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Photoshop Fails At Counterfeit Prevention
JediDan writes "Wired reports that the 'Anti-counterfeiting provisions in the latest version of Adobe Systems' flagship product have proven little more than a speed bump, but company representatives insist that including them was the right thing to do.' Kevin Connor, Adobe's director of product management for professional digital imaging said, 'As a market leader and a good corporate citizen, this just seems like the right thing to do.' Maybe if they didn't spend R&D time and money on useless features, their products would be more affordable."
See, the thing is that Adobe isn't trying to sell to you, an "amatuer photographer." You probably aren't ever going to be able/willing to spend the money that Adobe needs to get back out of its "professional" products. But on the other hand, as a professional designer, I can tell you, I'm not sweating my $169 upgrade to CS (yah, that's right, professionals don't spend $500 on Photoshop, because we've had it for years and just pay the upgrade price. Initial investment high, but $169 is fair for an upgrade).
I couldn't do my job without PhotoShop (or an equivalent). It's worth every penny. But as an amatuer photographer, what do you think you'd actually pay. $400? doubt it. $200? Still have my doubts. How about $100? How about $49? I have a feeling that the last two are what you have in mind. Sorry, PhotoShop didn't get designed on a budget that allows them to sell it for $49 a copy. If you are an amatuer, use amatuer products. I am sure there is a cheap graphics program for $49. It'll also give you $49 results. I'll keep my expensive photoshop.
And pirating is only bound ot happen by people without ethics. Just because you don't like the price of something doesn't give you the right to steal. Everyone (including large corporations) have the right to set their price. And everyone else (including poor amatuers) have their right to either buy or not buy. If it is too expensive, stop using it. If enough people do, then they'll either change the price or stop making it. Don't steal it. That's not one of the options. I have a copy at home, and the office I run has 15 copies. Yah, it takes a bite out of my budget when I'm ready to upgrade. Yah, I could buy one copy and hope I don't get audited (small company, chances are I wouldn't). But Adobe provides me an essential tool, I should be providing them one (money).
Ryan Stultz