How do you feel about the 365 Program?

[wfcentral]

I have not purchased 365 and do not plan on it. I think with version X11 I didn't see any really new features that I needed. So, going up to 365 didn't seem worth the expense. If I did use Xara for web design - maybe I would appreciate getting "two new swishes" or "three new transitions" - but, since I only use it for graphics... did not really need to upgrade. I have bought EVERY UPGRADE since version 2.0 - this is the first time I did not upgrade.

Two features that would make me think about upgrading and use Xara as a website tool

1. make dynamic content work better
2. give me a way to create Wordpress themes in Xara

[Jimi King]

I bet that any new features will be released in July, around about the time that the subscriptions that the faithful took out will be due for renewal.

[roly]

I bet that any new features will be released in July, around about the time that the subscriptions that the faithful took out will be due for renewal.

Hi Jimi, wasn't that last April 13, 2016?

Ciao

Roly

[Jimi King]

Blimey was it? Doesn't time fly.

[Peter Prewett]

I am also disappointment in the product and regret upgrading.
The catalogue system is a mess even Find has gone, they have made much more difficult and frustrating to use.
Much of what I want now in the catalogue can be found elsewhere.

[Albacore]

Is it just me that thinks this version is the best version that we've had or not. I find it stable, it never crashes now, still as easy to use and just as fast as it always has been. Could it be better? yes, sure tooting, must be the answer. Do I like the subscription model, probably not, although does it change much, no not really, I still have this version on my computer for as long as I want it.

Because it's called 365 do people want it to be updated once a week,,,,once a month,,,,once every 3 months,,,, twice a year? Look at Adobe's updates in Illustrator it happens about every 3 months and many users have to be told to update their programmes and even then some don't bother if my friends are anything to go by. They have the pleasure of shelling out £17/month not to update. Serif's Affinity makes a big thing out of being non subscription when selling their product but looking at their other products I bet you a pound to a penny they will try & sell you an upgrade every 18 months. What's the difference between Xara and Serif not much about 6 moths and about £90. Maybe it's the £90 bit that hurts the most is "365" £90 pounds better value than Affinity because it is a better product. To me nothing has changed much in the way that our programme works it just it was a sneaky way to introduce a price hike.

The way Gary introduced this topic was to invite everyone to discuss the way the subscription license was working and not really a "what would you like to see in the next version" but if you will let me here is my list:
Redesign of Galleries ---- Asset Management(local design gallery is not good enough) ---- Better Vector Brushes ---- Open Type Fonts ----- Refined typography Styles

[mwenz]

Is it just me that thinks this version is the best version that we've had or not...

Why do you believe it is the best version?

I think it is a good version. Best? I think the shape building and vector eraser where the last thing I would have considered best as regards actually drawing. I don't actually draw/sketch much, so I haven't really taking advantage of the brushes.

Because it's called 365 do people want it to be updated once a week,,,,once a month,,,,once every 3 months,,,, twice a year?

Xara made the announcement that the products would be update X times during a release cycle. While enhancements have been made in November, and some piddly content added, I don't think this was what people envisioned (but most who spoke up about the change "feared" would happen).

However, to me, the biggest issue will remain the reverting to as bought should a reinstall happen.

Serif's Affinity makes a big thing out of being non subscription when selling their product but looking at their other products I bet you a pound to a penny they will try & sell you an upgrade every 18 months. What's the difference between Xara and Serif not much about 6 moths and about £90...

Of course at each major version number Serif will charge for the upgrade. Did they say they wouldn't? All minor versions are free. So buy it at version 1.x, no more money until version 2.x. the 1st time cost is roughly $50 off of sale. So 16-18-24 months from now, another $29.

Xara products are released every 12 months or so. XDP is way over-priced at roughly $300 for an initial license purchase. A yearly upgrade is roughly $100. So do the math you really didn't do. How in the world is that even remotely equivalent to Serif's pricing?

While Affinity Designer has a ways to go yet in certain areas, at least when I tell it to use the Registration color it puts it on all plates. All of them. That was one of the first things I wrote to Xara about when I bought version 6. XDP has a Print on all plates feature--which does not work and never has.

AD supports complex OT Features--I know because there was one, that is the number one, OT Feature that wasn't working properly. It's slightly esoteric thing, but I contacted the developer in charge of the text functions, sent a test file and a font to demonstrate the problem, and two days later I received back a reply that the problem was in their code and the fix would be in the next beta. Sure enough it was.

I don't know if Xara will ever add OT Feature support. But do you think it will be as usable out of the gate? Do you think if there is such a problem that it would be rectified as quickly? Do you think Xara even cares? Who really knows because they are so damn paranoid about communication!