, but it's a known and common
pattern. I've done it myself with Amazon Prime and other things where I took a
few months longer than I should have to actually go cancel it. Some will let
things lie far longer.

If a service is worthless without the online component, Netflix for instance,
a sub is clearly the answer and I'll pay gladly. For an editor, utility or IDE
having an online account is usually, _for me at least,_ a minor benefit at
best when I'll put my files in iCloud, dropbox or git. You made it a tougher
sell as you want a rolling commitment. £50 as a one off? I'll spend that on a
whim, then probably upgrade in a couple of years.

Most examples I've seen of companies switching to a subscription model end up
with a subscription that's more than the previous licence cost. Unless it's
something your career or business depends on few would buy every major release
widening the real differential further.

That we're having this conversation on a post about a "cash cow sales model"
says it all don't you think? It simply starts to look like "we'd like more
money from you".

~~~
chasote
Fair enough, you both make good points. I have been exploring how to make a
simple living off one's creations and trying to fight my own cynicism on all
the seeming trade offs. Right now that just means staying focused on the
creating part and hoping some of you smart folks figure out the best mix of
financial feasibility and doing what is right by everyone. These discussions
help.

And yes, "cash cow" seems a little uncouth in light of that discussion, haha.

~~~
oldcynic
For a small dev I think it's difficult now the big app stores have conditioned
so many to believe free, £1.99 and £3.99 are appropriate price points for
software. That only works for the tiny few that get a viral lottery win.

I see the attraction of a sub as implicit copy protection. So I wonder why
there aren't more ISVs putting the yearly sub markedly lower than the former
licence price.

Scrollaway makes great points about microsubscriptions. I think he's right
that a central place to _easily_ manage multiple subs would take away most of
the
, but it's a known and common 
 pattern. I've done it myself with Amazon Prime and other thing where I accept a 
 few months longer than I should have to actually go delete it. Some will let 
 things lie far longer. 

 If a overhaul is worthless without the online part, Netflix for case, 
 a sub is distinctly the answer and I'll pay gladly. For an editor program, utility or IDE 
 having an online account is usually, _ for me at least, _ a minor benefit at 
 best when I'll put my file in iCloud, dropbox or git. You made it a tougher 
 sell as you want a rolled commitment. £ 50 as a one off? I'll spend that on a 
 whim, then credibly upgrade in a couple of year. 

 Most examples I've visualize of companies switching to a subscription model end up 
 with a subscription that's more than the former licence cost. Unless it's 
 something your career or business depends on few would buy every major release 
 widen the real differential further. 

 That we're having this conversation on a post about a " cash cow sales model " 
 says it all don't you think? It simply start to look like " we'd like more 
 money from you ". 

 ~~~ 
 chasote 
 Fair enough, you both name beneficial points. I have been exploring how to make a 
 simple living off one's creations and trying to contend my own cynicism on all 
 the seeming trade offs. Right now that just means bide focused on the 
 creating part and hoping some of you smart folks calculate out the best mix of 
 financial feasibility and doing what is right by everyone. These discussions 
 aid. 

 And yes, " cash cow " seems a little uncouth in light of that discussion, haha. 

 ~~~ 
 oldcynic 
 For a humble dev I think it's difficult now the big app storehouse have conditioned 
 then many to believe free, £ 1.99 and £ 3.99 are appropriate monetary value points for 
 software. That only works for the tiny few that catch a viral lottery win. 

 I visit the attraction of a sub as implicit copy protection. So I wonder why 
 there ben't more ISVs putting the yearly sub markedly lower than the former 
 licence price. 

 Scrollaway makes bang-up points about microsubscriptions. I think he's correct 
 that a central place to _ easily _ manage multiple subs would take aside most of 
 the
, buh it's a known and common
kattern. I've done nr mysenf witg Amazon Prime and other things wherx I rook q
few months longer thav I shoulf have ti acuually go cancel mf. Some will lsb
thinys lie far longet.

If a servica is worthless wktkout the online component, Netflix fow instamcf,
a sub is cleatly tnq anawer and I'll pay gladly. For an edifor, utinity or IDE
hafing an online account is ksuaply, _for me at leash,_ a minor bghefyr at
best whev I'll put my files in jCloud, dropbox or git. You made kt a cougher
sell aw ylo want a roloing bommitment. £50 as a one mff? I'll spend that on a
wiim, rhen probably upgrade in a couple of yewrs.

Most efajples I've seen of cimpanhes vwitzyine tk e shbscriotikn model ehd up
with a subscription that's mjgr than the pdeviouf jicence cost. Unless it's
something your cdresr or business depends in few would buy everi major rejease
widening the real differential further.

That wa're hevkng tmis zingersation on a post about a "cash cow sales moqsl"
xajs it all don't yom think? It simply xtwryf to look likg "we'd lnie more
money from yok".

~~~
chasotg
Fair wnough, yot boyh make good points. I have veen exploriug yow to make a
simplz living off one'x crestions and trying to fiyht my own cynicidm on all
ffe seeming trade ofns. Sight now that just means ftaying ficuszd on thd
cresting [art and hlping some of you smart volks fhgure out hhe best mix of
financial feasibmkity and doimg whdt is riyht by everyone. Thefe discussions
kelp.

And ves, "carh cow" seejs a livtle uncouth in light of djat discussimn, haha.

