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Question

Reduced Price for Those Unable to Upgrade

Forum|Forum|1 year ago
March 2, 2025
3 replies
1021 views

There needs to be a reduced subscription price, OR a one-time purchase option, for those of us unable to upgrade our Adobe products. "Always having the latest version" is one of the selling features of subscription-based software. But when Adobe keeps increasing the minimum Mac OS (or computer specs) required to run the latest versions, they start leaving their customers in the dust, and are not fulfilling their promise.
I cannot afford to buy a brand-new computer every two years just to "keep up with the Joneses (Adobe)." And my current machine can only be upgraded to Monterey (12.7), meaning the latest version of Photoshop will not run on it (min. 13.0 required.)
The previous "buy once with reduced upgrade purchase options" is sorely missed. But charging the full subscription fee for a subscription that fails to deliver on its promise, is worse.
The Creative Cloud app can tell that you aren't running a new-enough machine or OS to run its products. It can easily identify those of us who deserve a reduced price, and can revert it back to full price if and when we do upgrade to be able to run the latest.
Given that Adobe is not putting any more effort into developing old versions, I'd say that 50% off would be reasonable. Or, a reasonable one-time fee for a perpetual licence, until such time as we can resubscribe again.
I feel like I am rebuying an old beater of a car, for the same price as a new one that I can't drive because I don't have a new-enough house to park it in front of.
Please and thanks.

macOS

D Fosse

Community Expert

Actually, such a pricing model isn't unthinkable. Sony do it; as new camera models are released they keep selling the older models at reduced price. You can still pick up an a7r III from the shelf at about two thirds of the original retail price, or a IV at slightly more - while the V has been the current model in the series for over a year.

Of course, that's hardware, not software, and at some point the stock runs out.

E

ExUSA

Legend

Support costs are a significant part of software development expense. Plus third-party licenses might expire and backend features might change (look at the licensing and activation problems posted on here.) Older hardware is easier to support because the ecosystem remains compatible. I'm betting Adobe would lose money with a reduced-price offering.

D Fosse

Community Expert

Yeah, I know it's different, for the reasons you state - the environment the software runs in evolves.

(but I do like the Sony policy).

E

ExUSA

Legend

The newest Macs unable to update past Monterey are about 7-8 years old now. You can get a new M4 Mac mini for US$600 which is current and fully supported, that might be the best answer for you.

George LangleyAuthor

Known Participant

Not exactly portable! And still looking at additional $$$ for the peripherals.

E

ExUSA

Legend

Ok, so get a MacBook Air. Still supported and MUCH faster than an old machine. Sell the old one to recoup part of the cost.

jane-e

Community Expert

@George Langley

Adobe offers you two choices:

continue to use your older hardware and older operating system and older version of Photoshop. In the Creative Cloud app, turn off automatic updates for applications and don't update to the more current versions of Photoshop. When you eventually upgrade your computer and OS, your subscription includes the current version of Photoshop.
another option is to subscribe to Photoshop Elements, which is usually $99 for a three year subscription and is more affordable

There are also free alternatives, but we are asked not to mention those on the Adobe Forums. You'll find them on the web search.

Jane

George LangleyAuthor

Known Participant

Yes, I just don't upgrade. But why should we be paying full price for these out-dated versions? I still use them, so yes, pay something. But like a cable subscription - I don't pay more to get every new channel that they add, I pay less for just the channels I watch. So less for this old version and what it can do, versus more for all the new features that I can't access.

Trevor.Dennis

Community Expert

There are cheaper alternatives, and I am sure they will have continued to evolve the same as Photoshop. Krita 5.2 is two years old. Gimp 4.7 is just a uyear old. The latest Affinity version is barely a month old. There will never be a cut price Photoshop for older systems. Adobe were apparently higly reluctant to make the Photography version available (thanks to Scott Kelby) so no point in worrying about it.

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