Subscriptions are Leases

[Deep Dish]

The definition, common usage, of subscriptions has changed over the years. It used to be you could keep what you paid for. Magazines which you received didn't disappear from your home if you cancelled your subscription. Now, with software subscriptions, proprietary file formats, and "the cloud," subscriptions are leases. You lose everything if you stop paying.

At the 2016 World Economic Forum, the phrase "You'll own nothing and be happy" was coined.

 

[BaronOfHair]

At the 2016 World Economic Forum, the phrase "You'll own nothing and be happy" was coined.

Thus the beautiful pharmacy student who moved into the duplex next door won't be perturbed the next time she leaves her window open, and her panties go missing, ala. Monica Belluci in Malena

 

[corrector]

As a Gen-Xer that has experienced any one of the following:
1) Cassette tapes that have just disappeared for no explanation inside of my home where they could never be retrieved again.
(ie this is known as jottling, or a paranormal effect known as disappearing objects phenominon -- google it!)
2) DVD/Blu-Ray disks that freeze up or get damaged.
3) Having to throw away old magazines or other print media in order to clean up the clutter.

I don't mind having subscription services to vast amount of libraries or buying digital products. At least if something is going to disappear, you'll know well in advance of it being removed rather than a paranormal incident with a physical media.

 

[BaronOfHair]

As a Gen-Xer that has experienced any one of the following:
1) Cassette tapes that have just disappeared for no explanation inside of my home where they could never be retrieved again.
(ie this is known as jottling, or a paranormal effect known as disappearing objects phenominon -- google it!)
2) DVD/Blu-Ray disks that freeze up or get damaged.
3) Having to throw away old magazines or other print media in order to clean up the clutter.

I don't mind having subscription services to vast amount of libraries or buying digital products. At least if something is going to disappear, you'll know well in advance of it being removed rather than a paranormal incident with a physical media.

Devil's advocate

Even the staid minds over at IGN are recognizing this

 

[Deep Dish]

I don't mind having subscription services to vast amount of libraries or buying digital products. At least if something is going to disappear, you'll know well in advance of it being removed rather than a paranormal incident with a physical media.

How do you feel about subscriptions coming to treadmills, inkjet printers, and the horsepower in cars, which is happening?

Things are going to get worse.

While this may sound absurd, it wouldn't be too surprising if bedroom alarm clocks become a subscription, because after all it's doing you a "service" of getting you to work on time (and maybe some other features in the clock), and subscriptions are under the guise of providing you a service.

 

[BaronOfHair]

I don't mind having subscription services to vast amount of libraries or buying digital products

I take it you don't mind stealing bread from the mouths of decadents either

 

[Mike32ct]

How do you feel about subscriptions coming to treadmills, inkjet printers, and the horsepower in cars, which is happening?

Things are going to get worse.

While this may sound absurd, it wouldn't be too surprising if bedroom alarm clocks become a subscription, because after all it's doing you a "service" of getting you to work on time (and maybe some other features in the clock), and subscriptions are under the guise of providing you a service.

Yes. More and more devices will require WiFi to operate so the company can turn it off remotely if you don’t pay the “subscription” on such device that you bought outright.

In the case of the alarm clock, they’ll claim it needs internet to auto-set the time.

 

[Doctor Europeo]

Xbox Game Pass is not half bad. If you just want to play a game once and dont care about owning it, its cheaper to pay a month of Game Pass than to buy the game