I am trying out DXO Photolab 8, it is a real upgrade from Pure Raw 2 where I used that with Lightroom CC. Anyway, what is the perpetual license, does that only mean all the updates for version 8, or will I keep getting updates when it goes to 9, 10, 11 etc? DXO 2 updated to a point and then of course 3 came out a month later and I was offered just a discount. With LR CC, I pay monthly for example and am always updgraded to the latest version (I have the Adobe suite).
DXO will typically update 2 versions. So when 9 comes out I expect there will be updates to 8 as well. But when 10 is released I expect the updates to 8 to stop. And they offer discounts for upgrades along the way with the holidays (BF, CyberMonday) seeing the greatest discounts. But you can continue to use 8 as long as your OS supports it.
1 Like
Yes, I did some digging and found that it would be just updates to the version purchased, but it would not include 9, 10 etc - From their website - What is a Lifetime License?
A âlifetime licenseâ means that after you buy the software, you can use the purchased version for as long as you want, providing that the machine you use it on meets the initial program system requirements. This kind of license also includes free updates and bug fixes but doesnât include an upgrade to the next major release.
This license will continue to work with the cameras, operating systems, and third-party software products which are listed as supported by this version. This will continue into the foreseeable future unless or until it becomes necessary to discontinue support in order to maintain the high quality of our technical support for our current products and versions.
It is too bad because I like the Adobe plan where my LR and Photoshop keep getting updated to the latest version, 2024-2025 etc, LR 14.2, Adobe PH 26.3 etc.
Perpetual license means that even if you never upgrade PL8, the software will continue to work. It will only stop working if:
a) DxO turn off their license server, which would also happen if the company goes out of business.
b) the operating system on which you have installed the software changes such that it no longer supports features required to run the software.
As for what you refer to as âupdatesâ, you are actually talking about two different processes.
-
You will get free updates for PL8 until DxO stop providing updates for PL8. Updates to PL8 will probably continue for several months after PL 9 is released. There definitely wonât be any updates to PL8 after PL10 is released.
-
As a registered user of PL8 you will be eligible for a discounted, but not free, upgrade to PL9. if you decide not to upgrade to PL9 then you will probably be eligible for a discounted but not free upgrade to PL10. If you again decide not to upgrade then when PL11 is released you will not be entitled to a discounted upgrade to PL11.
3 Likes
There are significant limitations to updates provided for the previous version of PhotoLab. As I am sure you know, updates to the previous version do not include any new features available in the most current version. Instead those updates are limited primarily to new camera and lens support and bug fixes. Occasionally a functional improvement to an existing feature in the previous version may be included in those updates but it is rare.
Mark
1 Like
You pay every month or annually for that privilege. Thatâs the difference between subscriptions and perpetual: With Subscription, you keep getting updates as long as you pay monthly or annually but stop paying Adobe and it stops working. With my DXO plan I can stop buying upgrades but still use the software.
A lot of people miss this point.
But Lightroom does not completely stop working when you stop paying. The Library module remains functional so you still have access to your (edited) photos. You can even update metadata and perform exports.
1 Like
Thatâs true but presumably you buy software to process your raw files and not primarily to export old photos?
3 Likes
PhotoLabâs asset management functionality is not really state of the art imo and having Lr (unpaid) as an asset manager improves the overall situation a lot.
@zkarj , do you know if Lr (unpaid) gets updates in order to be able to a) manage metadata of new bodies and b) read/write new DNG files?
2 Likes
This is a serious issue. In the last few years, DxO moved to a license once installed stays installed to polling every couple of months. We own nothing now.
I have difficulty recommending PhotoLab to anyone under the circumstances. I would counsel the good folk here to stash away the occasional cracked version of PhotoLab just in case that license server does get turned off, or DxO licensing. policies become even more customer-unfriendly.
2 Likes
Does this also go for Pure RAW 2 through 4? I currently use Pure Raw 2 through LR CC.
Itâs been a while since I used it unpaid. I donât recall having any trouble with it for over a year.
1 Like
37 days, as we can read here.
âPerpetualâ is just a marketing catchphrase that tries to evoke the feeling - that itâs going to work always, forever, without interruption, as long as we like - and it sounds too good to be true. The word itself contains a hint to its value per-PET-ual. Many people like pets, but in French, pet is a different beast altogether.
Letâs be clear. There are different kind of folks working for DxO. Most of them are doing a good job imo. Others try to reach the ultimate pennies by means of marketing, copy protection etc. - and all of it is completely understandable - and annoying.
If we only see its posts, a door is a problem rather than a passage.