Is it still possible to buy Photoshop 7.0 legitimately?

August 2, 2004 7:31 AM

Is it still possible to buy Photoshop 7.0 legitimately? I want to support Adobe, but hearing about lots of "software activation" nightmares has made me loathe to buy version CS. Froogle and Amazon.com just give me what look like illegal "OEM" versions of PS7.
posted by Aaorn to Computers & Internet (10 answers total)

OEM versions aren't necessarily bootlegs, if they're actually OEM versions. They may be white box versions, sold on the grey market. If that's the case, it's perfectly legit for you to buy them.
posted by majick at 7:57 AM on August 2, 2004

Better read this and this at the Photoshop forums.
posted by sageleaf at 8:12 AM on August 2, 2004

resale of used software is legal (like resale of old cds you don't want anymore), but you don't get tech support. can you not find a used copy?
posted by crush-onastick at 8:29 AM on August 2, 2004

You could also buy a legal retail version, and then install a crack to remove the activation (I haven't checked, but I'd bet there's one out there). It's not legal either, but it's ethically okay anyway.
posted by malphigian at 8:34 AM on August 2, 2004

Sageleaf, your links require a login.
posted by pmurray63 at 10:00 AM on August 2, 2004

you could always find someone who did upgrade to CS and buy their copy of 7. when our lab upgraded to 7 we donated our old copy of 5.5 to a student computer lab in the same department.

this of course requires you to know someone who is willing to upgrade to CS. perhaps if you know someone with 7 who wants CS, and you're willing to split the upgrade cost with them in exchange for them giving you their old 7?

(pmurray63 - click the "enter as guest" to read the adobe forums without getting a login name.)
posted by caution live frogs at 10:14 AM on August 2, 2004

you could always find someone who did upgrade to CS and buy their copy of 7

I believe this is illegal, since an upgrade licence makes the assumption that you had/have the original version, and you're just paying a little more to get the latest and greatest. If you sell your old version, the upgrade is not valid.
posted by wackybrit at 10:55 AM on August 2, 2004

Thanks, CLF, I missed that button. But I'll second what wackybrit says -- I believe what you're suggesting is specifically not allowed.
posted by pmurray63 at 1:39 PM on August 2, 2004

I'd go with buying CS and cracking it if it turned out I needed to (if anyone tells you it's illegal to use cracks on software you own in order to make use of it, screw them). I would then write Adobe a stiff letter about their silly activation policy, in the hope that complains from paying customers might make them see sense next time.
posted by reklaw at 2:11 PM on August 2, 2004

Aaorn, I couldn't tell from a cursory read of your profile and blog whether you're a Windows or Mac user, but it is my understanding that only the Windows version of CS has this activation "feature." So if you're rocking X, buy away.
posted by britain at 7:54 PM on August 2, 2004