The official launch is detailed here: https://www.talkgraphics.com/showthr...creative-tools
I will try and decode what has just passed.
- Xara is breaking off from Magix products and support for:
- (Magix) Designer Pro X (XDPX) ==> Xara Designer Pro+
- (Magix) Web Designer Premium ==> Xara Web Designer+
- (Magix) Photo & Graphic Designer ==> Xara Photo & Graphic Designer+
- All will now be accessed on a Subscription. Monthly cost but paid Annually. Currencies - USD/EUR/GBP with the same numeric value:
- 16.99/m - Xara Cloud+ - bundles in Xara Designer Pro+ with Xara Cloud Pro
- 14.99/m - Xara Designer Pro+
- 12.99/m - Xara Cloud Pro - Purely on-line. Expensive route for non-Windows users.
- 9.99/m - Xara Web Designer+
- 6.99/m - Xara Photo & Graphic Designer+
- 0.00/m - Xara Cloud - free sign up. Why? You can manipulate PDF content.
- Xara is offering an early starter discount of 40% with EARLYBIRD07
- This might be perpetual.
- I would first try the 50% LIFETIME discount; this is perpetual.
- All Magix products may no longer be updated.
- At best, Xara has deemed them "Legacy Products" with "Yearly Upgrade - Simple improvements & fixes".
- (Magix) Page & Layout Designer 11 is 32-bit and moribund.
- Xara 3D Maker is also 32-bit and unchanged for years.
- (Magix) Web Designer (not Premium) seems not to be on sale any more.
- I thnk https://www.magix.com/us/sale/ will be Magix's penultimate version. I may be wrong.
- Comparative Costs
- Xara will have costed the discount against the Magix Update Service redone annually so costs will be comparable (Xara doesn't have to pay Magix for Support or their sales cut).
- If you can afford it, buy into the Magix Update Service before switching into Xara+.
- You then have the latest Magix offering that is around 6 months behind but it is a perpetual licence.
- If you drop Xara+ for any reason, you lose product access as you are on subscription. The Magix product would be your fall-back.
I have been an early, early starter with Xara Cloud+. It has been a joy to not be Magix-nagged and the updates are there, without roll-back, until you stop subscribing.
Xara has realised not everyone needs its Cloud Suite (Xara Cloud Pro+ with Xara Designer Pro+) as the introduction of the cheaper Creative Tools is most useful, especially if you throw in the free Xara Cloud.
Xara Cloud (plain, Pro or +) does not (yet) have the capabilities of the desktop applications. This may never come, despite it being cited early on.
I on the lookout for the hyped:
- User-inspired roadmap & product delivery. TG has been trying in "inspire" for almost two decades. I suggest Xara could integrate Xara 3D Maker 7 or bundle for free.
- Xara ecosystem. At further cost?
- Access learning resources, webinars (tick), and documentation. The promised off-line PDF Help manual would be nice.
Acorn
Note: I have no association with Xara GmbH.
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