Next phase of subscription transition announced

[Richard Doll]

Dear Community Members, 

Following my recent Graphisoft Insights post on the Subscription transition update, we know how important this topic is for you as our clients and anticipate your comments and questions. To streamline communication, we’ve created this thread to gather everything in one place. We’ll also use it to identify topics that may need further clarification, which we’ll address on our FAQ page.

Please note that while we cannot respond to individual questions in the forum, your local representative is available for personalized support.

Best regards,
Richard

Link to Insights article: https://community.graphisoft.com/t5/Graphisoft-Insights/Important-update-Next-phase-of-subscription-...

[jl_lt]

yeah, thats the more likely scenario when companies sell their soul.

[irSander]

I would keep the perpetual license if you have one. The term 'discount' is just a stupid marketing story to wrap up the higher costs every year. But also to trick us into canceling our perpetual license, which we are, by the way, entitled to use forever, since we already paid for it.
I only see many additional benefits (€€€) for us to keep the perpetual license and stop the update program to a newer version.
Because it works fine now as we know it.

If you're afraid of FOMO from the updates: wait 6 years (the updates and service aren't that booming anyway) and then get the subscription anyway, get in like any other idiot who has to get in, but you'll have a real discount of +/- €10,000 (which you'll have saved) per license!!

[Barry Kelly]

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@irSander wrote:

I would keep the perpetual license if you have one. The term 'discount' is just a stupid marketing story to wrap up the higher costs every year. But also to trick us into canceling our perpetual license, which we are, by the way, entitled to use forever, since we already paid for it.
I only see many additional benefits (€€€) for us to keep the perpetual license and stop the update program to a newer version.
Because it works fine now as we know it.

---

Just to clarify something.

Graphisoft is not cancelling your perpetual license when you switch to a subscription.

If you have one now you will always have it, you just can't buy a new one, and you will not be able to upgrade to new versions after this year.

How long you can use it in the future will depend on the operating system compatibility, i.e. you may not be able to upgrade your operating system.

Barry.

[Paul King]

If we have a dongle that is currently updated to AC28 (sitting in a drawer), and we also now have a Studio subscription, will the dongle be updated at no extra cost when AC29 is released?  Or do we need to wait for the subscription to expire and call upon the 'fallback' option?

[Barry Kelly]

If you have a Studio or Collaboration subscription for that license, then technically it should be locked now at version 25.

But I found with my licenses (physical dongles) they are still 28 when I check them in License Manager.

I am not expecting them to upgrade to 29 when it is released, but it will be interesting to see what happens.

I guess we won't know until then.

But from what I have read, should you ever cancel the subscription on that key, it should be upgraded to the latest perpetual version at the time you cancel the subscription - in a couple of months, that will be 29.

Barry.

[MatteoDes]

Like I left Autocad for Archicad, I’ve no problem to leave Archicad for another bim/cad software.

Already testing other software alternatives and converting my archicad projects in another format.

[jl_lt]

personally i couldnt wait to leave dumbcad back in the day, but the alternative at the time (rabid) was even worse.

then found Archicad and couldn't believe how we had done without it.

of course, nowadays the honeymoon phase is over so i can see all its (her?) defects and shortcomings and its (her?) tendency to slap me in the face every now and then, and yet i still love it (her?) very very much.

looking for alternatives anyway, but leaving will be really hard 

[Bricklyne Clarence]

Looking at the anticipated new features in the upcoming new version (from the published and released material promoting the Technology Preview version), they're going to have a lot more 'divorcee's' leaving the software than I think they're anticipating or willing to acknowledge.

They probably anticipated losing some users from their decision to switch to 'Subscription-only' licensing model and eliminate perpetual licensing (....and really, how they handled the whole affair), but I don't think they could have imagined how many.

And if what they seemingly chose to focus on for the new version is any sign or signal at all, then this switch is not going to go nearly as well as they hope.

It's like nothing we users have been saying for the past 8-10 years on what they should be focusing their development efforts and resources have sunk in or taken hold.

Absolutely nothing.

[jl_lt]

yeah, they are relying too much on user loyalty when they have shown none the last few years

numbers dont lie:

you wont get generative design, rhino inside, and a fully or almost fully functional mep and structural module that also does calculations and rebar but im going to charge you almost the same as the one that DOES offer you that.. on a yearly basis!.. but please stay.

[Erik Bjornhage]

Generative Design - that depends on how you use it (and if you use it). Sure you can, but perhaps not in exactly the same way.

Rhino Inside - Archicad has had a GH-connector for ages - that works for mostly the same stuff I would say?
MEP / Structural - yeah, I can agree with you there.

There are of course things that we want to see and things that we don't want to see. but Archicad is still an extremely competent piece of software - that can do many things that Revit can't. However, it is easy to find the faults when you are used to it.

But remember - Revit is by no means perfect. It is still incredobly clunky, it is resource hungry and it crashes (not infrequently) for no apparent reason. It is inflexible and less intuitive.

