[OPINION] Adobe's Gone Too Far with Its Ridiculous Monthly Subscription-Only Applications

Back then, I remember borrowing an installer and installing Adobe Photoshop. That was when I had Windows XP and then Windows 7. Now, I'm into Windows 11 after some time. I would like to share my recent experience with Photoshop. Yes, I soon found out that Photoshop can't be used by normal means. I can understand if there's personalization with Windows and Microsoft Office. I'm willing to pay a huge sum for Windows 11 and Microsoft Office. However, I find the subscription for Adobe Photoshop downright ridiculous. I could be willing to pay a huge sum for an online installer. However, if I had to pay every month then what gives?

Back then, Photoshop was used even by non-professionals. However, Photoshop now has a professional fee every month. It's almost like it's meant to throw a dirty finger at non-professionals like myself. Gone are the days when I learned to use Photoshop during my Associate in Computer Science days. I used Photoshop in its lower forms during the Practicum. Now, the pleasure is gone and it's plain ridiculous. I would certainly be willing to pay PHP 7,000+ for Windows 11 and PHP 5,000+ for the latest Microsoft Office. However, if I had to pay PHP 1,000+ (or higher) per month just to use Photoshop (instead of buying it outright) then that model is downright ridiculous.

Photoshop should've had two options--a package for non-professionals and professional use. It's understandable if there are frequent updates. However, not everyone would be using intense graphics design and the like. I feel Adobe could've created two models. One Photoshop would be a one-time purchase (and the user is free to buy additional features if they want) and the other is for the subscription model. The subscription model is ridiculous for anyone using Photoshop for non-professional use. It could be the student who's making a banner for their practicum booth! I'd be willing to pay for an Adobe program worth 4,000+-5,000+ instead of a ridiculous 10,000+ (or higher) yearly subscription!

If this goes on, I don't know what can happen. I find this to be more focused on profits than customers. I feel that this could backfire any time soon. As I mentioned, there should be an option for customers. Customers can buy the product outright and buy additional components. Meanwhile, professionals who are willing to pay for features meant for them only can go for the subscription model. Instead, Adobe may have ignored that not everyone who buys graphic design software, belongs to the professional group.

It would also trigger the law of substitutes. People would soon find alternatives to Photoshop such as Affinity Photo. I bought an Affinity license. With Affinity, I don't need a subscription after buying it outright! Some people are willing to pay a high price for original software. However, not everyone is willing to go for that ridiculous subscription fee. I'd rather buy a product on a one-transaction setting (and buy the extra features later) than be on subscription--unless I'm a professional graphic artist!

Venezuela as a Cautionary Tale on #SahodItaasPresyoIbaba, Nationalistic Pride, Welfare State Economics

The Sunday Guardian Years ago, I wrote about Venezuela's pride and protectionism , under a more "formal" style of writing compared to my latest posts. I decided to use an even "less formal" and "less academic" tone since I'm not writing a term paper. Instead, it's like how a professor and a student discuss the thesis using first person over third person, using contractions, etc., while the thesis doesn't use such tones. Back on track, I thought about the arrest of Venezuelan President Maduro can spark debate. Was it a violation of sovereignty? I'm no expert on international law. However, Venezuelans can be seen celebrating Maduro's arrest. Right now, I'm using Gemini AI and Google search to help me find some sources for this blog. It's because I don't want my blog to become another gossip central, but a place to discuss facts with my own personal opinions (making sure they don't derail the facts). I used Venezuela ...

Venezuela's Pride and Protectionism

The Telegraph Venezuela is an oil-rich country yet it's a very poor country. Somebody could go ahead and give every unthinkable reason such as "foreign investments caused it" (a blatant lie) and "It's because America had economic sanctions in Venezuela". Yet, the answer can be found in several causes such as corruption. Yet, China and Vietnam, which can be seen to still have a good amount of corruption, are far more successful. The answer also lies in one policy--economic protectionism . The very idea that a country that first world countries used "protectionism" to succeed is a lie as proven by Venezuela's ongoing crisis. A common-sense examination of one root cause of Venezuela's continuing crisis Forbes magazine mentions this in "What Do Investors Need To Understand About Venezuela's Economic Crisis?" by Nathaniel Parish Flannery on December 21, 2016: Venezuela is far and away the worst-managed economy in the Americas . Ad...

Davide vs. Mahathir: Which Lolo Should Filipinos Take Economic Advice From?

The real issue isn't that something is old or new. Instead, if something old or new still works, or doesn't work! Many modern laws are built on some ancient principles, while adjusting to the current times! The Constitution of Japan is actually older than the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines. However, it's more effective for the reasons that (1) their constitution is silent when it comes to regulating economic activities (ex., protectionist measures), and (2) it's a parliamentary system. Honestly, it's a pretty straightforward constitution compared to ours! As Mahatir Mohamad turned 100 today, I would like to raise up Atty. Hilario G. Davide Jr. once again. The problem isn't Davide's age but his unwillingness to embrace change when needed (read here ). This time, it's time to bring up a contrast between wise old people and unwise old people. A young person can be right where the old person is wrong. A young person can be wiser because he or she lea...

From Lying About the Marcos Years Parliamentary System to Marcos Years Economic Liberalization?

Manuel L. Quezon III"s Twitter Account The first issue I've had is people saying on social media, "No to the parliamentary system because the first Marcos Administration was parliamentary!" It's really something because such people never bothered to do any further research. Please, knowledge isn't that expensive! Benigno Simeon "Ninoy" A. Aquino Jr. even stated, "We had a parliamentary form of government without a parliament." Later on, even Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr.'s own words showed that the Philippines was still presidential . Why would people still insist that it was a parliamentary form of government? Even more, I'm not surprised that some people are saying on Facebook, "Economic charter change is all about term extension." Even worse, it can be from the Philippine mass media. Sadly, the late Lee Kuan Yew was right to fall the Philippine press rambunctious in his book From Third World to First . I can refer the book t...

How Many MORE Unmitigated Typhoon Disasters Before Filipinos Realize That the Filipino First Policy is FAILING Them?!

GMA Network I remember surviving through Typhoon Odette last 2022. Tino happened on November 6, 2025, which also reminds me that Yolanda's anniversary came two days later . Yolanda was even worse than Odette! Thankfully, Cebu City's impact wasn't as bad, and power didn't take too long to return, unlike Yolanda. However, seeing news reports such as an investigation done against Slater Young's project in Monterazzas de Cebu should highlight a bigger problem. Looking at the photos of floods on Facebook makes me think, "How many more unmitigated typhoon disasters until Filipinos realize that the Filipino First Policy is failing them and that the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines badly needs updates?" For die-hard defenders like Atty. Hilario G. Davide Jr. (who will turn 90 this December 20) or Atty. Christian Monsod (who's 89 this year), they're prone to saying that it's just a matter of implementation . However, whether we want to admit it...

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