I have been using Adobe products for many years and have become frustrated with the whole thing as well. Unless you are using the products to produce a sizable income, the cost is just prohibitive. I’ve kept my subscription going because I use it for some personal projects and some other things from time to time and just can’t pull myself away. However, I have also noticed that the apps are getting more and more sluggish. Maybe it’s just me, but opening and closing them (InDesign, in particular) takes forever.

I read through many of the comments, but didn’t see anyone mention Scribus (sorry if I overlooked it). I have been experimenting with some of the Open Source tools on Mac and Linux for some time. Although I haven’t used them in high “production” settings, I have used them (Scribus and GIMP) to produce some simple work. I think Scribus is a great alternative to InDesign. Any old Quark user, I think, will find it hauntingly familiar. Scribus is free, easy to use, and opens and closes quickly. So far, I have found nothing unacceptable with it. I am going to do some more side-by-side testing with Scribus and InDesign and then, hopefully, cut the Adobe plug when my sub ends.

I wrote my Master’s Thesis (Cybersecurity and Computer Forensics and Utica College) on “The Malicious and Forensic Uses of Adobe Software.” That report, as well as my ramblings on Scribus and other Adobe-related stuff can be found at www.macharyas.com if anyone is interested. Thank you.