Legal PSCS2 for less $$

[blumesan]

I would really like to have Photoshop PS 9.0 but my wallet is feeling rather anemic. I have no wish to go the pirated software route. However I have read in several sites that there is a perfectly legitimate means to get this software and save many $$. The advice is to buy an old version of PS (like PS 7) and then one can purchase an update to PS 9 from Adobe for under $200.

My questions: When buying an old version of PS must the original owner contact Adobe and sign over the rights to me? Must the old version come complete with a legitimate serial or code so that I can install it on my computer and register it before upgrading? And last but not least, when buying an old version how does one ensure that it is not "pirated " software. I understand that there is lots of that around.

I would appreciate any advice from those who have successfully used this method.

Cheers/Mike

[brian.austin]

Personally, I was sent an offer to upgrade to CS2 from Adobe Elements 2.0 for $299 recently. I took the offer and had to supply my Elements serial number to verify it was legitimate during the order process.

According to Adobe's site, CS, PS7 or earlier to CS2 is $169. Elements to CS2 is $499 right now. If it works and you can find a legitimate copy, you could be on to something. My biggest worry would be the "legitimate" part. Someone did a spot survey of eBay software and found over 50% was pirated software sold as legitimate (heard recently at a trade show).

[JohnC]

Yes, that will work if the original owner transfers the license.

Here is info about transfering Adobe Licenses:
http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/knowled...fm?id=tn_15281


John

[blumesan]

Thanks Brian & John.

John, following excerpted from the Adobe site you mentioned:
"Both the transferer and the transferee must sign the Transfer of License form. "

That may be a bit complicated if one buys the old version somewhere on-line.

Well, I guess I will continue to pursue this. Advice welcome from anyone who has gone this route.

Cheers/Mike

[jnor10]

This was exactly the route I took. I got PS 7.0 attemted to register it and couldn't due to previous owner. Got the transfer of ownership from Adobe's website, sent it to prior owner and he returned it to me to be summited to Adobe. When I was getting ready to upgrade to CS2, I called Adobe so I could fax the T of O. I asked them who they showed it registered to and they stated that they had "me" as the original owner of version 7?? Couldn't figure that one out, but really did'nt care at that point.

I got PS 7 off of E-bay. just be sure (if you go that rt) that original owner agree's to transfer as a condition of sale.

BTW,Adobe customer service was excellent, your actually talking to a real person, very courteous and helpful.

Jeff

[macmaam]

If the original disks are offered, along with the manuals and/or packaging,, it isn't pirated. At least, YOUR copy isn't. A lot of the pirated, "sounds too good to be true" ads will say, somewhere in the fine print, "You are buying a legitimate BACKUP copy...."

BTW, you can--and should--report such sellers to Adobe.

[Johnny D]

Mike,
You are willing to buy an older version and spend up to $200 for CS2.*

Might think about becoming a student so you could buy it as an academic purchase.* This site for instance,(not a recommendation, just a suggestion) http://www.academicsuperstore.com/ma...omocode=se0231
is selling the full version of CS2 for $290, not an upgrade.* Does this help?

[FocusingOnFlorida]

Make sure you can transfer the license. I bought an older version (I believe it was 3.0) and upgraded to CS. I had to do it over the phone because of the Version 3.0. It worked just fine until my computer died and I had to call them again to get it loaded again.

This time they said they could not help me because the Verion 3 was licensed to someone else. I told them they had already done it once and I was running it for 6 months. They would not budge. I purchased the Version 3 from a yardsale years earlier and had no idea of where to get a tranfer. I asked if they would refund my money and they said three months had passed. I explained it wouldn't have if they didn't activate the upgrade 6 months earlier.

Anyway, I got stuck with a useless Upgrade for CS. I have since given away the Version 3 and wouldn't use PhotoShop at all if it weren't for my work providing it. I have found that I can do just about everything in PhotoImpact and it costs less than $100.00 USD.

I wasn't impressed when they bought Macromendia either as I do have some of their products.

[WyneM]

I would suggest that you look at Photoshop Elements 5.0 (only available for windows based OS's at present) or PaintShop Pro, from Corel. Both have much of the versatility of Photoshop without the initial high cost.

WayneM