In upgrading they will ask for your old serial number if the software isn't currently installed.
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Adobe Creative Suite 3 (CS3) Pricing and Upgrades
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In upgrading they will ask for your old serial number if the software isn't currently installed.
Anyone have any info if they will have Photoshop CS3 for students at a lower price than the extended? Or will there only be the extended and no option for those who don't want the extras and only need the standard photoshop. All I need is photoshop, not the extended version but for students, its only $100 less than the whole standard suite. It makes sense just to get the whole suite, but I don't need any other programs except for standard Photoshop CS3.
To be fair to Adobe, the quoted UK price will include VAT, but the quoted US price won't include US sales taxes (someone correct me if I'm wrong). A true comparison should be done without taxes. Using today's exchange rate of 1GBP = 0.5097USD...
US Price = $1599.99 = £ 815.53
UK Price = $2659.82 = £1355.74 excluding VAT
So that's still a 66.2% increase for living on the wrong side of pond. Or, it assumes an exchange rate of 0.8473. And remember that us amateurs will have to fork out an additional 17.5% on top of that.
So yes... it's still a "total joke". Although... it's all I've come to expect.
I wonder, would the US-based pros still be calling the rest of us "whiners" if they had to pay the UK prices?
SL
What drivel. It's sounds like you're happy to sit there and wait for the cheque to magically appear at the end of the month. Unless you're Saatchi and Saatchi, an extra few hundred pounds one month per employee to cover software and licences is a major outlay for most design outfits, let alone freelancers or independents. This software is extremely pricey and you are also forced to buy premium editions if you're into web AND print work - and who isn't nowadays.
Nobody's forcing anyone to buy the latest and greatest usually, but unless you're happy to plod along with Rosetta (which can take minutes to switch between apps on a bday day), you're basically forced to upgrade. And Adobe knows it.
Remember that these applications have been in production for years. The code's already sitting there. These are not new applications, just updates.
If £1000 - £2100 for a standalone product and £600 odd for an upgrade is your idea of cheap, you haven't lived in the real world.
Posted the below over in the Buying Advice forum but since this thread has hit upon the UK / US price difference farce, I thought I'd chuck my query in here too. Apologies if it's OT.
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I'm a bit shocked at the price disparity between the US and UK prices, so have a couple of questions to work out the best way to upgrade.
I currently have Photoshop CS2 (full version) and an Academic version of Macromedia Studio 8. I'm no longer eligible for academic versions, so was wondering if there's anyway to upgrade using that, rather than Photoshop, as the Studio upgrade is cheaper.
Failing that (and I'm not optimistic), is there a US supplier who would ship to the UK? Even including customs and VAT, wouldn't this work out cheaper than buying in the UK?
Any advice?
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I'm a bit shocked at the price disparity between the US and UK prices, so have a couple of questions to work out the best way to upgrade.
I currently have Photoshop CS2 (full version) and an Academic version of Macromedia Studio 8. I'm no longer eligible for academic versions, so was wondering if there's anyway to upgrade using that, rather than Photoshop, as the Studio upgrade is cheaper.
Failing that (and I'm not optimistic), is there a US supplier who would ship to the UK? Even including customs and VAT, wouldn't this work out cheaper than buying in the UK?
Any advice?
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Exactly, If design is what you do to earn your bread then this is a bargain. If its not then it's a waste of money, after all, you don't buy sage if you're not an accountant, pro-tools if you're not a producer, FCP if you're not making films. If you just want to make up the occasional pretty looking party invite or birthday card for your Mum then you don't need to fork out this kind of cash.
Bretm, I am glad business is good, and you've got enough cash and/or few enough responsibilities to make the Adobe CS3 range seem "cheap" to you. Long may this prosperity continue for you, through life and all its changes.
Nevertheless, it is wrong to make assumptions about people you don't know, about what they need/want, what they can/can't afford, and the reasons why.
SL
Our suppliers have just emailed me:
I would advise if you require the Creative Suite to order 2.3 today at the current price, and then obtain a free upgrade to CS3.
I would advise if you require the Creative Suite to order 2.3 today at the current price, and then obtain a free upgrade to CS3.
If you ordered the 2.3 version, you would then just go to the Adobe website where you would be able to claim your free upgrade with Customer Services.
You would be given a valid serial number from Adobe for the new version, if you need me to check anything further please just let me know.
You would be given a valid serial number from Adobe for the new version, if you need me to check anything further please just let me know.
But it doesn't stop you using the previous version, it's been so long since I've used an upgrade that I've forgotten. I'm pretty sure you can still use both copies as it installs seperate folders with the apps...?
What I'm really trying to find out is the 3D part, as in does it let you create models. All I can find info on it is edit existing models.