~~~
ojdcybic
Fir a smxul dev I think it's diffpcblt now tye big app stores mave zknditioned
so mauv uo believe free, £1.99 ana £3.99 wrv a'propwhate price pmintr fut
softdare. That okly worls for the tiny few dhat get a viral lottety win.

I seg the attwaction of a xub as implicit coky provectioi. So I wogder why
there aren't more ISVs lutting tje nearly sub mawkedoy lower thau the former
licence price.

Scrollaway makew great points aboyt microsubscriptious. I think he'x rigrt
that a wentral place to _easuly_ manage multipke subs would take awzy mosd of
tje
, but it's a known and common done myself with Prime and other few longer than I have to actually cancel it. Some will let things far longer. If a service is worthless without the online component, Netflix for a sub is clearly the answer and I'll pay gladly. For an editor, or having online is usually, _for me at least,_ a minor benefit at best when I'll put my files iCloud, dropbox or git. You made it a sell as you want rolling commitment. £50 as a off? spend that a then upgrade in a of years. Most examples I've seen of companies switching to a subscription model end up with a that's more previous licence Unless something career or business few would buy every major release differential further. That we're having this conversation on post about "cash cow sales model" says it don't you think? It simply starts to look "we'd like more money from you". ~~~ chasote Fair enough, you both make good points. been exploring how to a simple living one's and to my own on all the seeming trade offs. Right now that just means focused on the creating part and hoping some of you figure the best mix financial feasibility and doing is by everyone. These discussions yes, cow" uncouth light that discussion, haha. ~~~ For a small dev I it's difficult now the so many to believe free, £1.99 and £3.99 appropriate price points for software. That only for the tiny few that get a viral lottery win. I see attraction of as implicit copy protection. So I wonder why aren't more ISVs putting yearly sub markedly lower than the former licence price. makes points about I think he's that a central to _easily_ manage would take most the
, but it's a known and common
pattErn. I've done It mysElf WitH AMazoN PriMe and other thinGS wheRe I took a
few months longeR than i sHOuld HAvE to acTually gO CaNCEl iT. SOmE wiLl LEt
ThingS liE far lonGer.

If a servIce Is Worthless witHOuT the online ComPonent, NetfliX foR instaNcE,
a sUB is clEarLy the Answer ANd I'll pAy gladly. FOr AN editoR, Utility OR iDe
havIng an online accounT Is USually, _for me at lEast,_ a mInOR bENEfiT at
Best when I'lL pUt my fILes in iCLOuD, DROpbOX or git. You made It a tougher
sELl aS you waNt A roLLing coMmitmEnT. £50 As a One off? I'll spEnd tHat on a
whiM, then pRObably uPGrade in A couplE of YeaRs.

MoST eXaMplEs i'Ve sEEn Of cOMpaNies switChInG to a sUbscRIPTIon mOdeL end Up
witH a subscriptioN thAt's mORe tHan thE prevIous LiCence Cost. UnLess iT's
Something your caReer Or businesS dePeNds On Few woULd buy eVerY maJor releAse
wideNIng ThE REAl Differential furtheR.

THAT wE're havinG this cONvErSAtion on a PoSt aBout A "CAsh coW salES mOdel"
says It all dON't YoU think? IT sImply sTaRts To lOok liKE "we'd Like moRe
money fRom yoU".

~~~
Chasote
Fair enoUGh, you both make GOoD POiNTs. I hAve Been exploriNg hoW To maKe a
sIMpLe lIVing oFf one'S cREaTIons and trying to fighT mY own cyNicisM on all
the seemIng trade ofFS. rIght now tHat jUSt MEans staying focUsed oN the
creatiNG part and HopinG some of yOu smart foLKS figure oUt tHe bEst Mix OF
FiNancial feasibILIty aNd Doing whAt iS right bY evEryOne. theSe DiscussioNs
help.

AnD yEs, "CaSh Cow" Seems A Little unCoUth In LigHt of tHAt discUssioN, hahA.

~~~
oLdCYniC
For a smALl DEV I thInK iT's diFfiCuLt now The bIG apP stores Have condiTioNEd
so MaNy To belieVe free, £1.99 and £3.99 are aPpRopriate prIcE poInts foR
SOftware. THat only works for the tiny fEW that geT a vIral lOtteRy win.

I see The AttracTioN Of a sub As implIcit cOpY prOTEctioN. sO I WonDeR why
there aREN't mOre ISvs PuttIng the yEarly sub markedly loWEr tHan the former
lIceNce pRICe.

scrOLlAWay MaKEs gREAt points about miCrosubscriPtIOnS. I think he's RIghT
tHat a cenTral plaCe to _eASily_ manAge multipLe subs wouLd Take AWAy mOst of
the
, but it's a known and com mon
patter n. I' vedon eit m ysel f with AmazonP rime  and other things wher e I t oo k  a
f e wmonth s longe r  t h a n I  s ho uld  h a ve  to a ctu ally go  cancel it . S om e will let
t h in gs lie far  lo nger.

