9 times out of 10 an academic version is the exact same version of
the software as the retail, it is just been packaged in a special
package to go to academic ventures. Microsoft and Aldus (before
Adobe) used to sell NFS packaged software and hardware for vendors
use to hype up sales (You go into the store the vendor shows you the
actual product in use and you say neat I will take one)
The problem with Adobe is that they have always been on the extreme
high end of the cost spectrum. You can buy Corel Paint Shop Pro for
about $100.00 versus a few hundred for Photoshop and it is almost as
powerful.
Does not make sense. Then you have Gimp which is open source and free.
If Adobe lowered their price somewhat they would not be ripped off so
much (I think.)
Either way Adobe cannot justify their high price by claiming piracy.
Many software vendors have gone into the phone home version of
registration. Handled properly it will work well. Done improperly
it is a mess.
Stewart
At 09:13 AM 12/20/2007, you wrote:
As a working photographer, this whole thread is quite
saddening. Adobe has emigrated over the years from
the good guy to the paranoid guy (remind you of
anyone?). But the understandable reason is that their
valuable software is massively pirated, they reason
that raising the price will compensate for losses.
From version 7 to 8, Photoshop became a overwrought,
over-featured software, and hugely over-priced.
Thus, offering opportunity to pirating scam-artists.
Enter the specialists one finds on eBay.
In order to validate one's software, Adobe requires a
registration number, the software calls home to the
mothership, one cannot proceed without it; one cannot
use the software without it. And, necessary updates
are not available without it.
The backdoor of "academic versions" was left open for
those who qualify, such as children in school.
Unfortunately, many who are not "academic" rushed to
that door, the price was simply too attractive. Adobe
was now looking at significant sales to the academic
market. And became paranoid. They had placed an
essential software out there, but open to piracy.
On the ground, this means that honest people were
faced with constant scrutiny from the mothership, and
disabling features, should something not "appear"
right. This year, I have had ordinary issues that
became suddenly extraordinary, requiring uninstall and
reinstall, lots of minutes in resolution, simply so
that the mothership was content that I had not
purchased pirated software.
If you truly qualify for an academic discount, by all
means, take the opportunity. If you don't, and you
grab the candy, the rest of us pay for your
indulgence. If one's child's teacher requires
Photoshop for everyone, Adobe will offer a discount
for your group; it's simple: call them, make it
happen.
A "vendor" offering a download without registration
number and Adobe support is obviously in the camp of
scam.
Chad Evans Wyatt
Rev. Stewart A. Marshall
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Prince of Peace
Ozark, AL SL 82
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