Circuit Studio Dead? (again!)

[2N3055]

Things are happening......believe me.

Ian.

Believe what?   

[Dubbie]

Things are happening......believe me.

Ian.

I would hold my breath, but I fear that we’ll be living in cities on the moon before I draw breath again.

[slowertech]

Just caught a Facebook ad for this. Looks like a rebranding of the software also.

https://resources.altium.com/p/coming-soon-altium-circuitmaker-pror

[pgo]

Not a re-branding of CircuitStudio.  If anything the link implies CircuitStudio is dead.

CircuitMaker is a tool that is tied closely to the online setup with projects and such online.
It appears that it will be updated to CircuitMaker Pro.
It is unclear if the new version it will follow the same online format.

I tried CircuitMaker previously and didn't like it much.  It is however free!
https://www.altium.com/circuitmaker/overview

I can't see that a 'free' upgrade from CircuitStudio is much of an offer unless the CircuitMaker Pro provides a non-free non-online tool.

[jmw]

No, it sounds like they're straight up rebranding it - "Altium CircuitStudio has been completely upgraded and renamed as Altium CircuitMaker Pro".

The lineup looks like it will be
CircuitMaker (free, web-based)
CircuitMaker Pro (paid, stripped down Designer)
Designer (paid)

[voltsandjolts]

Hmmm, all I wanted was 'Find Similar Objects'.
Online only will be a no-no for me, so hopefully they haven't gone that route.

[H.O]

When Autodesk did that with Eagle they (Altium) used that fact to push Circuit Studio and I wouldn't be surprised if quite a few of those who DID switch from Eagle to CS did so because of that fact (at least I'm one).

I sure hope Altium does not f--k us over like Autodesk did but I suppose the odds aren't exactly on our side...

[Zbig]

I reckon I'm not the only one to have bought a CS subscription long time ago and let it lapse after the first year, disappointed by the complete lack of any meaningful updates. On the news page they say:

Altium will continue to support existing Altium CircuitStudio customers; current users who are on a valid subscription will have the option to upgrade to Altium CircuitMaker Pro at no additional cost after the Beta cycle is successfully completed.

I am wondering what I should do now: take another gamble and renew now so I'm a "current user who is on a valid subscription" at the time of release or just wait until they officially release the thing and (if) I'm sure it's actually worth it. They don't make it easier by changing the name so they could always say "Tough luck, man, it's a different product so you'll have to pay the full price again" and make it seem like upgrading folks currently on subscription is some kind of a gesture on their part instead of just delivering on the agreement.

[JamesH-AltiumOfficial]

I am wondering what I should do now: take another gamble and renew now so I'm a "current user who is on a valid subscription" at the time of release or just wait until they officially release the thing and (if) I'm sure it's actually worth it. They don't make it easier by changing the name so they could always say "Tough luck, man, it's a different product so you'll have to pay the full price again" and make it seem like upgrading folks currently on subscription is some kind of a gesture on their part instead of just delivering on the agreement.

Hi Zbig,
Changing the name does not mean a new product, so this isn't a scenario to raise concern. You'll be able to install the updated version (which happens to be named CircuitMaker Pro 2.0) provided your subscription is up to date. If it's not, you may purchase it now, or later, so there are no gotcha's being planned.
Best regards,
James Harriman
Altium

[EEVblog]

Therefore the question:
Why should one should buy another product from a company that treat some of their user-base so badly?
Why should a company invest in Altium Designer with such a bad history that Altium has with CircuitStudio?

Customers will put up with a lot because they are locked into the tool, either through personal time/skills investment or through their company.
I've lost count of the number of times Altium have peeved off customers big time over at least the last 20 years, the list is long and distinguished, it's not a new thing, yet they never lose customer base.
Sure the odd person here or there takes their bat and ball and goes home, but most do not, they just stick it out and grumble about it and play the long game.

[daqq]

Hi,

So I emailed to Altium about some of the concerns. I have gotten permission to publish the following reply:

Dear David,

...[Stuff specific to our company removed]...

Both CircuitStudio / CircuitMaker Pro and Altium Designer are perpetual licenses so most of the features continue working after your subscription times out. However the subscription features will no longer be available. The main subscription feature to consider is Altium 365, which provides a private workspace to save your libraries and designs into the cloud, and share it with colleagues, or specific releases to manufacturers. The web view also enables viewing and commenting on the live designs.

The products can be used offline (without cloud features, of course), so if you need to install in an offline location, this is possible, but you need to discuss with Support how you can install without access to the Internet, so that you can install and license the software by transferring the files.

Best regards,

So that's a relief.

