Everything Is a Subscription Now

Discussion in 'other software & services' started by guest, May 2, 2019.

  1. guest

    guest Guest

    Everything Is a Subscription Now
    Some people like owning less stuff. But can you rent stability?
    May 2, 2019

    https://www.theatlantic.com/health/...n-helped-turn-daily-life-subscription/588526/
     
  2. trott3r

    trott3r Registered Member

    Joined:
    Jan 21, 2010
    Posts:
    1,283
    Location:
    UK
    I avoid subscriptions generally.
    If i cant buy it I wait to i can.

    Software is the same if i cant buy a lifetime licence or version licence i dont buy,
    The only exception to that is AV with the work needed to keep definitions up to date accept the need for a sub.
     
  3. Joxx

    Joxx Registered Member

    Joined:
    Sep 5, 2012
    Posts:
    1,718
    You don't own what you don't buy. Subscription as a principle is a scam.
    And it raises other questions, political, but this is not the place.
     
  4. sdmod

    sdmod Shadow Defender Expert

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2010
    Posts:
    1,159
    I hate subscription rent lease stuff, particularly software. If I can't get a licence to permanently own it, I don't want it.
    I don't want anything 'in the cloud'. I don't like anyone trying to access my pc without explicit permission or software that phones home or which wants to accept calls in, behind my back. If there is a phone home element that is absolutely necessary in a software I like it to come with 'off' as the default with full and transparent reasoning as to why you should have it 'on' but only if that is of benefit to the user and not for clandestine purposes of the developer or 'partners'.
    I don't like software that includes a list of 'handy' umbilical links to Titter, Fakebook and other similar and I don't appreciate developers who think that this is a good idea.
     
  5. Brummelchen

    Brummelchen Registered Member

    Joined:
    Jan 3, 2009
    Posts:
    5,871
    subscriptions are a cash cow. i like to hold a valid license for a specific product and i keep activations for it.

    background for subscriptions is the more and more moving part to "cloud" computing - anything has to be cloud, clients get "thinner". some dont need a full featured desktop instead more a subnotebook or similar or a smartphone.
     
  6. guest

    guest Guest

    Subscription isn't a scam nor useless, it has its usefulness. What matters it is how it is proposed, if you can unsubscribe at any moment immediately, then it has its value.
    I won't pay full price an expensive software for a few times need.
     
  7. Infected

    Infected Registered Member

    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2015
    Posts:
    1,134
    When it comes to PC security, there is no need for a subscription. There are so many free security tools to keep your pc safe now days...
     
  8. Minimalist

    Minimalist Registered Member

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2014
    Posts:
    14,881
    Location:
    Slovenia, EU
    I'm willing to pay subscription for AV/AM solution and VPN service. For other purposes I can still find solutions which provide option of one time purchase or did so in past.
     
  9. guest

    guest Guest

    Consumers favor subscription apps over one-off purchases
    November 14, 2019
    https://betanews.com/2019/11/14/consumers-favor-subscription/
     
  10. xxJackxx

    xxJackxx Registered Member

    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2008
    Posts:
    8,625
    Location:
    USA
    Per comments above, subscriptions are not a scam, but I agree they are a cash cow. I do understand the incentive for businesses to do it. We all like a steady income. So do businesses. That said, on the customer end I do not care for the idea. Society is moving to a model where you are always paying for things you never own. I don't like the idea of working my entire life away to rent my existence. The only way to stop or even slow it would be to refuse to buy into it. Unfortunately this is not an option in many cases. So I guess I don't have a solution. Until someone does I guess we'll have to make peace with it.
     
  11. reasonablePrivacy

    reasonablePrivacy Registered Member

    Joined:
    Oct 7, 2017
    Posts:
    2,002
    Location:
    Member state of European Union
    Some companies ended selling lifetime licenses while other limited availability of them or made inconvenient to buy them. Under these circumstances it is not fair to conclude consumers favor subscriptions. They just may not have an option to not pay for subscriptions.
     
  12. Stefan Froberg

    Stefan Froberg Registered Member

    Joined:
    Jul 30, 2014
    Posts:
    747
    I started computing when you still owned your devices and software.
    So reflected to that background, the subscription model is alien to me
    when it comes to devices and software.
    Things like internet connection etc.. are different story of course...

    I don't need Office 365 subscription, Libreoffice works just fine. I don't need cloud.
    If I want to share some stuff with multiple devices, while on the road, I upload it into my own server
    and access from there.

