Considering the user base I'd assume that there won't be much users moving to the subscription model. Eagle is a semi-professional EDA package and the users are hobbyists, makers and SMEs. With the subscription model most of them will simply turn around and leave. Making Eagle into a first class EDA doesn't work either because there's Altium and so on. Companies using those EDA packages won't suddenly move to Eagle. If Autodesk want's Eagle to be a viable product they have to stay with the current user base. This leads to two possible routes Autodesk can take, either return to non-subscription or drop Eagle (stop development and sales or sell the Eagle business further on). Either way Autotesk has created so much uncertainty that Eagle is badly damaged.
This is exactly one of the points. I think Altium can start thanking Autodesk already!
We are an SME, and if we will not continue working with EAGLE (which looks extremely likely) we will most probably be looking a notch up (Altium) and not a notch down (KiCad). We may even financially support KiCad through the CERN donation scheme to make that better. If we are spending money anyway, why not make the word a bit better!
Yes: SMEs have values other than money. I would even spend a tiny bit more if the whole world could benefit from it.
I don't think necessarily that folks will leave Eagle......I think for the time being they will just skip an upgrade and see what develops over the next year or so. The economy is weak around the globe anyways so the chance for SME's etc to defer any upgrade may be worth doing. EaglePcb V6 and V7 still work fine and can still tackle anything V8 can do.
Correct. We will defer the decision, but Autodesk has already put their scoring in a trade off on a negative number. The thing is, they are currently displaying behaviour that pisses off people. And that effect lasts. once you make the decision to leave, that is not easily undone.
I hate recurring software fees as much as anybody, but $65/mo beats $1700 upfront.
In my case, I don't use the autorouter, so it was $1145. At $65/month it would take 1.5 years to break even with the old price and after that free to use for as long as I care to. After 4-5 years, thousands of dollars in savings vs renting. The old Cadsoft would even discount your upgrade!
For SMEs with more licenses, its tenfold in price increase at best. I am looking at between 10x and 15x
I don't think anybody is against Autodesk making an honest buck. But I'm pretty sure a lot of people feel like they're now being (or will be) held hostage. IMHO, you're trying to turn an emotional issue into a logical one by discounting the emotion. I know, I know, engineers don't deal well with emotion.
I don't think this is an emotional issue at all. Sure, people are upset, but their fundamental concerns are based on logical reasons why this is a big step backwards for users.
It definitely appears that this change is designed to turn the de-facto standard hobbyist/small business tool (which includes a lot of personal investment form the user base) into a cash cow. Sure Autodesk apologists and salesman are claiming that they are going to turn Eagle into a world class package, but the fact is they are asking people to pay them today in the hope that they will deliver on a vague, someday-maybe promise (which presumably new users will be able to get for the same price as those who subsidize this development with a current subscription).
Further, the user base doesn't want a world class package. They bought into Eagle because they wanted an affordable package that was more useable than something like KiCad.
To be clear, I really don't care. I never have been nor will I ever be an Eagle user (KiCad for me, thanks). I'm just here because I think this is an interesting discussion.
It's also going to be interesting watching this develop. I'm not entirely convinced that Eagle is going to survive this given how thoroughly they've misunderstood the current user base (which is the best thing Eagle has going for it). On the other hand, they might. They certainly have their users by the balls. I wonder how many actually follow through and do the enormous amount of work to get off Eagle.
Companies are ran by people, not robots. So yes, there is some sentiment and emotion. Really simple. I also do not buy from that company that is running those annoying ads on TV. Even if I would need their product. I would settle for slightly less to avoid this annoying company.
Autodesk has so far alienated the ?majority? of their userbase. A bit more open communication could have saved them a lot of users. We may have considered Autodesk if they did not outright lie about their intentions and at least informed their existing userbase about their plans. God forbid, they might even do a survey to assess the needs!
Regarding the argument that programmers need a steady income: I understand this argument. it makes sense. However, great people make great software, and great software is bought by people. also if it has another licensing model.
I can not help but feel sorry for the poor programmers, who now have to code a tool for an angry user base, and maybe are even implementing stuff they are not proud of because some company hot shot wants them to. I can not speak for the CadSoft team, but at the end of the day, you want to be proud of your product.
If the customers cannot sustain your business, something is wrong.
Thank you to any CadSoft people. If you read this, thank you for all your work over the past 29 years!
And lastly:
I don't think we will make people understand the aversion for cloud based, network connected, subscription based, whizzbang, marketing crap software. That is not anyones fault. Its a difference in opinion or policy. Some people can not understand why people want A or B. if people want A, you can
try and convince them of B. but if at the end of the day they
want or require A, just serve them A or take your loss. Fine.
Edit: clarified that cloud based internet connected stuff may be a hard no based on policy, not opninion