I'll never have to worry about activation, plus can buy it for 4
dollars hacked and complete.
----------------------------------------
Ok, I'm going to throw in my two cents here:
I do only basic image editing, so Paint Shop Pro 8 is just fine for
me. I bought a legit copy of it at Costco. Elements 2.0 came with
my 10D, so I'm covered there, BUT... companies like Adobe and
Microsoft need to take their heads (and wallets) out of the clouds
for just a minute and THINK about their policies.
Example: If you do buy Photoshop, or Frontpage, or pretty much any
piece of software from either of these companies (others, too), and
read that agreement you have to agree to before installation (which
almost no one reads), then you'll see something interesting: You
are "required" by them to purchase a completely separate copy of
that software for EACH computer you own. So, let's say the typical
"Joe Smith" family is home. He has a laptop, and the kids have
their school computer. He buys Photoshop (or Frontpage, Office,
Picture it, or whatever from these major companies). He is
expected by their law, to buy TWO copies of each program. I'm in
the U.S., but this applies to pretty much any typical country and
middle-income family. WHO can afford 2 or more copies of the same
software for each computer in their home?
This is the biggest reason people buy/swap/download "hacked"
software. Much the same reason teens download so much free
music... CDs have been around forever, but still cost $16-$20 each.
If Adobe, Microsoft, etc, want this practice to slow down to a
crawl, then they need to do two things: 1) Lower the price of
the software, and 2) Adopt the policy that ONE copy can be
installed on all computers that are at the SAME residential address
(not per computer) with existing policies staying in effect for
actual businesses (we're talking about home users here).
Sure, it costs a lot to develop software. But so much you expect
people to pay $1200+ for two copies for their laptop and desktop?
It's great if someone CAN afford to do that, but 99% of the
families and even a chunk of working professionals I know can't
afford that. What do they do? Avoid the product altogether.
Which is better? Selling one copy folks can use on all their
computers in their home, or, not selling even that one, because you
expect them to buy several copies? They will not buy - they will
seek free alternatives. The major label loses, not them.
Heads out of the clouds, big wigs. Head out of the clouds.