    The only good thing of subscription model, from customer side, is lower cost.
    The disadvantage of subscription model is that you don't own anything and are vendor locked, meaning the initially low subscription cost can raise anytime, the TOS can change anytime.
    They can do anything they want with "your" stuff.
    The company offering service can go bankrupt, stop offering service or sold to another company.

    None of those disadvantages apply to software or device you already buyed and own.
     
  13. zapjb

    zapjb Registered Member

    Joined:
    Nov 15, 2005
    Posts:
    5,554
    Location:
    USA still the best. But barely.
    I only have 1 subscription. BitDefender TS 5yr/5 user $53. About 12 cents on the dollar. And BitDefender has verified it is a valid subscription. Bought from an BD authorized dealer on e b a y. YMMV.
     
  14. guest

    guest Guest

    Life online: Subscribe to everything, own nothing
    August 17, 2020
    https://www.engadget.com/subscription-lifestyle-192719694.html
     
  15. imdb

    imdb Registered Member

    Joined:
    Nov 2, 2011
    Posts:
    4,208
    yeah, life itself is a subscription for our generation. :doubt:
     
  16. guest

    guest Guest

    Nearly 80 percent of the top 225 apps in the Play Store are subscription-based
    October 15, 2020
    https://www.techspot.com/news/87132-consumers-us-spend-average-2078-month-app-subscriptions.html
     
  17. guest

    guest Guest

    53% of software companies will move to subscription models by 2023
    September 25, 2021
    https://venturebeat.com/2021/09/25/...ies-will-move-to-subscription-models-by-2023/
     
  18. Gaddster

    Gaddster Registered Member

    Joined:
    Dec 11, 2013
    Posts:
    140
    Location:
    UK
    Moving to renting software is a great money maker and most people will happily empty their wallets because they really believe the lie that you need to have the latest versions or else. Then throw in the scaremongering about evil virus creators lurking in the shadows, hiding under the bed, inside the closet and peeking through their letterboxes waiting for a chance to destroy their data etc.............Guaranteed income by playing on peoples fears.

    I want to install and use piece of software not to be held to ransom, so my money will go elsewhere and all you'll see is a massive increase of people modifying such software to remove such restrictions etc.
     
  19. xxJackxx

    xxJackxx Registered Member

    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2008
    Posts:
    8,625
    Location:
    USA
    Pretty much everything since the beginning of money. Unfortunately it works. :(
     
  20. digmor crusher

    digmor crusher Registered Member

    Joined:
    Jul 6, 2012
    Posts:
    1,157
    Location:
    Canada
    How else are software companies/developers supposed to make a living? Free and lifetime licenses are a recipe for bankruptcy. The only thing I don't like is when auto-renew is opt out instead of opt in.
     
  21. Gaddster

    Gaddster Registered Member

    Joined:
    Dec 11, 2013
    Posts:
    140
    Location:
    UK
    That is not my concern as I am a consumer and a company should either adapt to the market or fail............Going the ransomware route will annoy people.

    I hope the patching of ransomware software massively increases to remove the time limits imposed (or such software that requires that you're connected to the internet or the software doesn't even open like seriously that is completely immoral).........Such software is actually ransomware as they do hold the users to ransom in one way or another.
     
  22. Mrkvonic

    Mrkvonic Linux Systems Expert

    Joined:
    May 9, 2005
    Posts:
    10,215
    In general, subscriptions are better for companies, worse for the end user in terms of dollar/usage/year (choose your favorite currency). In some cases, this can be okay, but overall, I prefer standalone licenses, especially for things I know will outlast the expected life of hardware and/or go beyond the support dates (often arbitrary) that companies set for their products.

    Mrk
     
  23. Chuck57

    Chuck57 Registered Member

    Joined:
    Sep 2, 2002
    Posts:
    1,770
    Location:
    New Mexico, USA
    The day is coming, years into the future I hope, when MS begins running Windows as a subscription.
     
  24. Mrkvonic

    Mrkvonic Linux Systems Expert

    Joined:
    May 9, 2005
    Posts:
    10,215
    That day I will stop using Windows for anything serious other than the basic minimum, like maybe gaming on one specific, isolated machine. Or keep something old and not updated and VM Linux for anything that needs really up-to-date software.
    Mrk
     
  25. xxJackxx

    xxJackxx Registered Member

    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2008
    Posts:
    8,625
    Location:
    USA
    Agreed mostly, except for gaming I would use whatever the current version of PlayStation is. Unless Sony does something to make me stop using them as well.
     
  1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.