I'm not quite sure how to ask this without raising anyone's hackles, but it is an honest question and not a troll.

I am having a lot of difficulty swallowing the expiration of the software (when purchased via subscription) after one year. Specifically, it puts my A:M skills and projects at the mercy of Hash's continued operation.

I'm just a dabbler, so I was curious how those of a more professional outlook (or even the really serious hobbiests) are handling this? Perhaps I am missing something fundamental.

I suppose if you're a pro, $299 for a new CD each year isn't that big a deal. Perhaps that's the answer.

I'm not a Pro although I will admit that is my goal in the extreme long term (think the year 2020).
Until then I remain a very serious hobbyist and will stay that way for as long as I possibly can.
There are things you can do as a hobbyist that you simply can't while trying to make a living.

IF using A:M Professionally you are precisely at the mercy of Hash Inc's continued operation. Thats a good thing!
This is true with any company also. Although not a new thing with A:M I admit at face value the web subsciption can be more than a little disconcerting.

I've adjusted my course a little since the websubscription was first announced.
Originally I was going to purchase both websubscription and the CD at the beginning of each year.
After considering it for awhile I have decided to purchase two websubscriptions a few months apart followed up by a purchase of the CD in mid year. There are several reasons for doing this but I won't bore you with the details unless asked.

This is my insurance against Hash Inc's inevitable insolvency. <just kidding Martin!>

No company stays in business forever.
A:M is well worth the risk.

Thanks for the reply. At least it confirms that I haven't missed anything.

the web subscription makes it much easier for someone unfamiliar or uncertain about 3d to jump in with full-featured modeling and animation suite.

i'll never be a 'pro' or work for someone else, but i'll still only be happy with a bright shiny cd.

it's a good thing we have a choice, eh?

-jon

I use A:M commercially...at work full time and at home freelance. I don't really foresee much of a speedbump with the new policy...

On one hand... I figure Hash Inc. has suffered setbacks to their cashflow. We all know they are a 'different company with a unique approach' or however the press report reads. Traditionally, they relied on tradeshows such as Siggraph and were blessed with a remarkable frontman that amazed the crowds while the crew sold lots of boxes at a reduced show price. Today, Siggraph and other venues attendances are down and the 3D market has matured. Hash Inc has had to adjust their policy for their own reasons, after MANY years. Thats business---their business. The new price means a lower to price to most and a higher price to others, but the main objective as I see it is to breath new life into this software by an infusion of new users attracted by the $50 cost.

Of major interest will be the release of the 'Tin Woodman' movie, which will place Martin and Hash Inc. as Pioneers in the 'global studio' business, which will attract more 'buzz', and hopefully similar projects will follow. Martin has strived to keep A:M primarily a 'hobbyists' tool, and has been rubbed the wrong way by pushy professionals demanding support. My opinion is that any talented artist that applies themselves heartily to learning this 3D tool could be considered 'professional' in as little as 3-5 years... for example look at Stian's work...3 years and he is beyond pro...he's more of a photographer with A:M than a dabbler. And as Hash turns it's usergroup into moviemakers eventually the 'hobbyists' will be professionals. What then?

I'm not concerned unless they rewrite the basic spline code and overhaul the interface. I hope they sell a million version 15's...they deserve it!

It is no different now than before really. If you are concerned about Hash then buy the CD update which never expires. You will always have THAT version of AM no matter what happens. If you are really concerned get one version on CD and only use that one. Don't use any of the yearly upgrades. Then you can't possibly be "stuck".

Any software company can "stop supporting" an application. I was a Golive fan, now I have to switch to Dreamweaver (golive is more for "casual" web designers now than "professionals"). This is odd since Adobe created Golive which I always liked better than Dreamweaver. I had hoped (naively) that features from DW would end up in GL. All the datadriven support in GL is gone. I have to start from scratch with DW. Oh well.

I use to use Director. That was the "interactive standard". What happened to that application? Now Flash is the "new Director". Things change and we just adapt.

One thing to keep in mind. A:M was the FIRST desktop 3D application. It is still around after so many others appeared and disappeared over the years. I started using A:M years ago because the 3D software I was using kind of "vanished" or "morphed" or changed hands or whatever... I needed a new one. Hash and A:M existed long before I found it, and is still around years after that other application I used was sold and changed its name and how it worked and the company abandoned me as a customer (they lost my registration during the "transition", doubled the price and basically told me to get stuffed).

-vern

Again, thanks to all for the replies. I'm still figuring out where I stand with this.

Like others, I will only be happy with the CD, but the discontinuation of upgrade pricing stings quite a bit.

vern: golive was originally called "cyberstudio" and was created by a company called golive. adobe just shortened the name, then ran it into the ground.

flash was originally bought by macromedia as "futuresplash". i was afraid macromedia was going to crush it in favor of director, but they saw that flash was easier to author and more adaptable to the web, so they let it live. adobe recently gobbled them up in spite of their svg competing format, but flash is still too big to kill.

not too much stability in the world of software, is there?

-jon

I actually used Pagemill for a short time (Yuck!) And then I used the original Cyberstudio before Dreamweaver existed. I thought Adobe did a good job with it when they aquired it and I used it for years. I admit that Golive has fallen behind in the last few years as DW kicked its arse. I had to use both and I always preferred the GL interface.

But yes, that is my point. During all of those take overs and name changes of nearly every "major" program other than Adobe's and Quark, Hash's software was always there. It's quite amazing if you think about it.

-vern

*grins* Use a Lightweight-Editor... it is just more flexible
Homesite or anything equal will be okay

I am doing all my websitework by hand now, with all the php, mysql, html, javascript/ajax and css stuff around... it helps to know what you are doing, you will create better code and you will have all the possibilites available... get away from Dreamweaver or Golive... it is okay to code with it, but if you are using the design-mode, everyone who will have to edit it later will hate you

*Fuchur*