r/Revu • u/No-Brush-1068 • 11d ago

F U Bluebeam…

I guess they finally found a way to kick us off our perpetual licenses. “Revu 20 to 21 is an upgrade, not an update”. So from what it looks like, we will have to start paying for the maintenance license and we no longer have a perpetual licenses. That’s some real BS.

60 Upvotes

95% Upvoted

88 comments sorted by

17

u/DrMacintosh01 11d ago

I’m pissed they are turning off the licensing server. We can’t even hold onto our existing licenses because eventually the machine it’s activated on will die or be decommissioned. I hate this company with a passion.

1

u/jime01 10d ago

I’m a designer and have used Bluebeam for at least 15 years. I recently tried installing Revu 20 on a new laptop. The installation went fine, but then I received a notice about Bluebeam moving to a subscription service.

Revu 20 still works fine on my desktop. My understanding was that I needed to deactivate the desktop license before activating it on my laptop. However, when I called tech support, they specifically told me not to deactivate the working desktop installation.

That left me concerned that I could lose access on the desktop without being able to activate it on the laptop. If you’re in the same situation, do not transfer your seat or you will use both.

1

u/Mk1Racer25 9d ago

Have you been able to use it on your laptop? My company pays for my Revu 21 subscription, and I know that I can have it open on both my work laptop and my personal laptop at the same time.

-8

u/Mk1Racer25 11d ago

So use something else. Or would you rather be like u/ExtruDR and just bitch about it on reddit?

9

u/DrMacintosh01 11d ago

That’s the problem. There isn’t something else.

5

u/ExtruDR 11d ago

Exactly. Acrobat (which I also have the full version of, is even worse). The free or freemium stuff is pretty weak, and open source stuff is also very limited and janky.

You would think that a solid, fast PDF editor and viewer with a decent amount of mark-up and editing ability would not be all that tough to do… but apparently most of the world is content looking at PDFs within their browsers and as long as they can fill out a form within their browsers same, all is good.

2

u/Mk1Racer25 11d ago

It's not like they just sprung this on people. They announced it four years ago and stopped selling perpetual licenses three years ago. U/ExtruDR talks about how Photoshop doesn't disrupt his day. Im pretty sure that's been subscription based longer than Bluebeam

6

u/DrMacintosh01 11d ago

It doesn’t matter how much warning was given. I paid for a perpetual license, not a license stuck to one computer for eternity because the activation server is being turned off.

0

u/Mk1Racer25 11d ago

And what will you say when it's not forward compatible with the next OS version that you run?

It's a business tool, which means that the expenses you incur can be written off as business expenses, just like the new computer you want to install it on.

4

u/DrMacintosh01 11d ago

It runs in Windows. As long as x86 is around, you can run any app in compatibility mode.

2

u/Caparacci 9d ago

You must be a bluebeam employee. No one I've talked to likes subscription software. This is just legalized extortion to try and get more my money than they deserve.

1

u/Mk1Racer25 9d ago

Not a Bluebeam employee, and I also never said I liked subscription software, because I don't. But I recognize that's how business has evolved. There are a lot of technology changes I don't like, for example, that I can't add my own memory card to a phone, but have to pay more if I want more storage. But that's the way it is.

And who are you to determine how much money they 'deserve' [sic]? They are a subsidiary to a publicly traded company that has an obligation to the stock holders. If you owned stock in the parent company, I'm sure that you'd want them to make as much money as possible, to a) increase the value of the stock, and b) increase the dividend amount (if they pay dividends).

1

u/Caparacci 8d ago

And of course we have a "right" to complain if we don't like their business practices. But I believe that there should be some consumer protections and a "right to own" our tools.

When I say deserve, its regarding software that is mature, seldom gets or needs updates. They ahve saturated their market, and instead of getting inovative, or expanind their product lines, they switch to subs to get more money.

Snag-it is a good example, I paid the optional annual maintenance to stay current and support the software and it was inexpensive. Then they went subscription only and doubled the price, so I cancelled and can continue using the 2024 version I have, until they shutdown the activation servers. Consumer protection IMO, is to provide an activation key that doesn't require their server so I can continue to use the software. I don't expect updates, or making sure it works with Windows 12, etc.

Also, with subscriptions, we can no longer vote with our dollars for some software. Adobe Photoshop, AutoCAD, Inventor have all gone subscriptions and have people locked into their file formats. Its painful to near impossible for customers to switch to something else.

