Updates to PDSU 2017 to the 2018 version - future.

[Anonymous]

How will future clients of Autodesk in possession of the perpetual licence of Product Design Suite Ultimate 2017 (PDSU)?

Autodesk introduced new programme packages known as "product design collections":
http://www.autodesk.com/collections/product-design/included-software

However they do not include several programmes from the packages of PDSU 2017 (for example Alias, Showcase).

What will clients with the PDSU package receive from Autodesk when they update the 2017 version to the 2018 version?

If they receive the new packages from the Product Design Collection they will lose a few programmes that they paid for.

Every year something is removed. A few years ago (perhaps in 2015) Autodesk wanted to eliminate such programmes as Alias, Showcase, SketchBook and Mudbox.

With the outpouring of negative feedback they kept the programmes but in the cases of SketchBook and Mudbox they were left without the possibility of updates. In essence they were made redundant.

In future updates they did not appear. Now, from what I see, it may happen with other programmes.

I want to add that the presence of some of the programmes in the packages was the deciding factor in introducing Autodesk into companies.

Unfortunately these programmes are used in companies.

So then how will the PDSU 2017 updates look in the new versions? What will the clients receive? Will there be more programmes cut?

Maybe they will also cut the price?

Artur

[Mark.Lancaster]

@Anonymous

If you have any Autodesk suite products on an active maintenance subscription when the 2018 version rolls out you will continue to have that suite.  However there's no indication at this time if Autodesk will provide a single download for those suites or make it like the collection is and you choose what application to download.  In addition we would not know any pricing change or adding/removing of any application until such time.

But if you need new licenses then you either choose the collection or indiviual products.

Hope that helps...

[mcgyvr]

As far as I know Autodesk basically as the right to remove programs as they see fit..

and yes this may leave you not being able to get a new version of a program you have already been using in your company..

They aren't out to make customers angry or move on to different software but that sometimes happens and they are willing to accept that.

Look at Inventor Publisher.. Its GONE and a 100% replacement is not available at all.. They seemed to fail to adequately contact their customer base and made some users quite upset by that.. They "tried" to state that the new 2017 Inventor Presentation environment is a suitable replacement but for some customers its not at all. Its lacking some of the frequently used functionality that some users really loved in Publisher.. But life goes on.. 

Here is their statement on the obsolescence of perpetual licenses..

http://www.autodesk.com/products/perpetual-licenses

[Anonymous]

I refresh topic.
Recently a new version of PDSU 2018 has appeared.
What do we get with the new version?
Will it include Alias, schowcase?

[mcgyvr]

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@Anonymous wrote:

I refresh topic.
Recently a new version of PDSU 2018 has appeared.
What do we get with the new version?
Will it include Alias, schowcase?

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@Anonymous Any reason you don't just download it and find out yourself?

I am right now.. So I'll let you know.

[mcgyvr]

Old versions Alias (2017) and Showcase (2015) are still available to be used but there is no 2018 versions of those programs installed in PDSU 2018..

[Mark.Lancaster]

@Anonymous

If you still have an active subscription or maintenance plan you should've received an email indicated Alias is no longer part of the 2018 Suite and Showcase is being retired as of March 21 2017.

[mcgyvr]

Slow and double posting today... yawn

[mcgyvr]

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@Mark.Lancaster wrote:

@Anonymous

If you still have an active subscription or maintenance plan you should've received an email indicated Alias is no longer part of the 2018 Suite and Showcase is being retired as of March 21 2017.

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I certainly did not.. Wouldn't be the first time either..And all I have access to in my manage account is Showcase 2015... 

Not that I really care as I don't use either.. 

and dang these forums are SLOW today for me.. 

[Anonymous]

I think that autodesk again removes something that was bought.
For example:
If I bought a package containing Alias, it means I want to have Alias.
Maybe with the next update the PDSU package will only contain AutoCad? 🙂

[markus]

I am furious right now for learning that Alias Design 2018 is not included in PDSU. The difference between Ultimate and the lower tier was that ALIAS was included. Now you have removed that you have essentially downgraded the suite to whatever was the lower tier! How is this legal? Can we get a refund on the maintenance cost and the price difference between the lower tier upfront cost? We are basically paying you to get downgraded!! What will you remove next year? 3dsmax maybe, or Inventor??