Yes, there are many plug-ins being developed for it...but that is only so that it becomes a reasonably decent program to work with...but it is in no way near perfect...quite the opposite.

[jl_lt]

Of course, in no way am i endorsing Revit.  But prices being equal, the panorama changes a lot for many offices that have a need for sofisticated MEP and structural solutions.

I think the flexibility you mention is the key here, which in my opinion has always been one of Archicads stronger points along with the perception of "having a lot of creativity with less resources".   

So right now suscription model is a given and there is no turning back... Ok, why not at least apply whats left of creativity there?  come up with flexible, affordable pricings! how about pay per use schemes? or pay per project? per company size? per features used? dont let solo users out! some of them will become big offices in the future (although with AI, i presume the "big" office will be a relic of the past, but that is for another day).  Some will say its not fair, but how about even more flexibility for still-up-for grabs markets like LatinAmerica, Africa and some asian and east european countries. ?   How about a super basic super affordable version, so you can keep modeling on low work periods?     Or how about students?  "hey, you did well at school and you used Archicad while studying? here, have an aditional free 2 year license so you can set up your office, then you can begin to pay."     Hey, you won an international competition using archicad?  we give you 3 free months for your efforts!        you rented for 24 months straight?  you get a discount for the third year.    Rented more than 5-10-15-20-100 licences?  special prices per bulk (i imagine they already do this at least)

Every office is different. Every office designs different. Every office use Archicad different.  Every office income is also different, so their payment options should be different too.

The possibilities are endless.

Graphisoft, DO NOT try to be like AutoDsk.   Let them dye their hair and get nosejobs.   We all just want to grow old and retire with you. Dont make us look for other options.

[Bricklyne Clarence]

---

@jl_lt wrote:

yeah, they are relying too much on user loyalty when they have shown none the last few years

numbers dont lie:

you wont get generative design, rhino inside, and a fully or almost fully functional mep and structural module that also does calculations and rebar but im going to charge you almost the same as the one that DOES offer you that.. on a yearly basis!.. but please stay.

---

I mean, I wasn't even referring to things like a Rhino bridge or (certainly NOT) a more comprehensive MEP or Structural module.

( I think they've spent enough time and resources over the last DECADE on those two non-Architectural feature modules/addons/tools)

I'm talking about simple basic ARCHITECTURE tools that are native to the toolset that are in dire need of improvement or upgrading but which constantly keep getting ignored just so we can get an "MEP Designer" (After and MEP Tool Archicad28, ....MEP Tool Archicad 27,...MEP Tool Archicad 26....)

I'm talking about an improved or more robust, Door tool, Window Tool, Slab, Wall, Roof......for crying out loud these things are NATIVE and foundational to architecture.

How are we getting a robust expanded MEP toolset, but we still can't make custom doors and windows without writing lines of code?!!?!?!

In friggin' 2025, no less?!??!?

Or custom parametric (*insert-basic-object or tool here**).

Or macro-scripting of basic command chains....

Or improved Mesh, and landscape/site tools...

Or just an overall improve interface and user tools management....

Or even often requested things like dual or multi-monitor capability (YES, that again) or dark mode (in all platforms).

They're going to place the latter ones ...."ON HOLD" .....in their revamped wishlist section for development (despite having high number of votes) because it doesn't fit their current schedule or they don't have the capacity to do them at the moment, but this,..... THIS .......they have time and resources for?

Make that make sense.

Let's not have fantasies that they're going to give us more advanced or robust Rhino bridges or more innovative and intelligent AI integration that ACTUALLY helps us design and work better,.......when they can't even seem to handle the basic stuff,....much less even seem willing to.

In fact, I cringe now when I see them promoting any one of these kinds of new features and tools because in addition to the knowledge that they're likely superficial and only meant for promotional purposes for the software and company (rather than for the usability and their usefulness for the end-users), they're likely as well, poorly implemented, half-baked, clunky, wrong-headed,..... with the added salt-in-the-wound knowledge that their being there means that some other fundamental tool that badly needed addressing was (once again) ignored for this.

[jl_lt]

unfortunately there are not any fantasies of Robust Rhino bridges or AI generative design or High end MEP solutions for ARchicad.  Problem is those things already exist with the competition, and with the forthcoming prices schemes for Archicad, at a better price.

[MDunkin]

Please share if you have found a good alternative. 

[MatteoDes]

I’m slowly moving to Sketchup.

[ryejuan]

Really?? your slowly shifting to Sketchup??

[mthd]

@ryejuan, He is not the only AC user who is doing that, that I know of.

[ryejuan]

i see, but then again we call all just revert back to AC 25 (since it perpetual) am i right?

[mthd]

Please see this post and the answers from @Barry Kelly about this subject.

https://community.graphisoft.com/t5/Graphisoft-Technology-Preview/High-Poly-and-licensing-terms/td-p...

[jl_lt]

No.. no

 please, nooo! 

[mthd]

Many users of this CAD software and others are adept at using SketchUp. For me I like parametric objects because they can save allot of time. For custom objects and designs SU is good to learn if you have the time and patience.