Author Topic: Photoshop ..Thinking of buying used..good or bad? (Read 6849 times)

donding · « **on:** April 27, 2009, 18:03 »

I was thinking of buying a used copy of Photoshop on E-Bay, but do any of you know rather I would run into an activation issue if the copy had already been activated on two computors? I was trying to research it on Adobe website and it really doesn't address the issue of reselling the copy to some one else. It just says something about having to deactivate it on "Your" computor...meaning the original registration owner..in order to reactivate it on another one.

I know windows is funny like that and just wondered if Adobe was that way to and if any of you have run into that problem...

PeterChigmaroff · « **Reply #1 on:** April 27, 2009, 18:08 »

Despite what the seller tells you, you'll likely get a pirated version. I've tried buying software a couple of times and I thought I asked the right questions but did now get what I paid for. You may have better luck with Craig's List as at least you can see it first. I was looking at a used Illustrator not long ago and after probing I found all were pirated versions. That is not to say everyone is out to rip you off it's just saying quite a few people are out to rip you off.

donding · « **Reply #2 on:** April 27, 2009, 18:21 »

Do you think that Adobe would consider it a pirated version if it was used and you used the same serial number that the other owner did?

cdwheatley · « **Reply #3 on:** April 27, 2009, 18:22 »

Maybe there is someone around here that can sell you photoshop. Oh wait! that would interfere with "happy hour", nevermind.

tan510jomast · « **Reply #4 on:** April 27, 2009, 18:28 »

Quote from: cdwheatley on April 27, 2009, 18:22

Maybe there is someone around here that can sell you photoshop. Oh wait! that would interfere with "happy hour", nevermind.

lol christian , that's the only time we see you here lately ?

madelaide · « **Reply #5 on:** April 27, 2009, 18:31 »

Years ago a colleague bought a second-hand MS software. The previous user had to write a letter to MS informing the change of license ownership.

batman · « **Reply #6 on:** April 27, 2009, 18:35 »

maybe Zeus was concerned not about it being a pirated copy. but more so that the seller could still be using it and then selling it to you. that could be considered as pirated, right? also, they could have downloaded it from torrent, or other sites like these where lots of pirated images and softwares are being offered for free.

i remember once Adobe offered a six month trial, not sure if they still do that. it's not for the latest edition, but some older ones. still better than risking losing you money. Or like cdwheatley said, perharps someone here has an older one to sell you... but waiting till after "happy hours", though

madelaide · « **Reply #7 on:** April 27, 2009, 18:53 »

That's why I mentioned what my colleague did. If the original license owner write a letter to Adobe saying he is transfering the rights, he is no longer allowed to legally use the software.

But that was years ago and I don't know if all software companies accept that.

donding · « **Reply #8 on:** April 27, 2009, 18:54 »

Well the seller told me that she could just transfer the registration and that she'd done it before and she did sell a copy of Adobe illistrator and the buyer gave her 100% rating..She has photo's of the software and manual...it's Photoshop 6.0 with an upgrade to Photoshop CS. It's currently going for 67.00...man it is tempting.

batman · « **Reply #9 on:** April 27, 2009, 19:02 »

Quote from: donding on April 27, 2009, 18:54

Well the seller told me that she could just transfer the registration and that she'd done it before and she did sell a copy of Adobe illistrator and the buyer gave her 100% rating..She has photo's of the software and manual...it's Photoshop 6.0 with an upgrade to Photoshop CS. It's currently going for 67.00...man it is tempting.

i suppose you could try getting the registration and let the buyer know that you will first write to Adobe Support and once Adobe confirms with the legality of it all, you will buy it. perharps, this way, it's a safeguard for you. not sure, maybe someone here can say whether this is a good way to go about doing it.

donding · « **Reply #10 on:** April 27, 2009, 19:43 »

Well I got outbid

..it ended up going for 89.01 or something like that...someone had automatic bidding so every time I'd bid it would go higher...at least I helped out the person selling it..that is if it was a legit copy...

davey_rocket · « **Reply #11 on:** April 27, 2009, 20:57 »

If you know anybody attending a University, or are yourself, you can often get an educational license for insanely cheap. I attend Oregon State University and I bought Photoshop CS3 last year for $120 and just got Illustrator CS4 for $140. I could have bought the whole Creative Suite for $300 if I'd been smart. You just usually need a University ID.

donding · « **Reply #12 on:** April 27, 2009, 21:25 »

Thanks Davey but this old lady is to old for college....

psssst I'm not THAT old...just older

madelaide · « **Reply #13 on:** April 27, 2009, 21:32 »

Quote from: davey_rocket on April 27, 2009, 20:57

If you know anybody attending a University, or are yourself, you can often get an educational license for insanely cheap. I attend Oregon State University and I bought Photoshop CS3 last year for $120 and just got Illustrator CS4 for $140. I could have bought the whole Creative Suite for $300 if I'd been smart. You just usually need a University ID.

Is an educational license allowed for commercial use?

stock_fan · « **Reply #14 on:** April 27, 2009, 22:21 »

Quote from: madelaide on April 27, 2009, 21:32

Quote from: davey_rocket on April 27, 2009, 20:57
If you know anybody attending a University, or are yourself, you can often get an educational license for insanely cheap. I attend Oregon State University and I bought Photoshop CS3 last year for $120 and just got Illustrator CS4 for $140. I could have bought the whole Creative Suite for $300 if I'd been smart. You just usually need a University ID.

Is an educational license allowed for commercial use?

i don't think so:
http://www.adobe.com/uk/education/students/studentedition/eligibility.html

Restrictions on use
You may purchase only one license of any Adobe Student Edition product. This license may be used only on your privately owned computer. Student Edition products may not be used for commercial gain.