Mudbox was also included in the suite up until 2014, but now I can no longer install and activate it because that version is more than 3 versions old and as far as I know you can not activate previous versions older than 3 versions back! I guess the same will be true for Alias 2017 in a few years, and if we cancel maintenance, what will happen to previous versions like Alias 2017? Will we only be able to use PDSU 2018 without Alias??? Alias was the only reason for paying extra for "Ultimate" so this is totally unreasonable!!

[Mark.Lancaster]

@markus

I understand your frustration but we the users didn't remove or change the suite.  This is not Autodesk, this is mainly a peer to peer network and we have no control over what Autodesk does.  You have to understand the focus is now on Collection, term based subscription and there's no attention on suites anymore because they don't exist as of Aug of last year.  If you drop your active maintenance plan than yes you are only entitled to the 2018 level.  I would also assume there's no refund and etc.  If you have a reseller have you spoken to them about your concerns.  In the end there's nothing that the users can do about.   Perhaps your message here is to blow off steam/frustration but the users have no say.. 

[markus]

I thought people from Autodesk where part of managing and monitoring these forums!? At least Autodesk representatives have answered questions regarding policy etc before, especially regarding the phasing out of maintenance subscription that has upset a lot of users. I still think it is worth posting here, since this is a public forum, and the public deserves to know what to expect from Autodesk!

If Autodesk wants to they can not only increase the price of maintenance like they have announced, but they can just "remove" all the products from the suite, one by one. It is not like Alias has been replaced by anything new and better in the suite either. So we keep paying for upgrades (maintenance) but we are receiving less and less software for each year. Essentially everyone who keeps paying for suites maintenance will, in the end, have a worthless product!

2015 was the last year for Autodesk Showcase. My understanding was that the product was discontinued and is sort of replaced by Autodesk VRED, but VRED is not included in the suite either, so it's not like they gave us anything new and better.

It is really frustrating to be an Autodesk Customer these days!

[Anonymous]

Today I received official information from Autodesk:
- Alias and Showcase have been removed from the package Ultimate.

Autodesk constantly removes something.
Maybe next year will be removed 3dsmax, AutoCad? Maybe Inventor ? 🙂
Unfortunately, but my company is considering changing the software provider.

The current Autodesk policy is unacceptable.

[samantos]

Hi there everyone,

Thanks for your comments on this topic.  We hear you and really appreciate the feedback, ideas and concerns that you’re raising.

We’re always looking for ways to make the industry collections better while providing more value. One particular area we’re looking at is helping you extend the use of your Inventor data and providing more tightly integrated workflows for Inventor, AutoCAD, and other products in our portfolio.

Please continue giving us your ideas on the types of solutions you’d like to see in the Product Design Collection subscription offering in the future. I can’t promise we’ll cover everything, but I can promise that we will listen closely, consider all ideas and respond - here in the forum and in other ways.  Thanks!

Best regards,

Sam Antos

Autodesk

[davef]

To Sam Antos and Autodesk,

Your tone deaf response to the concerns mentioned in this thread is unacceptable. If you were truly concerned and truly valued your customers (vs viewing them as necessary evils that are to be squeezed for dollars) then Autodesk wouldn't have removed the products that its PDS customers paid for without adding adequate replacements.

I too am seriously considering moving away from my adesk products for the above reasons.(Dropping Showcase was last straw for me.)

Walk the walk if you value the customers that keep you in biz. All I'm seeing is a lot of BS and disingenuous lip service.

"Promise that you'll listen closely"... Really? Post back some evidence of that Sam Antos. I suggest that you buy all PDS subscription holders licenses of Keyshot 7.

[Anonymous]

I understand that the product has ceased to be developed. This may cause removal from the package PDSU. But the customer should receive an alternative product. For example Schowcase - Vred.

I do not understand the decision to remove a program that is constantly being developed.
Alias Design was removed from PDSU 2018 despite the appearance of the new Alias Design 2018.

Autodesk behavior can be compared with a simple example:
I bought a car that has air conditioning in the package.
After a year I went to the required technical review. And what turned out - the air conditioning was removed 🙂
Is it fair?

[Anonymous]

"You have to understand the focus is now on Collection..."

Ain't that the truth.