Adobe Stops Selling Creative Suite

Adobe is the latest software company to stop selling the boxed version of its wares.  Adobe is joining a slew of other companies, including Microsoft and Apple, who have exchanged packaging for downloads and subscription services.  Adobe has now confirmed that they will no longer sell packaged copies of its Create Suite and Acrobat software in stores. The expected cut off date for sales of the packaged copies is on May 1.

For many consumers it may be a welcome change.  Moreover, many tech consumers have embraced the onset of cloud computing.  In many ways, this change can be seen as a step in the right direction, towards the future. According to TechHive, an Adobe spokesperson stated that, “As Adobe continues to focus on delivering world-class innovation through Creative Cloud and digital fulfillment, we will be phasing out shrink-wrapped, boxed versions of Creative Suite and Acrobat products.”

On its website, Adobe is strongly pushing its cloud based subscription service called Creative Cloud.  Creative Cloud offers users the entire collection of Adobe Creative Suite 6 desktop applications plus other tools and services including Adobe Muse, Adobe Acrobat XI and Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 4 software and Adobe Edge Tools and services. The subscription also includes any updates as soon as they are released. Users will have immediate access to any new features, which will be released through special software editions that are only available to Creative Cloud members. Creative Cloud also offers users the benefit of cloud storage and the ability to sync to any device.  Subscriptions start at $49.99 a month.  Many users may appreciate the lower up front costs that are associated with a monthly subscription.  Adobe will also continue to sell downloadable copies of Creative Suite through its website. You can also continue to buy downloads of individual programs, such as Photoshop.

[Image via getacoder]