Adobe Photoshop CS for $69.95?

[striker]

I routinely get spam emails selling software at unbelievable prices.

Retial Price $599.00
Our Price $69.95
You save $529.05

From the company:
Why is the software so inexpensive?
We offer the software for downloading only, it means that you do not receive a fancy package, a printed manual and license that actually aggregate the largest part of the retail price. In this situation we are restricted in selling the products for private purposes only! You will not be able to get a technical support and different rebates from the manufacturer. Updates are available for the most of our products (you may ask our support staff for the exceptions) that make them fully functional and operating. Additionally you save the delivery cost.


I'm a big Clark Howard fan and I'm always on the look out for scams. This has to be a scam. Has anyone ever bought software this way? Did you get ripped off? Was the software incomplete (like it needs a registratin code)? That is my guess.

[SmartWombat]

Yes, either it needs a registration code, or it's a hacked illegal copy.
PS CS2 also requires an online activation with the Adobe website, as well as the registration code.
Unless they've hacked that as well.

"Updates are available for the most of our products ... that make them fully functional and operating" So are they selling you the free 30-day download on a disc?
Or are they selling you something that doesn't operate at all unless you get the upgrade?

[Peter_AUS]

They are scams for illegal copies of software.

[Ronnoco]

They are scams for illegal copies of software.

My understanding is that they are legit but they are stripped down copies which means no packaging, no manual, no standard plug-ins, some options and features missing, almost akin to a beta version in the first stage of software development or the "litest" of the lite type versions.

Ronnoco

[another view]

PS CS2 also requires an online activation with the Adobe website, as well as the registration code.

So does CS. It doesn't even make a good paperweight without it.

The only way to get a deal on Photoshop is to get an educational discount. If you're a student, then you can buy it for about 1/3 the retail price. The official description of "student" should fit a person who takes one continuing education class at a community college, but check it out to be sure. Hint, hint.

[Peter_AUS]

Ronnoco, being in the computer industry for the past 15 years, I have never know Adobe to supply that type of software at all, it is either the full version, upgrade versions, now educational versions which has only been the last couple of years. Even the Demo versions are the full version of the software.

Again I will say these ads aren't legitimate software, why do you think there are thousands of people sending out the exact same spam with different email address. I even get email which spams my own website address telling me about the software.

It is a total scam.

[JSPhoto]

There was some talk a few years back, 3 or 4 maybe on a an Adobe Photoshop newsgroup that they were, along with Microsoft "thinking" of running a scam to bust people buying and using knockoff/hacked software. The first email like that I recieved I thought of that thread. The software companies are trying anything they can to protect their software, even sending spam and scams of their own, and just like the govt....it's all in the name of SECURITY!

JS

[Ronnoco]

Ronnoco, being in the computer industry for the past 15 years, I have never know Adobe to supply that type of software at all, it is either the full version, upgrade versions, now educational versions which has only been the last couple of years. Even the Demo versions are the full version of the software.
.

I have not ordered anything so I really cannot say with any great certainty. I have however seen more detail on these cheaper versions in advertisements and articles in PC World and what has been indicated is no documentation, grey market, and fewer of the standard plug-ins. I should point out also that educational versions of some programs are extremely limited even in terms of built-in fonts or other included features too.

The only person who would really know for sure is someone who has ordered and got the product and I don't know anyone like that. Do you?

Ronnoco

[JSPhoto]

The only person who would really know for sure is someone who has ordered and got the product and I don't know anyone like that. Do you?

Ronnoco

I have bought educational and full versions of certain software and they were the exact same, but again it depends on the company involved. Adobe is probably one that would limit versions as they are $$ hungry. Getting instalation assistance and they want me to pay for it? Nope, they can have this junk back! Not a good way to gain or keep customers.

JS

[mjs1973]

I have bought educational and full versions of certain software and they were the exact same, but again it depends on the company involved. Adobe is probably one that would limit versions as they are $$ hungry. Getting instalation assistance and they want me to pay for it? Nope, they can have this junk back! Not a good way to gain or keep customers.