Freezingpictures · « **Reply #15 on:** April 28, 2009, 02:25 »

Here in Europe we have a student version and a student version for commercial use, which is slightly more expensive than the normal student version but still far under the original price.

cybernesco · « **Reply #16 on:** April 28, 2009, 06:45 »

3 years ago I got cs2 from ebay from one of those "power seller" with 99.9999 % positive feedback. Paid something like $200. Got it but would not activate. Called Adobe and as soon as they heard the word "ebay" it immediately ended our conversation with "sorry can't help you".

Thereafter, I wrote a nasty comment as a feedback to degrade this guy status. Within 30 minutes he wrote back saying that he would reimburse me if I deleted the comment. I replied saying that as soon as I see the money in my paypal account that I will delete the comment. Next day the money was in paypal and thereafter deleted the bad comment.

I guess some of those power sellers with high positive feedback take pride in this and would do anything to keep their rating as high as they can. Therefore, maybe they are a bit more reliable then the other lower ranked sellers.

Thereafter, although this was not the worst case scenario, I did not want to go through that experience again, so I bough cs3 from Adobe website and now I have cs4 suite downloaded from Adobe. Even if you don't make too much it is still deductible from your taxes in most countries (Check your local tax person for advice). Denis

donding · « **Reply #17 on:** April 28, 2009, 08:44 »

Quote from: cybernesco on April 28, 2009, 06:45

3 years ago I got cs2 from ebay from one of those "power seller" with 99.9999 % positive feedback. Paid something like $200. Got it but would not activate. Called Adobe and as soon as they heard the word "ebay" it immediately ended our conversation with "sorry can't help you".

Thereafter, I wrote a nasty comment as a feedback to degrade this guy status. Within 30 minutes he wrote back saying that he would reimburse me if I deleted the comment. I replied saying that as soon as I see the money in my paypal account that I will delete the comment. Next day the money was in paypal and thereafter deleted the bad comment.

I guess some of those power sellers with high positive feedback take pride in this and would do anything to keep their rating as high as they can. Therefore, maybe they are a bit more reliable then the other lower ranked sellers.

Thereafter, although this was not the worst case scenario, I did not want to go through that experience again, so I bough cs3 from Adobe website and now I have cs4 suite downloaded from Adobe. Even if you don't make too much it is still deductible from your taxes in most countries (Check your local tax person for advice). Denis

Thanks Denis...that's the answer I was looking for. I really wondered about that. Thanks goodness I lost the bid on that software last night!
Again thanks...guess I'll be paying full price. I really hate to pay that high price when I'm wanting to get a Mac computor. I have Windows right now...but who knows it may be another two years before I get around to getting one. Just don't want to pay for the same software twice for two different kinds of computors. I'll proubably just continue using Capture NX.

Freezingpictures · « **Reply #18 on:** April 28, 2009, 09:16 »

Why don't you get the Elemtents version? Its much cheaper and can do a lot.

MikLav · « **Reply #19 on:** April 28, 2009, 09:25 »

I have heard many times about problems with buying expensive software cheaper on ebay. I believe the only reliable way to buy a second-hand copy of photoshop is from somebody you know in person, or you can at least meet in person and verify.

BTW there doesn't seem to be a problem with second-hand computer games

donding · « **Reply #20 on:** April 28, 2009, 15:00 »

Quote from: Freezingpictures on April 28, 2009, 09:16

Why don't you get the Elemtents version? Its much cheaper and can do a lot.

I just downloaded the trial version...I think it might do what I need it to do...that is after I figure it out...

alias · « **Reply #21 on:** April 28, 2009, 16:08 »

Quote from: Freezingpictures on April 28, 2009, 09:16

Why don't you get the Elemtents version? Its much cheaper and can do a lot.

Seconded.

Better still - Lightroom + Elements is a good combination for much typical photographic work. Lightroom for most of what you are likely to need to do and Elements if you need to do actually do brush work more than fixing the odd dust spot. Like getting rid of a logo or something.

I got CS3 because I just kept upgrading since about version 4 and because my work pays for it. But if I was starting out and buying it myself I would go with Elements.

lisafx · « **Reply #22 on:** April 28, 2009, 16:48 »

Agreed, Elements is a great program.

And I love Lightroom! I has simplified my RAW workflow to the point where it is a breeze and the results are much better than I used to get with other software.

madelaide · « **Reply #23 on:** April 28, 2009, 19:07 »

If you accept options for PS, I would suggest PSP. Much cheaper ($70 for the standard edition), basically the same features, and as far as I have been told much better than Elements (I haven't compared myself, but I have Elements in my mother's notebook and I found it very non-intuitive) .
http://www.corel.com/servlet/Satellite/us/en/Product/1184951547051#versionTabview=tab0&tabview=tab0

astrocady · « **Reply #24 on:** April 29, 2009, 08:05 »

Quote

I really hate to pay that high price when I'm wanting to get a Mac computor.

Most software companies will send you a new disk if you change operating systems -- or even if you damage your original disk. You are, after all, paying for the license, not the software itself.

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Author Topic: Photoshop ..Thinking of buying used..good or bad? (Read 6849 times)

donding

PeterChigmaroff

donding

cdwheatley

tan510jomast

madelaide

batman

madelaide

donding

batman

donding

davey_rocket

donding

madelaide

stock_fan

Freezingpictures

cybernesco

donding

Freezingpictures

MikLav

donding

alias

lisafx

madelaide

astrocady

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