Photoshop CS2 -- Internet deals?

[jimsolt]

I'm seeing some "deals" offered for purchase of CS2. 1 is for $199 and promises everthing you get from Adobe. Some others combine an earlier version of PS boxed with CS2 and I'm presuming you get the "rebate price".
Are any of these valid? What would be considered a "good deal"? I would not be interested in anything less than a full version that could be used for future legitimate upgrades.

Thanks, Jim

[tim]

The earlier version thing is legal, so long as they sourced it legally. The best way I know of is to get PS7 OEM from ebay.de, then get the upgrade to CS2 yourself.

[PhotosGuy]

Take a look at this, too:
http://www.adobe.com/education/purchasing/education_pricing.html

The new PSE seems to give you a lot you need at a reasonable price, too. ;-)

[ejwebb]

In case you have not seen these - requires that you have a valid version of Photoshop Elements - not sure how they know (or whether they care) if you actually have a Canon or Nikon product as long as you can supply a valid Elements serial number. I finally bit the bullet and did this last week - got the program, user guide and video introduction for $305 shipped ($300 off retail).

http://store.adobe.com/store/products/master.jhtml?id=catCanon
http://store.adobe.com/store/products/master.jhtml?id=catNikon

[jimsolt]

Take a look at this, too:
http://www.adobe.com/education/purchasing/education_pricing.html

The new PSE seems to give you a lot you need at a reasonable price, too. ;)

Thanks, but I don't qualify for the education discount.
I have PSE 3.0 and it is quite good, but naturally the more expensive CS2 offers lots more for LOTS MORE MONEY.

Jim

[jimsolt]

In case you have not seen these - requires that you have a valid version of Photoshop Elements - not sure how they know (or whether they care) if you actually have a Canon or Nikon product as long as you can supply a valid Elements serial number. I finally bit the bullet and did this last week - got the program, user guide and video introduction for $305 shipped ($300 off retail).

http://store.adobe.com/store/products/master.jhtml?id=catCanon
http://store.adobe.com/store/products/master.jhtml?id=catNikon

Unfortunately those upgrades apply to Elements that came bundled with my Canon Product (or Nikon), and my Elements didn't come as a bundle. Did your Elements come as a bundle or did the serial number of a separate package work for you?

Jim

[ejwebb]

Did your Elements come as a bundle or did the serial number of a separate package work for you?

Mine did come with a camera - but I wonder if/how adobe can tell. I guess maybe the serial numbers are coded but I do remember seeing others say somewhere that it works with any valid serial number. I don't know if it works or not but it's worth a shot - either it allows the discount or it doesn't when you input the serial number. If it won't allow the discount you don't have to complete the transaction.

[ScottE]

Thanks, but I don't qualify for the education discount.
I have PSE 3.0 and it is quite good, but naturally the more expensive CS2 offers lots more for LOTS MORE MONEY.


What does PSE 3.0 lack that you NEED in CS2? Before you upgrade, have a look at Richard Lynch's book, The Hidden Power of PhotoShop Elements 3 that provided some utilities that add many of the missing features.

Scott

[ejwebb]

What does PSE 3.0 lack that you NEED in CS2? Before you upgrade, have a look at Richard Lynch's book, The Hidden Power of PhotoShop Elements 3 that provided some utilities that add many of the missing features.

I agree this is an important assessment for you to make. You can also check out the FREE utilities (similar to the ones in Lynch's book) that I mention in this thread:

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=57523

For me the decision was workflow related - improvements in the RAW Converter, ability to use actions. Also, I knew I would eventually end up with CS anyway so i decided to join the club while the offer was available. There is nothing wrong with using PSE unless you decide you want or need the additional functionality of CS2.

[jimsolt]

EJ & Scott,

I have seen the books, own some of them, and have downloaded some of the 3rd party plugins. Yes, Elements 3 is a good program and all of the above add to its value and usefulness. And it has ocurred to me the books are not free. Several books and I'm on the way to spending the price of upgrading.

But there comes a time when I get tired of looking for a workaround, looking for a way to do what Elements is really not supposed to do, and now I'm looking at CS2 and seeing all kinds of things I want. As you say, I have to put a price on my wishes. That's why I was examining the "deals."

Aside from the $ savings, I have concerns about whether or not the "deals" offer real full-fledged registerable, upgradable products. I learned long ago, I'm not really happy with having to sneak in the back door with computer products or anything else. If I can find a free parking space nearby, I'll take it, but if I have to walk 3.5 miles from the free space or put a phony handicapped tag on the mirror, I'll pull into the parking garage and pay.

Still looking for a "swell deal".
Jim

[mkh]

EJ & Scott,

I have seen the books, own some of them, and have downloaded some of the 3rd party plugins. Yes, Elements 3 is a good program and all of the above add to its value and usefulness. And it has ocurred to me the books are not free. Several books and I'm on the way to spending the price of upgrading.

Jim

Yea but if you upgrade to CS2 then you will have to buy books for that. Books are almost always required for software these days. The manufacturers provide limited manuals and help in order to keep the booming after market book trade going. It's also less work for them as we all realize we need books.

Books are my friends. Books good. Money bad. Must redeam bad money for good books. Or more lens. :lol: