Praise and reflection.

Open letter to Adobe.

Dear Adobe,

Since May of the year 2000 I have been using your programs, first with with a much appreciated student discount, later as a working professional upgrading to a full license. In the last 13 years I personally have spent at least $20,000 on your software, from student licenses all the way to Master collection and now "creative cloud". Since that time I must also admit that 75% or more of my income has been a direct result of using your software for which I am thankful. I am grateful to your developers and hard working staff. I remember the neat bouncing circle icons on a MAC, I remember when you bought Flash from Macromedia, I remember the joy of receiving my first boxed set of programs.

As perhaps one of your biggest fans and best "small" customers, here is my one criticism:

I suspect that since 2003 few if anyone at all in your C-Class suite of executives has ever actually had to use your programs and update them as part of their full time job.

There in rests the source, the very heart of every application failure, every poor launch, every decision that has enraged your community, your customers, and your clients. I want you to know that today I lost 10 hours of my life, never to return, dealing with the CC and CC2014 problem created by your failure to live up to the promise and allure of "Creative Cloud". As a direct result and for the first time in my life as a multimedia professional and Adobe customer I truly considered switching back to CS6, never updating ever again and perhaps finding alternative programs to use.

After my momentary lapse of reason reality showed up again and the sickening feeling perhaps only addicts know set in, that 'moment of clarity' when you realize without some miracle that you are indeed stuck till death. Yes, dear Adobe, if I want to work as a professional web developer, designer, and creative multimedia professional I see no end to your reign, your monopoly, and I stand in awe of your power. Your programs are the foundation for which the world of digital creativity is now built and they are the very alter on which creative professionals sacrifice their lives one hour at a time. You have won and I salute you.

On one hand I congratulate your executive dedications over the years to increase profit margins and satisfy shareholders, you basically re-invented the game of software release. On the other hand the way in which your software has been released, marketed, handled, and delivered over the years is truly absurd, inconvenient, and riddled with disappointment.

Rather than troll your forum in utter negativity: I would like to propose the following which are based on observations I suspect your developers and many Adobe customers will agree with:

1. Develop your own hardware and OS complied complete with every piece of software that creative professionals need to produce digital work.
   1. When you do this put together a panel made up of actual customers who have used your products for at least 5 years.
   2. Listen to that panel and allow the democratic process to shape your product to be what it should be, what we all need it to be: proper, efficient, streamlined, and effective.
2. Expand into the realm of smart phones, tablets, and mobile devices using a 'paired device' structure where as the software and hardware is always compatible and able to sync.
3. Compete with SkyDrive and Google Apps by releasing similar products.
4. Cheer loudly as you watch your NET worth Quadruple when other software manufacturers begin to produce Adobe OS versions of programs like Rhino, Solid Works, and Pro Engineer.

It is clear there are 3 primary types of devices, these are:

• Entertainment toys (the computers and devices used in average homes of non-professionals simply to entertain, they come bundled with a bunch of software that every professional spends hours uninstalling)
  • I only know about this because every time I buy a computer I spend too much time turning it into a workstation.
• Business workstations (Anyone who has Master collection installed and uses at least 4 pieces of Adobe software on a daily basis, 7 during a month, and nearly all during a year)
  • I know allot about this, this is what you will build.
• Government systems
  • I know nothing about these besides the fact they exist.

As such the need for a complete system should be evident to you, clearly it is evident to at least one customers.

For anyone reading this letter imagine the joy of the following:

• Complete Hardware and software compatibility, finally.
• A robust system engineered by and for creative professionals.
• A unified standard which is truly useful to everyone.
• Never having to read through the obscure install error codes again.
• Affordable upgrades and systems, tiered to usage needs.
• The convenience of having a master class system.
• An OS with truly useful software and productivity tools, configured, pre-installed, and always working.

There is a dark side however, If you leave out the customer panel as described above in 1:1 and 1:2, the team whom you assemble to champion, guide, and complete this endeavor... consider the dangerous pitfall where as a sizable portion of the Adobe community and customer base could walk, a 'revolt scenario' where they pool their own money on crowd sourcing websites like Kickstarter or Indiegogo to become your biggest competitor - Producing truly useful and open source creative software funded by the people who need it.

Thank you for your consideration in this matter, sincerely,

Christian Žagarskas

- A grateful Adobe customer