How good is the Adobe Cloud - My Review of my usage of the cloud

For some time I wanted to have the latest Adobe After Effects (I had CS3) and wanted to use Premiere Pro, Photoshop, Dreamweaver, etc. But like many non-students I couldn't afford the 2500 pound notes they they were asking so I looked and thought of the possibilities..

Then came the Adobe Cloud. For those that may not know what it is (is there anyone); Adobe decided to put most/all of their software offering onto a cloud system and charge a monthly amount to access all of this software. So for one monthly charge you can get Premiere, AE, Photoshop and all the rest of the great software.

I found this VERY appealing.. Especially seeing I could get a special 12 months rate as I have AE CS3. So for 27GBP  (this computer has no pound sign) a month for 12 months I can access software, and if calculate up its like 324GBP (here or there as couple bits of change in fee too) which is less that the Master collection. And you get a couple of extras in the Cloud not on the DVD's. Ok for standard subscription its about 20 pound more a month but.. as you can see on my blog for August Adobe are doing the special rate deal which works out to about the same as I pay.. Bargain..

So, after that long build up.. what do I think. Well, I sold my copy of Vegas Pro and Final Cut Studio 3 as I seem to only use Premiere Pro now. You can even have an install on your PC and again on your Mac... You get 2 license installs of each software I believe. AE and Premiere plug nicely together too; integrating your video creation.. Dreamweaver is fantastic; doing some online development for a project I am working on. Photoshop; well; lets say I removed some stuff from my holiday photos..

All in all the software is fantastic. Installation from the Cloud is by a software manager that also notifies you as soon as updates are available. Its just one click and it downloads and installs. The best bit though is that more software is coming to cloud and you can access right away. Lightroom recently came onto the cloud; I now have that.. All in all there are like 16 or 17 applications.. 

You do need to have internet access to run software though as it does check you have a valid cloud subscription when running each software. I had my internet go down once and could not run the software - this certainly is a bad thing if wanting to edit a video or webpage while on the train; unlike if bought DVD version; but its a price to pay to get access.

All in all I think you can pay for around 4-5 years of cloud access for the cost of the Master Collection? OK, so you never own anything at the end of it unlike if buy the DVD. But unlike the DVD the cloud offers updates to newer versions too in the cost from what I am led to believe. So when CS7 comes out you get access without paying a upgrade cost like the DVD versions.

All in all I am loving it for my current monthly subscription. Will I continue it when it goes up in price? I don't know.. But for 12 months at this bargain rate, if you want to get access to After Effects or Premier Pro then you could take up the August only offer and give it a try.. If after August; still go check them out as it still maybe worth it for you...