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Ask HN: Anyone tired of everything being a subscription now?

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Re: Ask HN: Anyone tired of everything being a subscription now?

#261

Post by NoPicklez »

ravenstine wrote: post #96

Yes, and the only practical answer is to consider how many of these subscriptions you actually need. For instance, I see no reason why a password manager should be a SaaS. I don't care how long these companies have been around thusfar; in my opinion, using a password manager as-a-service is asking for trouble and is a waste of money. The closer you approach "perfect" security, the more of your personal security you e…

I disagree with the password manager as an example. If you don't like the SaaS products offered by some password manufacturers, then don't use them? There are many other non SaaS options.

A large chunk of the world lives in the cloud, whether its Azure or AWS, there is an enormous amount of infrastructure that is sitting in the cloud as a service.

For many a SaaS password manager is better security for them than what they're doing now by remembering all of their simple passwords. Many people don't know how to use Yubikey's and the sort.

Re: Ask HN: Anyone tired of everything being a subscription now?

#262

Post by Gigachad »

amarant wrote: post #259

I don't think subscriptions per se is that much of a problem, but for certain products I feel like there needs to be some kind of regulation mandating companies to enable some kind of self-hosted solution on the event they take their cloud down for whatever reason (including bankruptcy). If the product requires online servers, and the company is not willing/able to keep those servers online, anyone who has paid for t…

This isn't true for most things you "subscribe" to. If the gym closes down, they aren't required to provide a new location near you. If your office building gets demolished, there is no recourse. You just have to deal with it and sort out your own alternative.

Re: Ask HN: Anyone tired of everything being a subscription now?

#263

Post by flandish »

Kuinox wrote: post #84
crazygringo wrote: post #40

Not really, because I saw too many software companies go out of business because not enough people wound up upgrading to the next major version -- the ownership model of software can be awfully feast-or-famine for developers' income, it's a very tough/risky business model. Generally speaking, I'm happy to pay a subscription because this way I get a steady stream of all the updates, and it's much more likely the compa…

Except as a user, the next version had to be better, or I wouldn't pay for it. Now they can just downgrade my product, and I have to continue paying for it.

Like what happened with Stronglifts 5x5.. yep.

Re: Ask HN: Anyone tired of everything being a subscription now?

#264

Post by Gigachad »

solardev wrote: post #47

I actually prefer the subscription model for my software, if the monthly price is reasonable. It gives me faith that they can actually sustain their business and pay their employees to maintain and improve the service over time. I hate the other model, where with Windows and Office you end up getting useless forced upgrades and terrible makeovers because they need that upgrade revenue every few years. Or the ad drive…

Agreed, the problem I face is that the pricing is hard to make fair. As a casual user I might use a particular tool very infrequently but some users are using it commercially and getting massive value out of it. It's hard to get the pricing right so both users are paying a fair amount for the value they get. This is the same problem as "buy once" software though, $2,000 is too much for the home user while it's pennies to the corporate user.

Re: Ask HN: Anyone tired of everything being a subscription now?

#266

Post by hermitcrab »

lamontcg wrote: post #174
crazygringo wrote: post #40

Not really, because I saw too many software companies go out of business because not enough people wound up upgrading to the next major version -- the ownership model of software can be awfully feast-or-famine for developers' income, it's a very tough/risky business model. Generally speaking, I'm happy to pay a subscription because this way I get a steady stream of all the updates, and it's much more likely the compa…

Yeah the problem with software these days is the constant upgrade cycle. Own-it-for-life means "I expect free updates for the next 20 years" which as we've seen with the mIRC author isn't the best business model. Turns the software developer into indentured servitude to all the people who bought it in the past. The JetBrains model where you own it up need to rent it to get upgrades seems to work reasonably well, but…

Offering free upgrades for life is almost always a terrible idea: https://successfulsoftware.net/2008/09/08/should-i-give-free...

And offering upgrades for life and then trying to backtrack on it is even worse.

Re: Ask HN: Anyone tired of everything being a subscription now?

#268

Post by anothernewdude »

It's really great, because it means that avoiding spending is really easy, and has been a massive improvement to my budget.

Cancelled Hello Fresh, so I'm doing to just Netflix (which is on thin ice, but I have a kid.)

"Oh, look I want this, oh wait, it's a subscription service and you'd have to fill out a 2 page form. Fuck that then."

Re: Ask HN: Anyone tired of everything being a subscription now?

#269

Post by falcolas »

solardev wrote: post #126
thot_experiment wrote: post #107

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What the heck subscription models are you using? In my experience the software gets broken over time and you can't do anything about it, including RUN THE OLD VERSION WHICH WORKED. There's no longer as much incentive for companies to improve because they'll get paid anyway instead of payment being contingent on actually delivering something useful. Yes subscription models are good for developers, no this doesn't make…

Not the OP, but I have to disagree too. Creative Cloud, IntelliJ, Figma, Google Workspace, Postman, Spotify, Vercel, Adguard, Google storage space, Alltrails, 1password.. They're all subscriptions and getting better all the time. Meanwhile it's the old purchased software like Windows and Office that get worse with every version.

1password - the non-SAAS version - works a charm on my phone. I haven't needed an update. And aside from compiling for newer phone versions, I haven't noticed an update.

Except on the desktop which was updated to be crippled (can't edit items) and it advertises for the SAAS version with every other click. Which, fuck them. Their move to SAAS has done nothing but corrupt what was a good software company.

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