My thoughts on the Xara Web Designer 365 subscription service
Like many others, I was apprehensive and somewhat confused about the new Xara 365 subscription service, as I am vehemently opposed to any subscription-based software. While I am not an expert on XWD by any means, I hope I can clear up any confusion regarding the current subscription service as I see it. Feel free to correct me if I am misunderstanding anything.
First of all, I despise any subscription model that completely disables or removes the software, or any part thereof, if you stop paying (e.g. Adobe CC). I feel this is an extortion tactic that condemns longtime and loyal users to perpetual software slavery.
However, I do not believe this is what XWD 365 is proposing.
The way I understand it, when you purchase the latest version of XWD 365, you are getting new or upgraded features released up to that point. Then, over the course of a year, you will receive new updates as they become available. Here is where I believe the confusion lies. Until you renew your subscription you have NOT actually paid for any of the new updates or features, as one might think. While the updates are initially provided at no charge, they are not really "free", or included as part of the original purchase. Xara is providing them in advance of a yearly update. The benefit is that you no longer have to wait for new updates. If you find the updates useful, then you will have the opportunity to pay for them when your subscription is up for renewal, just like when you purchased the yearly upgrades. If you don't care for any of the new updates, then you won't be missing anything if you choose not to renew your subscription. However, unlike Adobe CC, you will still be able to use the 365 upgraded version of your software, including all the bugs fixes and any new or improved features that were included at the time of your purchase the year before.
Plus, as a subscriber, you can try the new features without having to buy the update first, or using a trial version, as was previously the case.
Also, a lot of users are concerned about what will happen if their hard drive crashes, or they change computers, etc. Xara has made it clear that in any of these scenarios, you will always be able to use the 365 upgrade version that you purchased (complete with bug fixes), regardless of whether you renew your subscription. Again, what you will not be able to use if you do not renew your subscription, are the features that Xara provided AFTER you purchased your version of the 365 upgrade. So you are not losing anything you have paid for. Remember, the new updates wouldn't have even been available until the next yearly update, which you would have had to pay for anyway.
Of course, any template, widget or web packs that have been paid for, or provided as a bonus with a purchase of XWD, should be accessible in perpetuity, whether or not you continue your subscription. If not, then that is a major problem that Xara should change.
As far as losing access to the Online Content Catalog or M Hosting, since I am unfamiliar with either of those, I cannot comment on that. But if their use was free and unrestricted in previous versions of XWD, then it should continue that way, regardless of whether or not you continue your subscription. If that is not the case, then it is definitely something Xara should address.
Again, I believe the biggest misconception about the Xara 365 subscription service is that users feel they have already paid for future updates, when in reality Xara is merely providing them in advance of what were previously yearly updates.
I honestly think this 365 subscription may be a good thing for both sides, as long as Xara does not abuse it by disabling things that have been paid for by the user, release few or insignificant updates within the course of a year, or raise the subscription rate well above the traditional pricing structure of the previous yearly upgrades.
- John
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by gwpriester
Bookmarks