JS

I have the educational version of Adobe CS2 Premium. I have the entire creative suit, not just Photoshop, and I can say that I haven't found it to be missing anything that the "full" version has. I paid $200 US for the entire package. It sells for $1200 on the Adobe website.

[another view]

I should point out also that educational versions of some programs are extremely limited even in terms of built-in fonts or other included features too.

In the case of Photoshop CS, I have the educational version and it's exactly the same as the regular version of CS. It says "educational version" on the box and start-up page but other than that you wouldn't know that it was almost 1/3 the price... Of course, what you say may be true of other software companies - no experience with that myself.

[CitizenM]

If I get the educational version once I learn the software do you upgrade the license to publish or commercial use? Does Adobe CS2 Premium include Quark Xpress, Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator and Acrobat. Sorry, i am not familiar w/ all this software, i use to do production work and photography manually. I want to return to the field and must learn mac and all this software

[another view]

do you upgrade the license to publish or commercial use?

No. Just use the educational version.

Can't help you with your other question, but I can tell you that with the Creative Suite you do have to upgrade the entire suite, and CS3 is out or should be shortly. IOW, I can't just buy the CS2 Photoshop upgrade for about $150, I have to upgrade all the other programs too which I think was $350. Since I never have used any of the others, I won't be doing this. At some point if I get a new DSLR I'll get Nikon's software for it (for RAW processing) and use CS when I need Photoshop.

Signed,
A little peturbed in IL...

[drg]

No. Just use the educational version.

...

This is an interesting problem, and Adobe would of course really like you to upgrade if you are using the software for commercial use as you are not really using it in an educational manner if the work produced is being sold. Or so Adobe reps have said in private conversations during seminars and the like.

There are some highly regarded User groups and aftermarket producers who want the rules bent so they can sell more of their products and services, and you will note THEY don't have educational 'cheapies'.

The support level is going to be different in terms of what online they notify you of in terms of add-ons, patches or so it seems when I've compared all the notices with a full package vs. educational 'full' versions some students I know have and they'll look through the 'admin' mail to see what they may need to load or get that has been sent to them.

I don't use every tool in the CS but I'm glad to have them or the designers are when needed. Lightroom right now is the tool of the moment and for the DSLR user it has a lot going for including some limits set so photos are not 'overadjusted', particularly with Curves.

One concern I always have with what is undoubtedly pirated software is that it gets modified to tell someone else what I'm doing, and if they have a legit serial number and someone elses work shows up with that embedded, who do you suppose might win in an ownership dispute ???

Educational software is a valuable product, but bending or breaking the guidlines only save a little money now and in the long run, well you will pay more one way or the other.

[CitizenM]

No. Just use the educational version.

At some point if I get a new DSLR I'll get Nikon's software for it (for RAW processing) and use CS when I need Photoshop.

Signed,
A little peturbed in IL...

I just received my D40 and it came w/ PictureProject 1.7. and I have iPhoto on a PowerBook is that sufficient to get my photographs onto a hdd, edit and catolog them? As for the Creative Suite, I really would be using it for learning purposes creating a digital layout and magazine style protfolio. I am just charging the battery for the camera. :idea:
Another question, newegg is having an incredible sale on flat screen monitors for my purposes which would be the best in the lower price categories? Also for our photo use is widescreen desirable or is it too much of a distortion?

[lidarman]

For CS2 there is a hack keycode generator that is around that people are using. They download the demo then register option as if you call in. The keycode gives a code that the person on the line with give you to activate it.

The education versions are great but adobe is smart and created a wonderful caveat. You can't upgrade them. So when you upgrade you have a choice; Either you buy a whole new non-upgradeable education version (which is more than the upgrade than if you had a standard license), or you pay a bigger price to get a standard version. In the long term, Adobe gets theirs money no matter what if you stick with the process.

I'm not advocating getting the hack keygenerator, but pointing out that if you want to stay legit, you have to pay in the long run.

The irony is though that the people who do have the keygen get the software completey free! Totally unfair to everyone else.

[cyberlord]

The irony is though that the people who do have the keygen get the software completey free! Totally unfair to everyone else.

I thought you still had to activate the software though even after entering the key. No?