Ridiculously Inexpensive Adobe Software

[JamesR]

So you are on a budget yet feel the need to acquire industry standard Adobe software. How can the little guy avoid paying through the nose? Academic discount!

Sign up for a class at the local junior college, say a Photoshop class. Go to the bookstore with your new student ID, and lo and behold! Adobe Web Collection (Illustrator 9.0, Photoshop 6.0, GoLive5.0, and LiveMotion) for only $299! (compare with $999 at adobe.com). The little guy now has a fighting chance.

[ggrot]

Except you aren't really allowed to use student licenses to produce something that you end up selling. Not that anyone would really know, but I think that's basically the rule. Dont quote me.

[Drastic]

Yea, part of the academic license usually states the software is to be used only for academic purposes - not commercially.

[mivox]

OTOH, Adobe's regular license says you can install "work-related" software on both your home and work computers, if you ever use your home computer for work.

And, if you actually get an educational license while you're in school, by the time you graduate you can get an upgrade package which (I think) comes with the regular licensing terms.

I'd personally like to see Adobe start a "make your own bundle" offer. All of their existing software bundles includes at least one program I don't want... PageMaker (prefer InDesign) or Illustrator (prefer Freehand) for example.

Hehe... I'd go back to school to get an educational price "make your own" Adobe software bundle.

[JamesR]

Yeah, speaking with someone who bought the ed-discount version said there was a pop up that said something about not for commercial use. I am thinking paying for the upgrade prices may be a work around. There has got to be an ethical way around paying full price (my motto :))

[littleman]

Sort of related:
There was something recently about buying adobe bundled software with a scanner and having the right to sell it if it was never installed on your machine. It went to court recently and some Linux using folks through a site together to sell there unused software cheap. Apparently they had the right to do it because they never agreed to the license requirements

Don't have a link.

[JamesR]

Followed up with the college bookstore a few days ago. The store lady called the software rep and said it would be no problem to use the software for commercial use.

[rcjordan]

>The store lady called the software rep and said it would be no problem to use the software for commercial use.

He put that in writing?

Having dealt with reps all my business life, the standard company procedure is to disavow them and point you back to whatever's in print.

[JamesR]

That's the problem, I don't want to buy the thing and then get a nice surprise at the end user agreement. If I take the plunge, will report back.

[sun818]

Have you considered older versions from Adobe? I picked up Adobe PhotoShop 4.0 LE CD for $5.00 from a computer store. It loads fast and is perfect for what I want to do -- basic photo editing.

[mivox]

You can find quite a bit of older software on Ebay...

If you find an unregistered/unopened copy, or a seller willing to go through Adobe's transfer of ownership procedures, you'll be eligible to upgrade to the new version.