Trimble has ALWAYS been like AutoDesk. Not saying that is a good or bad thing just that have always been this way. Ask anyone that has dealt with them in the past. Our Trimble GPS finally died before the Covid crisis (it was running Windows CE). Not sure who we will go with for a new unit. Always good to have options.
One of the untold truths about SaaS is that if the software uses proprietary file formats, when you pause the subscription all your projects and files become inaccessible. They take all your work as hostage until you decide to pay (like that malwares that encrypt your HD).
Microsoft Office many years ago was obligated to support Open Document Format so the users could continue using their files if they decide to abandon the licenses.
Are there any plans from Sketchup to provide free conversion tools for the users that decided to not be part of the new license scheme?
It would be much to ask for the team to, at least, enable this feature in SKP Free Web version so we are able to move our projects elsewhere if we need?
Thank you.
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So, if the subscription is the only way to improve the software ( as they try to sell this nonsense) how was possible to develop to this day? How they was able to innovate and improve and have made millions and some even billions? And is there any evidence that this is actually true? What about Adobe - are their software move stable and innovative than before the subscription? What about Autodesk? And why now suddenly they decide to go ONLY subscription? Where is the choice? Why renting is better than owning? Iām from so called 3-thd world and we used to own the things and buy ONLY if we can afford the things! And we see now that in the time of crisis this is a lifesaver - I still have my house, my car, my stuff! For me this is a major flaw of the current system - it needs constant, increasing consumption to survive! O, itās just only 100 a year - get it NOW! Consume NOW! And this - only 50! Get it now! Donāt wait! Donāt think, donāt save - consume now! Donāt think for the future - letās consume all the resources now!
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Uh not really 100% true.
I can open almost ANY DWG with lots of different software and some are free.
I can ALSO open current SKP file with other software and some are free (Form Z Free can open SKP files for example)
Iām not saying that youāll always have 100% editing ability BUT you should be able to open them in some form or fashion.
What a irony - to rely on the FREE software to open SUBSCRIPTION ONLY files! What if all other go subscription only?
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I am happy for you that your plugin sales are good enough to notice a daily change!
We are watching all discussions, and one trend is to stay with what you have now, and rely on plugins for improvements. I donāt see a good reason for you to be affected. The dip may have been something else.
I can only talk about experience when communicating with my clients.
We didnāt hide the perpetual license purchase options and were very clear about the advantages and disadvantageous of both types of licensing. With that in mind, most new users preferred subscriptions.
Many older customers saw the writing on the wall, that SketchUp is moving to SaaS for the past 3-4 years now and were prepared for it.
Personally, I donāt like SaaS much either and have replaced all my Adobe software with alternatives like Affinity Photo, Designer, Publisher and Davici Resolve. Then again, I can see that I am also in this minority that would prefer perpetual licensing.
Now that 2 and 3 year subscription options are out, I would have hoped that perpetual license holders could get an extended sweet deal for migration on them too, like:
- 60% for 1 year subscription
- 50% for 2 year subscription
- 40% for 3 year subscription
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To paraphrase: one trend is that perpetual licence holders will not bend to your will and keep on working with the software they already own a licence to, with the help of the extensions (admittedly many are commercial) because the basic software couldnāt be bothered to develop tool suites, and wonāt be held hostage.
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Please direct me to where you can find AutoDesk Revits for $450/yr. ($1,850/yr when I go to the AutoDesk website)
Itās really disappointing. Just a suggestion, why not doing a favor for the people that they already have a perpetual licence by keeping the maintenance package? maybe applying the new concept for new users
Because itās a pain in the ass to maintain multiple licensing systems for a single product.
Isnāt this really the primary point? Owning resources outright and having financial freedom is being systematically removed as an option across the board. It only (currently) functions in favour of a limited few. However it is fundamentally flawed. One of the few options remaining is to disconnect from the system (in this case Trimble) and fend for oneself.
Good point. So not only will cut-off your access of use of the software BUT they will cut-off access to your own intellectual property. This could be a lawsuit waiting to happen.
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At this stage Iād really like them to do the perpetual licence holders a favor with the sunset of their product and change SU2020 so that we donāt even have to rely on contact with their servers ever for activation, plain and simple the way it used to be: email address, serial number and activation code.
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So SketchUp users are watching CRT TV? 
It took me about an hour but I tried to read EVERY single comment so far in this thread. Out of 160 comments, I cannot remember one that actually is in favour of this decision. Not many are surprised by the announcement as it has been on the horizon for a while. However many people (including me) have unequivocally stated that we prefer perpetual licenses and yet Trimble / SketchUp have simply continued their trajectory. This tells me that our voices are not heard.
Strike 1 - subscription pricing models creates slaves and does not create financial freedom.
Strike 2 - not listening to your customer base
Terribly disappointing!! A real revelation of the heart of this company.
@SketchUpTeam questions I have that Iām still unclear on and do not appear to be answered in the FAQ.
- What happens to all the online access tools if I continue use of my perpetual license and never purchase a subscription license? (perpetually - after all that is what I paid for when purchasing my license)
a) Can I still log into and use 3D warehouse?
b) Can I still log into and use the Extension Warehouse?
c) Can I still access my files in the Trimble Connect?
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Itās worth mentioning that since the news is that something has been removed, you logically either are against the change because you used that thing, or you are not affected because you did not use that thing. Regardless of wether the change is motivated or not, no user/customer has much reason to be thrilled about it.
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It has nothing to do with Software As A Service, the desktop version needs to be downloaded, but after that, it will only need to ping home once every 28 days upon startup.
When was this? The first CDās had an activation code written on them, but not attached to an e mail address, per se (Not everybody saw the need to have an email, back then)
The server started in version 4 or 5, I believe. It managed the activation through the internet
If your current M&S is not expired, you can contact Support to obtain an offline license. No internet needed. (Besides from receiving the e mail with license info)
You will loose an activation permanently, though, if a humpback swallows your machine, itās goneā¦
Since you use those web-services, you would have to have a Trimble ID. I take it that it is the Free plan. Everybody has a Free plan.
so:
- a) Yes
- b) yes
- c) yes
Even when you have taken advantage of the expanded possibilities (More projects, More users per project and infinite cloud storage) during Covid-19, it would just be reset to the free plan limits , the rest āread onlyā