I'm really struggling with this decision right now, because I just bought a new desktop and intended to get CS6. I already knew they are pushing that Creative Cloud like nobody's business, but I am balking at it.
For work, I'm okay with the Cloud, because I run two computers--one Mac and one PC--and the software there needs to be kept *fairly* updated in order to not have issues with the different printers we use for our out-of-house items. In fact, I've already run into an issue today with one of our printers because they're running CS 5.5 and I'm running CS5--they had to export an .idml file for me instead of an InDesign file even though it was essentially the SAME file I'd originally sent to them in the first place.
We'll actually not spend any more to use the Cloud, since currently we have to buy the software for both platforms.
But personally--this stinks. I rarely, if ever, upgrade from one version to the next. I almost always wait at least ONE upgrade, like from CS5 to CS7 (I don't count those silly .5 marketing ploys as upgrades), and depending on the software, sometimes I don't upgrade for years. Heck, I was still running Office 2007 until my son made me upgrade that last year.
It's going to be way more expensive for me, since it's going to mean a commitment to a monthly or yearly fee--AND, if you get in a bind and decide you just can't pay that anymore, well as soon as your subscription runs out, you don't even have the outdated software to limp along on. You're just out of luck completely. It's like leasing a car--and I detest the idea of leasing.
If I only used Photoshop, I think I'd probably start looking at Gimp or something else that would do instead--I really don't do THAT much editing to my photos, and I'm fairly sure I could manage with something else.
However, I have a few contract jobs through the year--one in particular that generally pays pretty well--and I really need InDesign and Illustrator to do most of those jobs. Or at least, to do them efficiently and well. So, I guess I'm kinda stuck with Adobe for the immediate future.
I'll probably up my hourly rate I charge just a little bit to try to plan for this expense for next year, without pricing myself so high that I lose the contract work.
In the meantime, right now I'm thinking I'll still go ahead and buy the CS6 outright. That way, if I move to the Cloud next year with CS7, I'll still have CS6 to fall back on if I needed it.
