Adobe has already gone to Subscription, so I propose we don't discuss Subscription vs. License in this thread.
I am a heavy LR user but like many have been frustrated by performance. Here are my observations on the new announcements:
* I do very much like being able to edit on multiple synced machines including iPad Pro. This necessitates some Cloud connections. I am not sure I like the way they did it. If I move to another tool, having mobile and desktop synced edits is the killer feature for me. (Your needs might be different)
* I don't think I like having all of my RAW files in the cloud, this is a change from their Smart Preview way. I have to think about this more. I need to have the RAWs somewhere to back them up. Would trust Amazon or Google more with my cloud files. In any cloud, backup flows are a key consideration.
* Simplified UI I like. Loss of key functions I don't like, hopefully these come back in
* I have been really liking LR iPad, so the new web version looks a lot like that, clean.
* I like the idea of my casual iPhone shots being integrated with my traditional collection. Making all images together, sort of like Mylio (
http://mylio.com/) if you are familiar with that. I haven't tried this with the new LR but it looks like it is all more integrated. I think this was possible in LR Mobile already but had never tried.
* I think i read you can't Print from the new version, that may be just a short term limitation?
* I like the hypbrid cloud processing -- i.e. their behind the scenes indexing
* I like cloud software in general as the provider (Adobe) can more rapidly change things.
* I am now more interested in the integrated adobe Portfolio and Spark tools. Had not paid much attention to them. This new release makes the Adobe web ecosystem more interesting.
* On LightRoom Classic -- they have an import mechanism to mimic PhotoMechanic. I currently use PM to cull, so this could be a big win if it works. It has barely been talked about in the articles.
I have been debating leaving LightRoom for about two years. This changes the equation but too early to tell in which direction for me!
Would like to hear from other LR or ex-LR users.
Rob.