[Akalabeth Angel]

Anyone had any experience buying software online? I'm thinking specifically of like Adobe or Corel software. New these software run at hundreds of dollars, but I notice on Ebay there are slightly older versions going for like 40 bucks each (ie Corel Painter X, Adobe Photoshop CS3). Though some of them say "new version, but just a CD + serial no manual or box".

I wonder if this stuff is legit and whether it'll work when it comes in the mail. Because if you look at Amazon.com even these old versions are still going for 300 bucks. Though Amazon can be a joke in general with some prices, the 40 bucks on eBay seems a bit off for whatever reason.

And yeah, I know I could get cracked versions off bittorrent or whatever. But if a person can get a cheap, slightly older version why not right?? I'm sure some people on here have gotten these sorts of programs, or 3D programs in a similar method or have had friends who have done so.

[Bobboau]

because it's probably just as illegal to buy used as it is to copy, as far as the publisher is concerned its effectively the same thing, because they don't get a cut, if you look in the EULA you'll probably find some language that says they are not the owner of the software, they are just being given permission to use it.

[NGTM-1R]

because it's probably just as illegal to buy used as it is to copy, as far as the publisher is concerned its effectively the same thing, because they don't get a cut, if you look in the EULA you'll probably find some language that says they are not the owner of the software, they are just being given permission to use it.

Which has been struck down in court.

[Bobboau]

oh, I thought it was upheld? I must have misremembered that.

[Kazan]

i would like to point out that copyright infringement isn't illegal in the "Criminal" sense, it's a civil infraction.  getting the US government to treat it as criminal = making the US taxpayers spend millions of dollars that according to the law the copyright owners should be paying.

oh, I thought it was upheld? I must have misremembered that.

in one district it was upheld, in one it was struct down.  it has not gone before SCOTUS

[Akalabeth Angel]

because it's probably just as illegal to buy used as it is to copy, as far as the publisher is concerned its effectively the same thing, because they don't get a cut, if you look in the EULA you'll probably find some language that says they are not the owner of the software, they are just being given permission to use it.

I think quite a few of those say the product is actually new, it just doesn't come with the box and manual. So it's like OEM or something?? But it seems a bit dicey anyway. I would expect the software to be more than 40 bucks of the 300 retail sort of thing.

And until I start using that sort of software more regularly I don't think I'd want to foot the 300 dollar price tag.

[Scourge of Ages]

I purchased Illustrator CS pretty cheaply on eBay, and it works great.
I think the key thing is just like with any eBay purchase: Read the description carefully, only buy from sellers with higher than 96% rating, and read their ratings if you're nervous. If you need information or have any questions about the item, just contact the seller.

[JGZinv]

The no manual part can be true, as just about any major software has the PDF on disc manual thing now.
If they printed a manual with Photoshop (I have one for PS5) it'd be the size of a phone book and weigh 6 pounds.

eBay recently has cleaned up somewhat, partially due to Adobe breathing down their necks. So there isn't "quite"
so many bootlegs on there. I'd look for proper retail style CD case, transfer of ownership if applicable, and whatever
else might give an indication it came from boxed. Pictures or it didn't happen sort of thing...

In many cases you might be better off with Craigslist or similar. Check around deal sites or other auctions.
All of the Autodesk Max 2010! $35 are bootlegs burned to CD, then they ship em to ya.

Your other option is upgrades. Generally they are cheaper and easier to find than full copies.

[S-99]

because it's probably just as illegal to buy used as it is to copy, as far as the publisher is concerned its effectively the same thing, because they don't get a cut, if you look in the EULA you'll probably find some language that says they are not the owner of the software, they are just being given permission to use it.

UUUUGGHHh. Why are we falling under this impression that second sale is illegal? This is a great bull**** mind **** from companies. Game producing companies have the same bull****, but people still sell their games when they're done with them anyway. It's almost like they want you to return the product after you're done using it, you know, after you bought it to own it (steam is ****).

WAAAAAAAAAHHH!!! We don't get our cut after you bought it to own it and are done using it. Software needs to get more specific. It's not the program you're buying, it's a license to use it what bobbau is describing. But, this wont stop people from selling they're perfectly still good to use licenses to other people. After all, adobe wont know the difference. Microsoft never knew much of a difference when i sell a copy of windows i was done using (i tend to get that impression when it successfully activates on the person's computer who bought it from me, and is still working great months down the road). And for companies to expect the users to oblige them with a paycut from when they sell it again? ROFL! As much as steam is a ****ty game service at least they realized this by making second sale near impossible and don't *****.

I would say go ahead and buy a cheaper copy of adobe whatever. I would say make sure it's from a good seller, and that you're not just buying what might in some of these deals just be a full featured trial version demo that was cracked (cracked to disable the time limit) for someone to make some easy money.

[Klaustrophobia]

how can resale be illegal if they are giving up the key an the ability to run it on their own computers? 

[S-99]

I guess they figure that everyone's gullible enough to believe what they say. I think adobe should adopt a system like steam for all adobe software to make second sale near impossible and then no one would be *****ing.

[Spicious]

No, they tend to bring out the lawyers when people try it on a sufficiently large scale.

[S-99]

One reason i like to not get software from sue happy companies. My big love for free opensource software. Granted that means i use gimp all the time. But, when i was using adobe photoshop in 2009, i couldn't help but not really care for it much. The extra clone brush tools are nice, but they're all based upon the same original clone brush with some extra computational tasks to somehow make it more awesome.

Which in my head leads to lazier photo imaging folk. People not willing to spend the time to make the battlecruiser 3000AD box look like the freespace 3 box convincing don't need these extra tools (old picture, good for laughs, usually i whip it out on new forumites who start a topic on fs3, and usually the picture is the last post on an fs3 topic...granted i haven't done this to all fs3 threads).

On the topic again, sue happy usually means "we victimize our customers if we get a chance".

[Akalabeth Angel]

Well I'm thinking I might try Corel Painter instead of Photoshop. They've got a nicer colour select tool by the looks of it. And meh, scerw adobe. I've used their crap long enough. Give these other monkeys a shot

[Scourge of Ages]

If you don't like the thought of buying Adobe, why don't you just go for free stuff like Gimp or paint.net?

[Akalabeth Angel]

If you don't like the thought of buying Adobe, why don't you just go for free stuff like Gimp or paint.net?

Because I still want professional-grade software. And as far as I know, in North America at least that means Photoshop or Painter.

Actually I just realised my waccom tablet disk has some form of corel painter on it. Might be bare bones crap, but I'll check it out.

[S-99]

If you don't like the thought of buying Adobe, why don't you just go for free stuff like Gimp or paint.net?

Paint.net sucks compared to gimp. It just does, paint.net has a ways to go before becoming equivalent to gimp. Gimp is great if you're looking for something that's free, cross platform, full of features, but rather sort of bare boned compared to photoshop.

You might want to also check out jasc paintshop pro. That's one of my other favorites. I've heard good thing's about corel software, just not the chance to use their software yet.

[Bobboau]

Paint.net is ok for minor editing, but it's not something you would want to use for designing, the dedication to lack of vector graphics alone leave it hacked off above the knees.