Ok help me understand the insanity.

Software subscriptions

from Stardock Forums

So I was just going through all the software in the object desktop bundle. The only piece of software you can no out right buy is Fences. So Object Desktop is subscription based because you decided to take one of your mostly used applications and turn it into a subscription model? 

I don't understand why companies think that subscriptions are the way to go. People like to own the software they use.Not have it disable if the subscription is not renewed. 

I will continue to upgrade my software that I use as long as they do not move over to the new model. Once one of your applications moves, I will not be. I have enjoyed your software but some people have to make a stand and hit you where it will obviously hurt. By not giving you our money anymore 

object desktop
8,025 views 3 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

Hello,
Sorry to hear you are having issues. Do know that, Object Desktop has always on subscription base. And, Fences 5 also available on permanent license.

Thank you.
Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant.

Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top

My problem is that I have purchased Fences 3 and 4 each for less than what the yearly subscription. and they are both lifetime keys. I can go back to 3 if I would like or stay on 4. But it is really hard to pay a yearly subscription to move up one more version. Or pay a new license that is almost triple what I was paying per version before. 

 

Hey we know you paid $8 for the previous version but now you have to pay $10 a year, or you can't use the software anymore till you pay again. But we sell the same type of license you were used to buying but now it is 3 times the price. Aren't we smart.  So which option would you like and how would you like to pay. 

Does that sound like something people look forward to or would want to do.. 

Offworld Trading Company
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

Typical software experiences a major upgrade every two years. I will use Microsoft 365 as an example here. A subscription for Microsoft 365 Family costs $106.99 US. per year. This includes 6 licensed users with access to updates and upgrades, as well as, 1TB of Cloud storage for each user. That breaks down to $17.83 US per year, per user. On the other hand, a permanent license for Microsoft 365, single user costs $249.99 US. If you divide that by the typical upgrade cycle of two years, that's $124.99 per year, per user. Even if you are able to use it effectively for five years, that's $49.99 US per user, per year.

So, by comparison, the Microsoft 365 Family subscription at $17.83 per year, per user, which is a total of $89.18 US per user, for five years saves you $160.81 US.

Now, let's consider the costs involved with Object Desktop. The subscription cost is $39.99 US per year for five active installs (users). That breaks down to $7.99 US per user, per year. If you calculate the permanent license costs for just the most popular titles, Start11, Groupy, DeskScapes, Fences, and ObjectDock, The cost would be approximately $43.95 US. If you divide that by the typical upgrade cycle of two years, that's $21.97 US per year, per user. Even if you are able to use it effectively for five years, that's $8.79 US per user, per year.

So, by comparison, the Object Desktop subscription at $7.99 US per user, per year, which is a total of $39.99 US per user, for five years saves you $3.96 US.

Both Microsoft 365 and Object Desktop stop working after the subscription term.

In my opinion, the math above shows the the subscription model is less expensive than the permanent license. However, if you are only going to use a single license (one user), the permanent license is the way to go, assuming its actual life cycle is five years. With the Windows OS in 2024, a five year life cycle is really asking a bit much from any software.