One of the biggest expenses in the work-life of an architect/engineer/creative like you concerns software. And all of us, use at least 5 programs or more.
Let’s make a play: imagine how much we should pay per year with all licenses of the most-known apps [yes, subscription instead of perpetual license is the new trend]:
- 2d cad software = 2.141 €
- 3d software. = from 950 € [some of them forever]
- render software = 250 €
- photo-retouching + graphic/vector + pagination software + pdf editing = 450 €
- office suite = 100 €
TOTAL = 3.891 € per year and for a single user
And this is the minimum equipment of a small reality (like an architect who works alone). And it could become worst, if you have employees, if you have to share your files with others and need other versions, if you alternate laptop to Mac to Desktop PC, if you work with BIM, if you have to participate in a contest which requires a professional video you don’t always make, if you want a very professional antivirus, a spacious cloud account and so on. And we are not counting the maintenance of your own computer, the OS expense and so on.
For many of us is unsustainable. But still a lot of freelance platforms are full of people who sell cheaply their services [20€ for a logo!] by using all of these most-known apps. A lot of famous and small firms, underpay/don’t pay their interns, but still have hundreds of versions of the most expensive software installed on 10 computers…
Something doesn’t add up.
There are few strong brands that develop good creative and technical software, launching them with a too high price and without very known competitors. It is a vicious circle:
the prices are too high? -> most of people use illegal software.
Very few people use competitors’ apps because of several reasons: some of them have always problems/incompatibilities, some others are not used by colleagues, some others are still too expensive, and someone else forces interns to use their own PC with that apps -> so main software have the unconditional dominance and the prices become higher.
This makes me upset: since who wants to keep it legal is disadvantaged. The majority of the professionals work on the best suites, using the best toy available for free… and If you want to collaborate with others, laziness, lack of time (they can’t learn a new app just right for you or within timeline) and software incompatibility are a strong barrier. Bosses also expect that you are very good in the use of the main known. In addition competitors’ software, struggle in developing new versions, because of the lack of funds or feedback or users.
LET’S STOP THIS VICIOUS CIRCLE.
For the software you use, anywhere you can, choose the best freeware version or the one that you can afford, sustain alternatives, don’t force the system into the dominance of a single brand.
Work all together on the improvement of competitors and make this market more free and competitive. Play a role to avoid this crazy prices.
Where to start? I tell you my choices…
– software: best free solutions
– software: cheaper solutions
– software: the apps I chose