http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/index?id=7176852&siteID=123112
Wow.
I would consider myself somewhat of an AutoCAD junkie. I've used other drafting design software, but my roots lay within the AutoCAD anatomy.
Whenever a new version is released, I can't wait to use it. Usually giddy with anticipation, I can't wait to see and use whatever new features Autodesk decides to write into the app, which I am usually pleased with.
However, I find this new pricing strategy to absurd.
I'm not the direct purchaser of the software, but I do use it every day. Sure, I love the new functions and such, but in the longrun, it may not be worth the price from an employed, user standpoint, especially for a small company.
This can go either way. I've worked for a company who has purchased the software without the subscription. As it turns out, we were able to function just fine without the subsequent new releases. No expensive subscription, no added expense, cost of software not considered in perks or raises. Not until they were nearly forced to upgrade, that is.
I now work for a much smaller company. We are subscribers and are more than happy to receive our upgrades every year, but because of how customized we are into A2K7, as we usually get with every release we use, we haven't exclusively used any of the new software. It won't be until a few months from now that we finally upgrade all our machines to A2K10. In my opinion, we've wasted a lot of money as it is on subscription fees based on that alone.
If our company doesn't do well this year, especially in our current economic downturn, we won't profit as much. If our company considers how much it's costing us to stay current, a pay raised decreased by any percentage because of AutoCAD software cost is ill thought.
I don't want to turn this into a political argument, but this change screams of political undertones. As expensive as this software already is, this "...new, streamlined upgrade pricing..." is an obvious ploy to keep subscribers...well, subscribed. Inducing an upward flux in subscription revenue.
AutoCAD has basically become the standard in design drafting around the world. Autodesk has taken advantage. It is apparent that the effects of the world economy rarely makes exception to anyone, Autodesk is no exception. This time last year ADSK was falling to trading lows they haven't seen since the turn of the century and in an effort to curb investor loss, this campaign began.
As if it isn't bad enough...you are going to "retire" pre-2008 software? What a croc. Another ploy...more revenue.
Autodesk, why not be honest about the rate hikes? Why not be honest about massive influx of revenue to be expected to keep your investors happy while kicking the rest of us while we're down? Haven't we as a nation experienced enough of that over the last 10 years of irresponsible corporate government?
How silly of me to forget that ADSK IS part of corporate government that aspires maximum profit over character. Exactly how much value do you put into those that made Autodesk what it is today...a design application powerhouse.
By the way, how many U.S. jobs could have been created had this website been managed here in the U.S.? This IS a U.S. company traded on U.S. land...isn't it? I'm sure ANY amount would be greatly appreciated to the qualified unemployed.