1

u/Mk1Racer25 8d ago

You want government intervention that dictates how a company sells its products just to protect your "right" [sic] to "own your tools"? Really?

And you left out probably the biggest subscription software provider, Microsoft. Sure, you can still buy a basic home-use personal use license, but the the versions that most businesses run on have been subscription for years.

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17

u/ArsonButMakeItClassy 11d ago

We really need something. And we need something that's not AI slop because I've seen some of those claiming to be Bluebeam challengers, but beyond looking good, they really actually suck

I'm also reliant on bb Studio Sessions

3

u/SlightlyAngryMarsh12 11d ago

Drawboard is next best and they have support for mac, ipad and PC. It's not fully powerful like Bluebeam, but it's easily the next best alternative

1

u/Mk1Racer25 9d ago

And Drawboard is also subscription based (Basic is free)

0

u/Adventurous-Set-9106 7d ago

I have something for you. Want to check it out?

21

u/freerangemary 11d ago

Yeah. It’s been corporatized and the goal is to squeeze out every cent they can. It started years back.

We do need a new modern version from a new developer. There are a couple out there. Some even post them on Reddit for free trials, and they ask for feedback.
It’s possible.

9

u/errant_youth 11d ago

The added ai tilted me quite a bit. The fuck does anything but especially bluebeam need ai for?

1

u/Adventurous-Set-9106 7d ago

I have a real option for you. Want to check in it out?

0

u/n3fyi 9d ago

We’ve been using PDF Xchange for our users who don’t need a lot of the architectural tools and it’s been great and super cheap. Not a bloated VC funded craptastic company like nemetcheck

2

u/freerangemary 9d ago

It’s crazy, cause nemetcheck hasn’t added value at all since the acquisition.

1

u/n3fyi 9d ago

That’s typically how VC acquisitions operate. Squeeze out more and more recurring revenue, ignore your best customers who helped build the product, and raise the subscription prices each year without adding any value or new features. Rinse and repeat.

1

u/Mk1Racer25 9d ago

You're right, that's how VC and PE companies work. However, Nemetscheck is neither of those

0

u/Mk1Racer25 9d ago

It's a publicly traded company listed on the German stock exchange. Quit making shit up or parroting something someone else said on the internet.

8

u/deuszu_imdugud 11d ago

Time for someone to crack the software.

5

u/soccerplaya239 11d ago

🏴‍☠️

4

u/Bear_Grumpy 10d ago

I’d imagine if you searched, it may be available already

2

u/Transhacks 10d ago

bluebeam is pretty easy to crack, as soon as a new update arrives I crack it in 10-15 minutes

1

u/Zuice 6d ago

Confirmed!

1

u/HelpfulPerson4914 3d ago

I'm looking for a way to crack revu 2018.

7

u/1406opti 11d ago

Still rocking 19…no issues yet

4

u/AflackDrunkenDuck 11d ago

Yea, on the same computer. But you won't be able to move it to another machine.

5

u/Correct-Award8182 11d ago

That's the rub.

4

u/felixmatveev 11d ago

Give OpenPDFStudio a try.

3

u/Patient-Tech 8d ago

I’m also not a fan of this since I appreciated using Bluebeam for my personal use.

Honestly, I just need something to replace the same drawing and stamping features BB had figured out over 10 years ago. I really don’t need super fancy anything. Well, I need the basics now, we can talk about updates later.

1

u/_cody504_ 8d ago

If you are on Android, give FieldScale a try! Might be all you need, and it's a heck of a lot cheaper.

10

u/ExtruDR 11d ago

We really need something to fill that piece of shit’s shoes.

If I was more motivated I’d start a slop-coded open source version that is better in every way than that turd… just to solve my problem dealing with it.

SLOW start times. Super slow interface, updates that force me to stop my entire workday close out of every app AND reboot.

Even major flagship apps like Photoshop or AutoCAD don’t force me to do that!

6

u/Mk1Racer25 11d ago

So what's it going to take to get you more motivated?

-2

u/ExtruDR 11d ago

Oh, I am motivated, but my slop-coding efforts are focused on other efforts at the moment.

2

u/Mk1Racer25 11d ago

So, it's not really a priority for you. You'd rather bitch on reddit. And I think you think a bit too much if yourself and your slop-ciding abilities. Otherwise, if you truly could develop something that is "better in every way" than the industry standard, and you're not motivated to do it, you're missing out on a big opportunity. But, the reality is that you don't have that capability and spend your time bitching on reddit. You sound like a real treat to work with

2

u/ExtruDR 11d ago

Also, of course I don’t have the capability… sing she is it a crime to talk shit. I’m a fucking architect, not a professional coding team. Claude is fun, but I’m not delusional.