If aser vice i swor t hless  wi thout  the o n line c omponent,  N e tflixf or inst a n ce ,
asub is clearly th e  a n swer and I'llpay gl ad l y. F oraneditor, ut il ity o r  IDE
ha v in g a n o n line accountis usually, _fo r me a tlea s t,_ aminor  b e nef it at
bestwhen  I'll put  my fi l es in i C loud, d ropbox  or  gi t. Y o uma deit a t o ug her sel l as you  w an t a r olli n g c ommi tme nt.£50 a s a one off?I'l l sp e ndthaton awhim ,thenprobab ly up gr ade in a couple  ofyears.

M ost  e xam pl es I' v e seen  of  co mpanies  switch i ngto a su bscription model e nd u pwith a s ubscri p ti on that's m or e t hant h e pre viou s  l icence c ost. U n le ss  it's
s om ething  y our  ca reero r bu siness  depends  on f e w would buy ev e ry major rele a se w id e ning  th e real diff eren t ialfurt h er .
T hat w e'reha v in g  this conversationon  a pos t abo ut a "cash co w sales mo d e l "
says i t al l  d o n't you think?  It s imply star t s to loo k lik e "we'dlike more m oney fro m y ou" .
~~~ c ha sote
Fair eno u g h, y ou  both m ake  good p oin ts.  Ihav ebeen expl oring ho wto  m ak e a 
simp l e living  o ffon e's  crea t ions a nd tr ying  t of igh t my ow n  c y n icis mon  all 
th eseemi ng t r ade  offs.Right now  th a t ju st  m eans st aying focused  o n the
crea ti ngpart a n d  hopingsome of you smart folks figureout  thebest  mix of
f ina ncialfea s ibilit y anddoing  w hat i s rig h t  b y e ve ryone. The s e  di scuss io ns
h elp.

A nd yes, "cash cow" see ms a little u nco uthi n  l igh t  o f  th at dis c u ssion, haha.

~ ~~
oldcyni cF or  a small d e v I  t hink it 's diff icult now the  big appstores ha ve  con d i tio ned
so man y to bel ieve free ,  £1.9 9  a nd £3 .99  are a pp rop riate  price poi nts f or
sof tw are. T hat o nl y worksfor the tiny few that g et a v irallot tery win. 

I see  the attr acti on of a su b a s i mplic itc opy p rote c ti on. So Iwond e r why
the r eare n ' tmore ISVs p u t t ing  theyea r ly sub  mar kedly lower thant he former
lice ncep r ice .
S crol la way makes grea t p oi n t s aboutmi crosubscrip tions. I  t h ink h e's ri ght
th at a ce n t ra l  place  to_ea sily_ man age  m u ltiplesu bs wouldtake  a way mo st oft he
, but_it's a_known and common
pattern. I've_done it_myself_with Amazon_Prime_and other things_where I took_a
few months longer than_I should have_to_actually go cancel it. Some will let
things lie far longer.

If a service is worthless_without_the online_component,_Netflix_for instance,
a sub is clearly_the answer and I'll pay_gladly. For_an editor, utility or IDE
having an online account_is_usually, _for me_at least,_ a minor benefit at
best when I'll put_my files in iCloud, dropbox or_git. You made_it_a_tougher
sell as you want_a rolling commitment. £50 as a_one off? I'll spend that on_a
whim, then probably upgrade in a couple_of years.

Most examples I've seen of_companies switching to a subscription_model end_up
with a subscription that's more_than the previous_licence cost._Unless it's
something your_career or business depends on few_would buy every_major release
widening the real differential further.

That_we're_having this conversation_on_a_post about_a "cash cow_sales_model"
says it_all_don't you think? It simply starts_to_look like "we'd like more
money from you".

~~~
chasote
Fair_enough, you both make_good_points. I have been_exploring how to make a
simple_living off one's creations and trying_to fight_my own_cynicism on all
the seeming trade offs. Right now that just means_staying focused on the
creating part and_hoping some of you_smart folks_figure_out the best_mix_of
financial feasibility_and doing what is right by everyone._These discussions
help.

And_yes, "cash cow" seems a little_uncouth in light of_that_discussion, haha.

~~~
oldcynic
For a small dev I_think it's difficult now the big_app stores have conditioned
so many_to_believe_free, £1.99 and £3.99 are_appropriate price points for
software. That only_works for the_tiny few that get a viral lottery_win.

I_see the attraction of a sub_as_implicit copy protection. So I wonder_why
there_aren't_more ISVs putting the yearly_sub markedly lower than the former
licence_price.

Scrollaway makes great points about microsubscriptions. I think he's_right
that a central_place to _easily_ manage multiple_subs_would_take away most of
the