[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!

Does the Grades-Over-Learning Approach Contribute to Students Hating Mathematics?

Schoolessons Some time ago, I wrote about why I used to hate school . The big problem has to be that the education system cares more about grades than learning . A good grade is indeed a sign of good character. A good grade is only good if it is achieved without cheating. However, for a grade to be really good--I believe that it must spring out from learning . However, the education system has been so focused on grades over learning that students end up cheating as a result (read here ). It affects every subject since a faulty system is a faulty school of thought. I'm going to really point out that I hated school because of the grades over learning approach. It's always all about grade shaming and even the best teachers end up indirectly or inadvertently participating in it. I still remember two of my best strictest teachers. One was as stern as the late Miriam Defensor Santiago. Another was the reason why I never dropped out. This time, I'd like to focus again on mathemat...

Is Jollibee "Invading" South Korea Now as It's About to Acquire 70% of Shabu All Day?

I must confess that I find this new rather hilarious . It's because the word shabu is often associated with drugs. All the while, shabu shabu is a Korean delicacy! Well, I'm going to say that Jollibee Foods Corporation has now become a multinational buyer . Jollibee acquired 70% of Compost Coffee back in 2024 . This year, Jollibee as a multinational corporation is now acquiring Shabu All Day for PHP 5.1 billion pesos. Is Jollibee checkmating South Korea or is the Philippines conquering South Korea not just by OFWs but als through Jollibee? The answer is still no. From GMA News , we can read this article by Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas: Under the deal, Shabu All Day will be consolidated into Jollibee Foods Corp.’s (JFC) financial statements immediately upon completion of the acquisition for a total consideration equivalent to KRW127 billion. Completion of the transaction is subject to closing and financing conditions. The acquisition is expected to lead to a 2% jump in revenues, incre...

Are We Teaching Math in School... Wrong?

Schoolessons I could remember hating math while growing up. I actually and frequently had a vicious cycle that went like this--(1) I hate math, (2) I don't study math because I hate it, (3) I'd rather play video games or watch TV than study and practice math because I hate it, (4) I fail math exam because I didn't study, (5) it's always I hate math because I believe I'll never get it. In fact, I even felt like I wanted to quit school altogether and get into a fight with my parents because of math. It was a vicious cycle hard to break from, especially during our K+10 days. I remember being enrolled in Kumon classes for the summer when I was approaching Grade 6 (graduating year), I almost didn't graduate because of mathematics, and I had to have tutorials. I always felt math sucked, I'll never get good at it, and I'll never get better. I just kept thinking how "I hate math!" was my mantra and hating people who were better in the subject than I am...

The Tragic Windfall of the Late Flor Contemplacion's Family

PEH.ph Last year, I wrote an article talking about Flor Contemplacion crybabies spreading fake news for 30 years . I noticed that the movie could be watched for free on YouTube (which is one hour and 52 minutes long), and the one that you had to pay for via rent or personal soft copy ( which is two hours and two minutes long). I was looking into the film and realized the "for free" version lacks the exaggerated water dunking and electrocution torture scene, which I believe is available, which is a ten-minute difference. I remember seeing the old version where Flor was tortured by Singaporean police via water dunking and electrocution, to get an answer out of her. The famous line by the late Nora Aunor was, "I did not kill anybody!" It's 31 years, and I don't expect the fake news about Flor to stop just because it's past 30. No, fake news is that hard to kill even in the digital age. It reminds me of the fate of Flor's sons , where one of them, Sandr...

Why Being a Miser Isn't the Right Way to Do Business or to Live Life

Sometimes, people can confuse frugality with being a miser. I think about a couple of times when I watched Spongebob Squarepants back some time ago and getting irritated at Mr. Krabs. Unfortunately, there are some people who are so obsessed with money (or money comes first) that they end up becoming misers. As I was watching Spongebob while studying to get my bachelor's degree in business administration--I felt that the Krusty Krab model won't work well in real life. I mean, I tend to eat at Jollibee almost daily since I was studying in the University of San Carlos-Main Campus (USC-Main). As I was eating there--I thought would have Tony Tancaktiong build Jollibee as an empire if he was a miser? Mr. Krabs ran his Krusty Krab on a miserly mindset--just one cook and one cashier. Mr. Krabs would even artificially inflate prices just to get more money. In real life, Mr. Krabs should go to jail. Drawing the line between being thrifty and stingy It's often easy to confuse both of ...

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