've never understood this criticism of business as if actually (gasp!) making a profit was somehow evil...

You say that like profit is an unalienable right. It isn't. All companies presumably exist to make a profit, but not all of them succeed at that goal.

Adobe has and will continue to make choices in terms of market segmentation and customer service. If, in doing so, they alienate some existing customers, their business model will have changed. Their current model apparently is directed at serving professionals (meaning people who use their products to earn a living) rather than amateurs. It remains to be seen whether that is the right choice.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

profpb wrote:

I have budgeted $9.99/mo for photography. Thank you, Adobe. I have everything including the latest upgrades to Lightroom, Photoshop and more. I have the best gear. Thank you, Nikon. I have my health. Thank you, parents.

Surely there must be something I can complain about. Please help me. Surely, someone can suggest something.

Uh...you're not a Pug owner? (that should cause angst in anyone!) :)

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

PrairieSeasons wrote:

You say that like profit is an unalienable right. ... (show quote)

If you are addressing me, Then I never used the term "inalienable right" nor did I imply it.

I don't even know what you are talking about.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

jerryc41 wrote:

Profit. Profit. Profit.

Jerry, the alternative is bankruptcy!

I had a mother-in-law that that was disgusted, and said so, every time a local company made the news because they were reporting profits. She equated profits with theft. Each month she cashed her pension check from the states largest manufacturer where here husband had worked for 40 years. Without profits, they would eventually stop writing her a check!

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

Adobe has upgraded Elements consistently in September or October for the last several years. This year's upgrade to 12 added very little in functionality and actually took away a few things. It did not upgrade to 64 bit use in Windows, but did for Apples.

The only reason to need an upgrade is if you need a new ACR level for a new camera model.