I'm subscribed to this forum, but for some reason haven't been getting messages. Looks like I have missed quite a bit.
Hi Jorge, Long time no speak. Yeah, I've been away a bit as well, but unlike you, I've been back to being in the middle of no-where.
For those who are still harping on subscription
As I have said, over and over and over again, subscription isn't the issue.
It is "implementation" that was the actual pain point. It is the implementation of that subscription system that has caused the pain, misery and general suffering. I "subscribe" to a bunch of software products (VMware, dbVisualiser, etc). They all have subscriptions models. The difference is that they didn't try to be arseholes about it, demanding this always on connection bullshit, nor do they decide to turn everything off at an arbitrary point in time.
No pay the dollars, no updates for you. I have absolutely *no* problems with that.
But to need to contact a license server to just use the software. I'm sorry ... that has knobs (with barbs) all over it (think of that scene in Little Nikita with the Devil, Hitler and the pineapple) even with that 14 (or is it now 30) days grace? Considering last time I was away in the middle of no-where, I was away from 3 months. How useful would that have been to me?
Subscription and implementation ... two different issues.
For those of you who feel that subscription is killing EAGLE, the numbers just don't reflect that. At this point in time EAGLE has more users than it did under Cadsoft, and this is largely due to the pace of development and all of the enhancements that have been made to EAGLE. You can say that is false, call me a liar, of course I have to say that, etc. That won't change the facts, we have more users now then we did before.
Simply saying "subscription is the reason" isn't tell the whole truth.
Lets play a simple what-if game. Lets assume that v7 was done wholly on subscription (and let's not pretend it was the braindead one the is in current use, but lets assume it was good implementation). How much would it have affected the numbers? I'm guessing ... probably not a whole lot. Maybe 15%.
What has changed most is the development .. *that* is probably what is driving the majority of your numbers.
Finally, off all the people in Autodesk, I have more time for your word than any of your employers management - hold your head high on that one (you have nothing to apologise for there).
However, If you find that it just isn't for you then I want you to be productive, I want you to use a tool that you are happy to use and make a living with. EAGLE can be that tool, it is for many users and I would want it to be the tool for everyone (it's what Autodesk is shooting for as well, for whatever that is worth) but I know you can't please everyone. This is especially true with EAGLE, with all the drastic changes that have happened.
When we finally bit the bullet and migrated, and it was neither a smooth nor a cheap process to change tool (anyone who says is it is, is completely and utterly full of shit). I'm still burning because I'm still using *both* tools (the new is .. well ... lacking in certain areas).
In future, don't treat your customers with contempt. If you do, you won't have them for very long. We shifted because you simply didn't leave us with a choice. Our work environment isn't going to change and the Autodesk subscription implementation is retarted to the point that it is unworkable in a disconnected environment (for example ... in the middle of no-where).
For Autodesk to improve it's profitability, it damn near sent me to the wall. Don't expect me to particularly happy or pleased about that. I still watch what happens with Eagle as I still use it (v7 premium for now), and I make *no* bones nor pull any punches in regard to my opinion of the subscription licensing implementation - it is complete and utter shit.
...actually there an advertising slogan for you:
Eagle 9 ... all new and improved. Better layout, cool features and still with a shit licensing system! GET IT NOW!!!
Yes I know, I'm being silly ....
On the more serious side though, this still does not even for one minute deal with the other elephant in the room and that is in regard to long term support (5+ years), something which I have responded to others about in other threads because we come across it *all* the time - especially when SaaS tools are used. That isn't just bad ... it's a form of evil that you simply cannot fathom until you have to deal with.
... put simply if anyone is using the current version of Eagle (8 and 9) with the current licensing system for anything needs to be supported well into the future... they are clinically insane.
Anyway ... enough of this. Good so see you back. Make sure you've donned the flame proof undies and have fun!