FCPX going subscription

New versions of OS X (now called macOS; by the way, I just realised Final Cut Pro X is no longer called that. The “ten” has been dropped. It’s just Final Cut Pro again). OS X was once around €130, from memory, eventually dropping to €30 and finally free.

Pages/Numbers/Keynote.

iLife a long time ago.

Probably others.

Good examples. One caveat. I think if you needed an old version of an OS they charged for you would still need to buy it.
 
That's not really accurate comparison because Final Cut Studio included: Final Cut Pro, Motion , Soundtrack Pro , Color, Compressor , DVD Studio Pro
Today's equivalent = FCPX is $300, Compressor $50, Motion $100, Logic $200, DVD Architect $100, Resolve $200 =$950

It was more of a note than a comparison.

Nevertheless it was a billion years ago in a different time in post-production when the work was more valued and being a video editor was as cool as being an astronaut.

Today, Generation Alpha are editing and uploading their own TikTok videos shortly after walking.
 
I'm with a lot of other folks in that this subscription stuff is getting out of hand. Unless they start lowering subscription pricing to be more manageable, some companies just need to start failing because of the switch to put some clarity into the industry. Our production company not only does video and VFX but we have 3D animation as well as various graphic design tasks that go along with that which Adobe can't cover on its own and that means more software packages, subscriptions, maintenance fees if they still have them, wide arrays of plugins, and not to mention purchasing pre-made models and stock media. If FCPX goes subscription, it just cuts out whatever was left for us to have Apple computers as most of our work requires Windows 10 PCs these days simply for the power involved that Apple computers still can't both match and provide rock solid compatibility for. The complexity of keeping track of all of our plugins and other software packages alone is a challenge enough without having to worry about having a compatible Mac Pro or Hackintosh setup just to run the latest Mac OS to use the latest version of FCPX for the newest version of a plugin to work properly with and the price of said Apple hardware has been increasing rapidly despite the advances in PC hardware and the lowering of prices across the board for standard PC components. If Apple, Adobe, and Blackmagic simply said, "Okay, we've reached a milestone in our software development where we can (or still can) offer perpetual licensing but to continue development until the next milestone release, everyone will have to buy a new milestone license at $300 per user, your old licenses will work for the current version but going forward you will need a milestone license for the latest features and support once the new milestone version comes out. If you are subscribed then you're already on track for delivery of the milestone release and you'll just have to download it once it's available and you can get to enjoying the new features we have in store right away!" I think everyone would agree that would be a fair compromise and would at least offer the choice for affordability for various use cases.
 
They strung us along for years! It was ridiculous. I’m still angry!
It was long ago but that was my recollection. Users had invested lots of time and money, waited years for significant update, but instead they did nothing, then announced a new software that was completely different, lacked the features you depended on, and was complete incompatible with the old version of FCP. All the other applications except for Compressor and Motion were abandoned. In the end Apple listen to complaints and add back the features it lacked but it was far from a smooth transparent transition.
 
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In the end Apple listen to complaints and add back the features it lacked but it was far from a smooth transparent transition.

As someone who was deeply invested with years of FCP Studio use, starting the LA FCP Users Group and being a power user, I can unequivocally say that the EOL of FCP Studio and the rollout of FCP X was easily one of the worst thought out and executed corporate directives ever seen.
It was a cluster you know what and pissed of tens of thousands of users world wide. Not Apples finest moment.
 
If they would have waited just a few more years I really believe the execution would have been much smoother as social media and web development continued to evolve.

I always say it was one of the biggest software misunderstandings I've personally lived through. They built FCP X to be ahead of its time, but people were not ready for it yet (momentous technological change existed but was still infrequent).

When and after computers started to get just a little bit better, and cameras started to get just a little bit more affordable, and the continued circulation of data and knowledge resulted in smarter minds (Google - Google - Google), the software would have been accepted differently.

Grievances would have and will always exist but the adaptation would have been swift.
 
As someone who was deeply invested with years of FCP Studio use, starting the LA FCP Users Group and being a power user, I can unequivocally say that the EOL of FCP Studio and the rollout of FCP X was easily one of the worst thought out and executed corporate directives ever seen.
It was a cluster you know what and pissed of tens of thousands of users world wide. Not Apples finest moment.

100% agreed. I had lots of projects on sitting inside FCP that suddenly, really without much warning, became uneditedable if I wanted to upgrade.


If they would have waited just a few more years I really believe the execution would have been much smoother as social media and web development continued to evolve.

I always say it was one of the biggest software misunderstandings I've personally lived through. They built FCP X to be ahead of its time, but people were not ready for it yet (momentous technological change existed but was still infrequent).

When and after computers started to get just a little bit better, and cameras started to get just a little bit more affordable, and the continued circulation of data and knowledge resulted in smarter minds (Google - Google - Google), the software would have been accepted differently.

Grievances would have and will always exist but the adaptation would have been swift.

I also think this is quite true. When I first made the switch and tried X, I absolutely hated it. But after a few of the early updates, I gave it another try and now feel like it speeds up the majority of my projects. Hoping this rumor is just that... and not based on any facts.
 
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