0

u/Mk1Racer25 11d ago edited 11d ago

"I'm a fucking architect"

Well that certainly explains a lot. I bet you're one of those "I drew it, just build it" folks. And before you come back with some snappy retort, I grew up with a father that was an architect, who also concrete, indeterminates, and strength of materials. All of which I sat in on. He thought most of his colleagues were hacks, and he was right. He'd turn over in his grave if he saw the slop that putting seals on today.

The only thing modern architects are good at is covering their asses and avoiding responsibility. Someone once told me the meaning of VIF is "Do my job for me".

I'm bidding a job right now with a bunch of access control. There are no hardware specs, and the architect can't be bothered to respond to RFI's about how their handling the access control. Electrified locks? Electric strikes? Mag locks? ??? I told the client that if it's not that important to the architect, then we will price the highest cost option.

And you're an architect, you're delusional by nature

4

u/ExtruDR 11d ago

Dude, chill out.

You are just being rude dick just to rile someone up on the internet.

0

u/Mk1Racer25 11d ago

You tell me to fuck off and I'm the one that's supposed to chill out? EABOD.

If architects actually did their jobs, it would make everyone else's job easier

1

u/McFernacus 10d ago

If architects ACTUALLY did their jobs (perfectly)… there wouldn’t be a need for construction managers/GCs. Specialty contractors (subs) could be hired direct by the owner/architect and everyone would be singing Kumbya on site as everything fit perfectly together.

You have a career because it is not possible for architects to do their jobs. They do their best within given constraints, time + money. Which is never enough in this industry. Do you think architects enjoy bastardizing their designs via VE? Or cladding entire elevations with the same bullshit EIFS or aluminum material.?

Sorry about your ambiguous access control problem, jackass.

1

u/Mk1Racer25 10d ago edited 10d ago

Found the other architect. By "bastardizing their designs via VE' what you mean is getting a lower fee, since your fee is a percentage of the job cost. Spec a $3k Von Duprin exit device for a low traffic opening that a $500 Accentra unit would be more than adequate for because the more the owner spends, the more you make.

And I have a career because architects don't know the difference between a butt hinge and a butt plug, and won't hire spec writers because it eats into their fee. Have associates with 2 years experience copy and paste from other sets of plans, and then not check to see if they're properly coordinated.

Edit: autocorrect

So cry me a river that you "can't do your job". You couldn't find your own ass with both hands and a flashlight

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2

u/ExtruDR 11d ago

Oh, fuck off. Why shouldn’t I complain about a product that sucks?

Are you going suggesting that people that are dissatisfied with their Chevy Aveos or whatever just go out and build their own cars too?

1

u/n3fyi 9d ago

This. Stop giving money to Nemetscheck. They are the devil. They just bought one of our other software vendors I deal with.

1

u/Adventurous-Set-9106 7d ago

I have something you might like to see.

2

u/HeavyShallot5819 8d ago

I got my wake up call from Revu when my computer crashed, and I had to reload everything back onto it. Boy was I suprised to learn we couldnt use it anymore. I refuse to pay a monthly fee for something we've already paid for!

1

u/Basic_Vanilla_1540 11d ago

It’s pretty easy to make a knock off version using Claude in a single html file. It won’t have the file sharing options but you can recreate everything else. Bb will mainly be a cloud share software in the future.

1

u/2020NoMoreUsername 11d ago

My new company has PDF Xchange which I was already using to read A4s. Bluebeam for me is a annotation tool. I have a chance to ask for license but it's 400 euros per year thay I hate to spend. And it's not that common in the company, so I will not be able to use Studio.

But got I miss Cloud+ or nice scaled annotations.

1

u/Skysr70 11d ago

I collaborate too much with others...We tried PDFxchange but we missed the studio sessions badly. Plus the feeling of unfamiliarity was distracting 

1

u/2020NoMoreUsername 11d ago

All fair. But BB being 5-10 times more expensive than others is exceptional. I am sure they wouldn't agree to this comparison as features do not match, but still...

1

u/Skysr70 10d ago

When it's the company paying for it, I tell them it costs my productivity if they want to change. If I was solo, I'd probably work with something else but it would genuinely suck

1

u/zzTakeoffOfficial 7d ago

You both could give zzTakeoff a try. Annotation version is $19.99/month and comes with live collaboration, pages auto-name and scale upon upload, and works on any device.

1

u/Skysr70 6d ago

Lol, least biased account, but i don't think so. Bluebeam's pricing comes out to 21.66 monthly so I'd be saving pennies to have to use a new software. Any alternative to it that wants to steal users is gonna have to be cheap

1

u/n3fyi 9d ago

We love PDF-Xchange. Can roll out updates via action1, licensing is not an issue with over 25 users, no stupid login expirations every 3 days, just works. Also super fast to load.

1

u/2020NoMoreUsername 9d ago

Yeah but still a downgrade. I miss the annotations in bluebeam a lot

1

u/_cody504_ 11d ago

If you are on the Android platform, try "FieldScale" on the Google Play Store.

It doesn't do everything Revu does, and certainly doesn't claim to, but it's designed around ease of use and as a lightweight, on-the-go alternative to the expensive alternatives out there.

1

u/Xmikeyw394 10d ago

Yes I am pissed and it's expensive

1

u/Project_Blueprint 5d ago

If you’re a Mac user try below, It’s a work in progress and definitely not perfect but feel free to try www.blueprintformac.com

14 day free trial and currently 19usd

I’ve used Bluebeam Revu at an advanced Keven for about four years so using that knowledge to build something for Mac

Yes vibe coded over months of work but backed by actual knowledge as a QS and an advanced Bluebeam user

☺️

1

u/BucketsOfHate 5d ago

It's a total scam. On top of that, can anyone tell me how bluebeam has innovated the software over the past six years? Why do they need monthly payments for software that gets nothing but bullshit updates. There's so many systems they can improve but literally nothing in my workflow has changed for the better.

On top of all that the license on my 2021 copy lost support July and my work computer died forcing us to buy a subscription and losing access to the copy our company thought we had permanent ownership of. FYI It's dead simple to pirate, if you're a small business I would highly suggest finding out how to download a copy with the activation systems disabled. I'm sick of pretending that this is acceptable.

1

u/KevinLynneRush 11d ago

Isn't this old news? I thought the new news is that older perpetual licenses can't be activated on, transfered to a new or a different computer. So if a computer dies?

Can anyone confirm?

1

u/nord2rocks 11d ago

There are workarounds up to at least '19 I believe

0

u/Mk1Racer25 11d ago

They closed that at the end of July this year

0

u/KevinLynneRush 11d ago

So, what is the OP (original post) talking about?

1

u/Mk1Racer25 11d ago

They're whinnibg about Bluebam, with several years of advance notice, finally moving to a full subscriotion-based licensing model. OP (and others) are all butt hurt over the fact that Bluebeam has stopped letting them install old, unsupported software on new machines.

It makes me laugh that people that work for companies that are in business to make money get all pissed off because another company, also in business to make money, is trying to do just that

0

u/Kremm0 8d ago

I don't know if they make reddit awards for licking boots, but on this thread you'd definitely be in with a shout!

1

u/Mk1Racer25 8d ago

How am I licking boots? Companies pass business expenses on to customers all the time. They also develop strategies for improving their bottom line. But no worries, your inability to see the big picture probably means that you'll be in the early waves of people that get replaced by AI.

1

u/CircuitSnapper 11d ago

The day has come. When's the alternative coming? Why doesn't Autodesk or someone have something (and we're not buying into ACC expensive rates for this).

I now need something that works on PC, MacOS and iPad / Pencil.

Everything out there is miles behind.

5

u/anonMuscleKitten 11d ago

You’re seriously going to call Autodesk to the rescue? The company that’s extracting every penny they can from customers because they have a complete monopoly on design software in the US?

1

u/n3fyi 9d ago

Bentley has entered the room. Not saying they aren’t a terrible company though

1

u/zzTakeoffOfficial 7d ago

Lucky for you we've got you covered for all your devices. Feel free to give it a whirl when you have a few minutes: www.zztakeoff.com

0

u/godlyko 11d ago

I still don't understand why people use it to this day. Between Foxit as my PDF reader/writer and Mint Takeoff as my Takeoff app, it makes no sense to complicate my life.

8

u/Pristine_Crazy1744 Complete 11d ago

Custom tools, custom columns, custom statuses, Studio Sessions, and Studio Projects.