The problem with any business like this, is trying to be all things to all people. It's very hard and while no one will ever like prices going up, its also about getting value for money. And I think users still get value for money, from any of the main 3 products. You get an incredible amount for the price of the package and even more so if you adopt a Suite.

This is very unfair and also somewhat judgemental about us simply not giving a toss, when in fact we do. Yes you are correct that some options are cheaper, but I believe its wrong to compare two different options and products and state that one is cheaper when they don't even offer the same levels of service.

I will admit that it was somewhat unfair, I'm a little bit work-up about this. However this phrase wasn't specifically directed at you. The lack of understanding can be seen on the mailing list and other places as well. I commend you specifically to take some time to get yourself "out here" (i.e. in threads like this), where other employees fail to do so. I think, however, that there is a fine line between "understanding" and "sympathizing" ("not giving a toss") and I said Autodesk employees lacked understanding, not necessarily "sympathy". Understand that I didn't want to offend you personally. I was just sort of "sticking it to the man". If I did offend you, sorry.

That's all folks...

Ok, thanks for your reply, don't convince me totally but can see your point of view.



Why stopping using it? Simply stop doing subscription, I think you will not be the only one. For many aspects XSI is just perfect as is and I see many artist doing extraordinary art with release 6.5 or 7

I think we need a bit of patience - it makes sense that once the gold level is matching the other apps there will be a silver level also to match the other apps. If this doesn't appear then by all means lets kick up a fuss, but right now its too early to know for sure.

Graham, I respect your effort to smooth out some of the waves this massive price increase creates, but your logic is skewed as well if you go down to the real meat - numbers.

I was a happy Foundation customer.
Foundation no longer exists.
Then I was an Essentials customer.
Essentials no longer exists.
At this moment I have a network license and gold support, both of which I don't need.

I would still be a happy Foundation customer.

So in your view I can't compare the old Foundation price to what I am able to get nowadays.
But these are the realities private users and freelancers deal with.

I personally am not using XSI only, far from it. I need to maintain a huge bundle of 3D-, Audio-and Video-Web- and whatnot-Software and -Hardware to be able to deal with all the different jobs I get. So in a way, I have way higher per-seat-costs than larger companies where the individuals are usually way more specialized or licenses can be shared or re-used for network rendering.

This is why your view - a very Autodeskish view - is simply irrelevant for me.
It is similar to my reseller who gave me a phonecall this morning and wanted to interest me in buying 3 years of subscription in advance for the old price. That's now the third time she tried to get me into this and it's not appreciated.

I will keep my current version, drop subscription and see if a future job will pay for another update or not.
Or I will learn to live with the alternatives like Blender, Lightwave etc.

I will even be a happier person without having to deal with Autodesks attitude towards it's customers

Cheers,

Thomas

You know, i've heard some big words here, but at the end of the day you buy and you pay something you need, i honestly bought Softimage because the price wasnt that steep like now, if i had to buy Softimage now i will never do it, its too high for my use and my purpose, it simply doesnt justify the cost considering the development on the department i need it is pretty stagnant since years now.

I would gladly pay the current price for Softimage if the tool and the subscription cost would be justified by a development oriented to what i need, there is also a thread about this here:
http://www.si-community.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=15&p=11751#p11751

So far its been only ICE and i dont need ICE, rising the package cost and subscription cost makes me stop and think a lot.
I kinda share your same feeling Thomas.

Max

I get what you are saying but I don't think my logic is that skewed. I don't believe you can compare Foundation to what you get now, why? Foundation was just a one off price, download only, no upgrades, no support. Comparing that to what was Essentials or anything else now doesn't work, imo. Sure the facts will be that X price is more than Y price, therefore X is more expensive, but you also have to look at what you actually get for the extra money.
But I know its not that simple and that even with the best will in the world, if some users don't have the budget to upgrade/purchase, then that's fair enough. I can't blame them for that.

Many people mourned the passing of Foundation but personally I never thought it was sustainable.

You need a small car, but there is only a huge truck with all the bells and whistles you can imagine.
Doesn't help you a bit if you get it "cheap".

In my opinion, Foundation and 3Democracy worked just fine.
A lot of freelancers would never have tried out XSI otherwise.
Now you start to loose that "foundation" in the masses again.
Might work for you in the long run, might not.

"Sustainable" depends mostly on the situation you're in... ;-)

Cheers,

Thomas

Foundation didn't work financially, it was what we call a 'loss leader" The margin was so razor-thin, the Linux version had to be more expensive to pay for the MainWin license without going into the red. The development of Softimage has always been paid by the corporate support contracts since the early years of the company, it was the large majority of the revenue.
btw I am as baffled as you are by this EU price hike, I don't know the reasoning behind it.