Xara Designer Pro X9 Released

[DigitalJeweler]

Just to note, That's why I brought up Pixelogic (ZBrush). They have yet to charge for an upgrade since 1997 yet are growing their user base like mad. That wouldn't happen if they weren't making money.

Regardless, I'll be closely watching and studying if the new update is worth the scratch.

To previous contributors to this topic, I do appreciate your thoughtful responses.

[handrawn]

just to add version 7 came out around 25 May 2011....

so that's three years at least that's pretty consistent

[mwenz]

...If you really want to rag on value or lack of same, purchase QuarkXPress and then see what they charge for upgrades...

QXP is about $350 every 18 to 24 months. So about 50-60% more than Xara's 12 month cycle costs.

Serif PagePlus X7 upgrade I just purchased, $59, about a 16 month cycle. Other Serif titles, about the same release cycle, but less expensive to upgrade.

PhotoLine upgrades are about $35 every 12-16 months. But they are also a special case. They release not only bug fixes but product enhancements and new features during that period.

InDesign--up until the cloud--$120 every 18 months or so.

Illustrator--up until the cloud--$150 (iirc), again, every 18 months or so.

Add to that Acrobat, ArtRage, TwistedPixel, MS Office, etc., etc. Sometimes regardless of cash-flow, it is nice to be able to plan upgrade cycles and that can be difficult without knowledge of particular company's upgrade dates (but fully understand/agree why that isn't general knowledge).

Having just upgraded several titles in the past few months, money can get tight. 30 day windows--or however long Xara has the window open for the Intro Offer can make it especially tight. Specially if you had my doctor bills.

Mike

[handrawn]

version 6 released 16 june 2010
version 5 released 04 june 2009
version 4 pre-released 06 april 2008 and final relesase a month or two later

still looks consistent to me...

EDit - I see karateed has added these too, at the point of his registration - the actual release dates though, taken from this forum announcements are pretty consistent

[WilliamHere]

I'm surprised that people think that a 30 day upgrade policy is generous when it isn't.

I agree. A 30 day upgrade policy is too short. XDP is a good product, but to ask someone that just purchase the product 32 days ago to pay again, is not very fair.
I can see a 90 day (or even a 60 day upgrade policy), but 30 is too short.

[handrawn]

ok back to the thread topic

sorry, I'm not upgrading

I don't use the product for:
publishing web sites
large bitmap editing - that's a photoshop job with scratch disks an' all
DTP ...

so what's in it for me?:
64 bit version - well that can wait, maybe next time
a slider on the shape builder nib - useful, but...
and er....

so next time it is , 79 quid can be better spent this time round.....

[DigitalJeweler]

Thanks for the corrected update dates, that's why I said correct me if I'm wrong

[handrawn]

no problem - I find it best to use google search to find them - VBulletin search is useless a lot of the time

[Karateed]

Hey Handrawn,

That is exactly the response you should have to any software that you perceive to give you no additional value going forward.....you know you'll have another opportunity in about 1 year from now to change your mind if some of the upgrades meet your drawing needs.....I sincerely hope you get those much needed upgrades.....Xara?

[Big Frank]

personally i dont care about the cost or the upgrade cycle or upgrade window

I will soon be upgrading and supporting the hard working programmers of Xara. I want development to continue on the package and, though I don't draw, I hope they will upgrade the drawing portions of the program as well as there has proven to be a need as shown by the many posts of those that do.

well i have already upgraded for that very reason
i also want development to continue on the package
i do draw
I too hope they will upgrade the drawing portions of the program
there has proven to be a need as shown by the many posts of those that do draw
yet in two maybe three major updates sod all has been done to address that
that why im whining like a stuck pig
and i think as a drawing professional who has invested in the program since 1999 that im entitled to
and it strikes me that its the drawing professionals who are continually whining
because they love this program not because of its faults because it has few (now that's worth kudos)
but because of its glaring omissions in favour of hobbyist tools
i think xara/magix is pandering to a hoby / semi professional market and thats just a crying shame
but they know their market better than i do and commercial interest rules