[EEVblog]

No, it sounds like they're straight up rebranding it - "Altium CircuitStudio has been completely upgraded and renamed as Altium CircuitMaker Pro".
The lineup looks like it will be
CircuitMaker (free, web-based)
CircuitMaker Pro (paid, stripped down Designer)
Designer (paid)

Makes sense. The three different tool names was always too many.

[EEVblog]

I reckon I'm not the only one to have bought a CS subscription long time ago and let it lapse after the first year, disappointed by the complete lack of any meaningful updates. On the news page they say:

Altium will continue to support existing Altium CircuitStudio customers; current users who are on a valid subscription will have the option to upgrade to Altium CircuitMaker Pro at no additional cost after the Beta cycle is successfully completed.

I am wondering what I should do now: take another gamble and renew now so I'm a "current user who is on a valid subscription" at the time of release or just wait until they officially release the thing and (if) I'm sure it's actually worth it. They don't make it easier by changing the name so they could always say "Tough luck, man, it's a different product so you'll have to pay the full price again" and make it seem like upgrading folks currently on subscription is some kind of a gesture on their part instead of just delivering on the agreement.

Why not get access to the Beta program and find out what the new features are? I'm sure James would be happy to arrange access.

[Dubbie]

I am a Circuitstudio user. I have let my subscription lapse because there was no signs of life or development. However, I would really like to try the beta, to see if some longstanding bugs I fight with every time I use Circuitstuio have been fixed.

Is this something I can join?

[kaz911]

I think the interesting questions are

1. Is it more like Designer?
2. Will it be updated together with Designer (or close to)
3. Will the price stay at current level ($595?)
4. Will the renewal stay at current level ($130'ish??)
5. Can you renew for current price to get to "CircuitMaker Pro" after the re-launch? (or will Altium pull an Autodesk....)

Remember CircuitStudio started out at ? $995/seat?

/k

[voltsandjolts]

IIRC CS started out in the UK at around £2500

[EEVblog]

IIRC CS started out in the UK at around £2500

Yeah, it was something like that, then they dropped it to $995 in 2016:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/circuit-studio/circuit-studio-reboot/
I wonder if that "lifetime subscription" still works?

[ahbushnell]

IIRC CS started out in the UK at around £2500

Yeah, it was something like that, then they dropped it to $995 in 2016:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/circuit-studio/circuit-studio-reboot/
I wonder if that "lifetime subscription" still works?

Before I got Altium I was using Circuit Studio.  I just tried to pen it and it is still working.  If I was just doing hobby stuff I would still be using it.  But I do engineering so I decided I needed Altium which I like. 

I paid $995 for my copy. 

[voltsandjolts]

CS has worked fine for me doing commercial work too.
For 2/4L boards and when not doing much high-speed or BGA stuff, it works fine.
There is a surprising amount of commercial PCBs that fit into that category.
Would be great if it had the 'find similar objects' feature...here's hoping the imminent new version has something like it.

[Kelbit]

I stopped paying CS maintenance in 2018 since the tool wasn't being actively updated. Will Altium allow users who are behind on maintenance to pay the back maintenance to get access to the new version of the product (assuming it's any good)?

[IanJ]

I stopped paying CS maintenance in 2018 since the tool wasn't being actively updated. Will Altium allow users who are behind on maintenance to pay the back maintenance to get access to the new version of the product (assuming it's any good)?

Just re-start paying maintenance from this point onwards and get access to the upgrade (when its available that is). You wouldn't need to pay any back maintenance.

Ian.

[H.O]

But how do you do that?
I looked the other day and couldn't figure out how to "reorder" maintenance from within the software. I could order a new license though.

[2N3055]

But how do you do that?
I looked the other day and couldn't figure out how to "reorder" maintenance from within the software. I could order a new license though.

You can order it from Farnell for instance...

https://export.farnell.com/altium/11-004-15-1-e/circuitstudio-1-yr-renewal-maintenance/dp/2460555

[H.O]

Thanks! Unfortunately I don't think I can because Farnell Sweden only sells to registered companies in Sweden (and I don't have one) and if I try to order from the export.farnell.com site they redirect me to Sweden so I end up in an endless loop.

It was actually quite a struggle to make them take my $495 for the license in the first place, something I complained about it one of the threads here.

But hey, I can always try again, perhaps it does work this time.

[2N3055]

Thanks! Unfortunately I don't think I can because Farnell Sweden only sells to registered companies in Sweden (and I don't have one) and if I try to order from the export.farnell.com site they redirect me to Sweden so I end up in an endless loop.

It was actually quite a struggle to make them take my $495 for the license in the first place, something I complained about it one of the threads here.

But hey, I can always try again, perhaps it does work this time.

Yes, now that you reminded me I believe I remember your saga with Farnell...
That question can be sent to James from altium (member here).
Regards,
Sinisa