rumour and speculation - 3dsmax 9?

[charleyc]

While I too have heard lots of rumors, and even some non-rumors from insiders about R9 and it being big, I believe the Boxx sales rep is meaning; Get on subscription because it is better and there will be a major release, as in not a point release, later this year. And buying max now, you would miss out on it if you didn't do subscription.

[Sawyer]

Actually the subscription is the best deal I have gotten. I am actually happy I do that. Actually vray has been a great deal they haven't made me buy a new version in over 3 years.

[mmikee]

Yep, I am pleased with the subscription as well. For Viz its about $250.00
US dollars a year. It would take me 4 years worth of updates to equal
1 version update without it. I have to say that, as a business model, it
makes a lot of sense. IMHO of course.

[gilpo]

We automatically figure in the subscription cost into the software purchase when we buy anything. We have never been sorry. We do it for our adobe and macromedia software as well as everything from Autodesk.

It also seems that Autodesk gives preferrential treatment to its subscribers in areas of support and whatnot. It's also nice hearing about the release of a new version and then 2 days later getting a disc in the mail.

The ONLY time I've heard of companies getting a raw deal on subscription is from Microsoft. Frequently they will go for several years without release a product and, as such, you end up paying more for the software through subscription than you would if you just bought it.