Just Fred Loc: Darwin's Waiting Room

I just received an email from Skylum announcing they have extended their "holiday offer" for another 72 hours. This is a package of Luminar AI, Aurora HDR and a Winter Wonderlands template pack.

As an owner of both Luminar and Aurora (earlier releases), I said recently that I saw no reason to upgrade; that Skylum was requiring users to re-purchase the software every time an upgrade came out. If Microsoft required users to re-purchase Windows every time an upgrade came out, would users continue to stick with their products? I work for a software company, and we sell perpetual licenses -- buy once, upgrades are free.

Now, I don't expect every software company to do so, and obviously, many don't. But for those of you adherents to the Skylum product family (and make no mistake, I like their products), is it worth the price to upgrade every time they release a new version? My subscription to Adobe pays for automatic upgrades and I don't feel the monthly charge is too costly (are you listening, Netflix?).

xt2 Loc: British Columbia, Canada

Yes, it is a problem that everyone wants to get paid. I guess it really is a matter of how you want to pay for upgrades, all at once or monthly, either way payment is required. I say, if you don't like it, don't complain, just don't buy it. If no one likes it it will either improve or go the way of Oldsmobile, Pontiac and Volkswagen.

Happy New Year!

David Martin Loc: Cary, NC

It is truly irritating that those offering alternatives to the Adobe subscription model just happen to offer an annual "upgrade" that requires the owner to re-purchase (are you listening, Skylum, on1, etc.). The improvements seem small for the money.
Compare with Affinity Photo, that has provided all upgrades at no charge since its initial release in 2015.

Just Fred Loc: Darwin's Waiting Room

I hope the basic question I was asking hasn't been lost in the words: "Is it worth the price to upgrade?"

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

Oh gee, we screw-up but we have fixed the problem and you can too just send in $$$. Sounds like greed to me.

Not all companies are greedy for example:

Some of my Topaz plugins were upgraded to Ai based on my classic pre-Ai license. I appreciate that. My Affinity has upgraded at no cost.

Franzis a German Company, has given away older programs thru "give away of the day" and discount others as they are "last years."

BenVista PhotoZoom an excellent resolution up program is discounted when an update comes out. They sell the 7 when 8 comes out thru Ashampoo what was home classic for $79 is reduced to $20. Topaz is about $99 for Gigapixel which is newer and a tad better, but how good is necessary for $80 more.

Always search for free Open-Source programs, forever improving like the ol standby GIMP.

SonyBug

I wonder how many of your "free chasers" would give all your work away for free. If so, please post all of your best pictures and give the world a free license to use them for free. You all make me ****.

kvanhook Loc: Oriental, NC

When Skylum offered Luminar AI, I wrote and told them I was tired of sending them money each and every year. It seemed like there was always an "Upgrade" and they wanted close to full price for me to get it. They said that the new AI version was a totally "different product" and not an upgrade, I still balked. I don't think a day goes by that I don't get an email from them still wanting me to buy the product. And I'm real tired of that. I may have to Unsubscribe from them.

Just Fred Loc: Darwin's Waiting Room

I guess my initial remarks may have ignited some passions, which really wasn't my intent. Like you, I shrink at the prospect of having to pay almost full price for an upgrade. On my Mac, I use Parallels Desktop, which is a virtualization engine. I've been using it since version 5; I just upgraded to version 16. Only in the past couple of years has Parallels gone to a subscription model, which allows me to upgrade whenever a new version comes out. I'm still paying, but I don't get dinged in the wallet every time a new upgrade comes out. Skylum might do well to consider this (and there's a suggestion they are doing so on their web site).

But here once again, in as plain language as I can put it, is my original question: I am willing to pay for the upgrade IF IT'S WORTH IT. Previous Skylum upgrades (Aurora, Luminar) didn't seem to warrant the cost. IS Luminar AI a "totally different product," and has anyone used it who can weigh in on whether it's worth paying for?

rfmaude41 Loc: Lancaster, Texas (DFW area)

Also, it's "lightroom" counterpart DARKTABLE was just upgraded to version 3.4.n just a few short weeks ago, with many, many improvements, both in the UI and in functionality.

Jon_Armitage Loc: Holmfirth, West Yorkshire

I don't think that's a lifetime commitment. I think you might find when Affinity eventually gets to V2.0 that there is a cost to the upgrade. However, if that happens, I will happily pay for it, it's one of my GoTo programs.

Jesu S

Chevrolet, Ford, BMW, Audi, Mercedes-Benz all do the same. They update their models every year, and require you to repurchase them every time ... if you choose to upgrade.



They don't require you to repurchase newer versions of Windows ... they simple stop supporting the older versions. Why else would >75% of Windows users be using Win 10?



Each is a cost/benefit decision unique to the individual. If you've traded in your cable box and are a Netflix binge watcher, perhaps the Netflix subscription is worthwhile to you. On the other hand if you are an amateur photographer who post-processes just an annual vacation and the grandkids, then Adobe, no matter how divine, may not be a viable proposition to you.