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$600 for Design Premium academic. Ouch!That prices me out of the market for this product. Either have to try to live without Flash and Dreamweaver and better PS or stick with my old versions (sucky on Intel Mac).
that isn't the upgrade price... or is there not an academic upgrade?.. (this would make the academic price the same as the commercial upgrade price if you already had CS. Not a bad way to do it.
AND, do you really need PS extended?... get the standard and the web standard packages instead.
Per job you will make a profit. Instead of this profit enabling you to buy £600 - £2000 worth of software, with licences, you need this profit to pay for salaries, rent, internet, phone, utilities, travel, consumables, marketing, tax etc etc etc.
You're missing the point that every company is not of an equal size or makes the same amount of money. A freelancer on his own has to put aside 25% of his monthly profit for example, but Pentagram might be paying 0.5%.
its the cost of doing business. get over it, or don't buy the new software. customers will not flee from a designer because they do not have the most recent version of a piece of software. a freelancer also has less overhead than pentagram does, so maybe that software is 0.5% of the monthly profit, but pentagram also has to pay for high rent on overpriced urban space, employee benefits, on top of which they need to buy 150 seats of the software instead of just one, blah blah blah...
its an argument that is getting old. business costs money. if you cannot pay that money, then learn how to run your business better, or get out of it.
$600 for Design Premium academic. Ouch!
I'm experiencing a similar problem. I need Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator and Dreamweaver for coursework. But don't need Extended or Flash.
Not to mention, the RETAIL version of Design Premium CS 3 (upgrade) is the same price as the EDU version. Only benefit to the EDU version is that it's a full installation.
I must say Adobe is normally on-target with EDU pricing, but they've really complicated this release.
Yes, you can.
CS1 Standard or Premium (Retail or EDU) can be upgraded to CS3 Web Design Premium for $493.99.
https://www.macrumors.com/2007/03/27/adobe-creative-suite-3-announced/
Adobe will "exchange" your Windows license for a Mac license if you contact their customer service department. In my case, they did it for free. However, they may charge a nominal fee. Obviously, you have to give up your license for the initial platform.
Adobe rip off the UK again!
The upgrade to Adobe Design Premium from Adobe CS is $599, but in the UK it is £577.55 ex VAT (17.5%), that's $1134.54! That's 189%, and if you take VAT into account its a whopping $1333 or 223%. Just how do Adobe justify trying to charge us 189% more than the US? It's just daylight robbery.
Needless to say I won't be paying that price. It's probably cheaper to fly to the USA, buy it there and fly back, but instead I'll just order it mail order and have it delivered to a US address. Quick $535 saved, even with paying the VAT on the package when it is shipped to the UK.
The upgrade to Adobe Design Premium from Adobe CS is $599, but in the UK it is £577.55 ex VAT (17.5%), that's $1134.54! That's 189%, and if you take VAT into account its a whopping $1333 or 223%. Just how do Adobe justify trying to charge us 189% more than the US? It's just daylight robbery.
Needless to say I won't be paying that price. It's probably cheaper to fly to the USA, buy it there and fly back, but instead I'll just order it mail order and have it delivered to a US address. Quick $535 saved, even with paying the VAT on the package when it is shipped to the UK.
Wow! I'm very happy about the edu pricing. I really wish you could order normal photoshop alone. Not only do I not want to pay extra for extended, I would rather not have it clogging up HD space and system resources. I only need Flash and Dreamweaver (I already have photoshop elements), but would love the added benefit of Photoshop CS3. Considering that upgrading from web standard to web premium is just $100, it makes sense just to have PS, Illustrator, and Acrobat in your apps folder for when they could come in handy.
Thats still a ******** of money for a college student. I'm a film student and I need After Effects and Photoshop. There's no way I can afford to get Production Premium when I get my Macbook Pro for next school year. Between the Macbook Pro, Final Cut, CS3 Production, and other accessories for the laptop, I would end up spending at least $4000. That's more than I'll earn this summer for working.
The big question is if purchased today does CS 2.3 Premium upgrade to CS 3 Design Premium? Or does it upgrade to CS 3 Design Standard? If the former, it would be cost beneficial to purchase CS 2.3 Premium today and upgrade for free when CS 3 ships.
If the latter, a person would be giving up Dreamweaver in the new bundle.
Unfortunately, Adobe's post-announce policy has been taken offline.
http://www.adobe.com/support/service/freeupgrades.html
You may also pay a custom charge (I think). About an additional 20% (I think) of the sticker price, in addition to the VAT. Your shipper may also charge you an "admin fee" for processing thru customs.
Still should work out cheaper though.
SL