It is the program of choice for anyone who loves the game and wants to know more about it.
I am not rich, but I absolutely will sometimes spend more money than seems reasonable on what some would consider mundane or absurd. All my choices though are well-weighed and weighted whatever one may think of them.
For example, I do not have to pay for ChessBase software, this goes without saying. A perk of the job. However I do pay for my graphic design software, my video editing software, my backgammon analysis software (yep), and a few others. Each and every one brings about a careful analysis of what they bring to the table, and whether they are justifiable. I bring this up after seeing similar complaints about the raised price of the latest Chessbase 17. I will not write some apologia for it, nor give you the age-old talks about costs of development, support, programmer salaries, and the usual hoopla. In the end it won't really change anything. That's the price, and you will have to decide yourself whether to buy it or upgrade to it. Instead allow me to share my thought process for such decisions, assuming the money is there at all. If it is not, well...thus endeth the debate.
Adobe software is expensive. Really expensive. It is also exceptionally good, no arguments. I do photo editing, some graphic design (mostly for thumbnails), video editing, and if I choose Adobe I will need to cough up US$40/month for the privilege, or a whopping US$480/year. This would actually make sense if I worked with clients who demanded I use them for seamless workflows on projects with their departments, or I consistently needed such advanced features that only they offered. I don't, to any of those points. After ample investigation and experimentation with their free trial periods, I settled on Affinity Designer for graphic design, which I bought outright for $25, and Wondershare Filmora for video ($40/year). They are easy to use, do everything I need and well, and are a fraction of the cost. I could easily talk myself into paying the 'Adobe tax' by telling myself they are the best, I will grow into them, I will not be restricted, they are for work, and so on. But using the trial periods of the alternatives, I came to realize they offered me all I needed and more, and were very accessible. Should I reach the point where they are holding me back, I can revisit the discussion.
I did buy a course on Affinity Designer on Udemy to be sure I could master the tools. For $5 I got 18 hours of top notch instruction choosing the lessons according to my needs. What's not to like? I also studied every tutorial on Filmora and spent plenty of time honing my skills. In other words, I also made sure that if anything was holding me back at any point, it would not be incompetence using them.
The above makes it sound like I strongly advocate trying to stay cheap whenever possible, but it is not so. I choose my battles, and do not always go the route of the 'less expensive'. For example, my keyboards are pricey. I am typing this article with my Logitech G915 TKL keyboard, which cost me no less than $225 when I bought it. Most of my friends (all?) think this is the act of a madman or someone with too much money and not enough sense. Surely I can type on much cheaper keyboards, no?
Logitech G915 TKL - best wireless mechanical keyboard out there
Without a question, but there are other factors in play here. The first and foremost is that this is a work tool. I will be spending hours every single day using it, and for years on end. Its technical qualities and user comfort mean increased productivity for the entire time I use it, making my life easier and better. The $225 price tag is high for a keyboard, very, but it is eventually going to be spread out over those years I use it. The mechanical Brown switches (these are a type and not the color of the keys) are my favorites, and two weeks (or more) of wireless use per charge is exceptional. They are magic to my fingers, and I enjoy my interaction with them. All in all, $225 for added comfort and productivity for years on end is an awfully low price, no? An easy expenditure for the long run.
My laptop falls under a similar category, and although it is officially classified as a 'gaming' laptop, I actually make full use of its power and options in more ways than you would believe. From NN development, to AI Art (locally installed), film editing, and more. And yes, so you won't squint at me funny: I do enjoy some light gaming from time to time.
A gaming laptop made sense in view of the use I make of all its hardware
The GPU can handle all the current AAA titles, but I don't really have much time for them, even if they tempt me. I bought it on a Black Friday sale last year for $1600. It will still give me a couple of years of mileage for sure, and though I needed to have that money at all, I had planned for it, knowing the value it would give me in the long run.
In other words, if I expect extended use, such as work items, or hobby, I will be much more inclined to spend more since they will pay dividends over time. My hardware buyer guides fall into similar categories, trying to balance value with cost.
So where does ChessBase 17 fit in this tale? It is a value choice as I see it. If you use it or plan to, and get value from your interaction with it, then instead of focusing on the one-time purchase price tag, consider it as an investment over time for your chess, pleasure, or other. If it is simply unattainable, yet you want to enjoy the family of Chessbase tools, consider the Premium Chessbase Account. You'd be amazed at how much value there is in those tools.
You can purchase the Chessbase 17 Mega Package in the Shop
It includes
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