Looking for Adobe advice

[minimumwager]

One way I've saved money in the past is by buying older (unused) versions of Adobe programs on ebay instead of buying the latest version.  I'm planning to buy a new computer sometime this year which means upgrading to Windows 7

Comments

[my_fair_kadie]

Windows 7 has a nifty feature where you can run older programs as if it were 98/2000/ME/XP/3.0/whatever. I am running a super old program (for Win 98) and having no issues in compatibility mode. I dont think you'll have any problems.

[mercat]

Oh my gosh, how do you do this?! I have some ooooooold games I would love to bust out. :D

[my_fair_kadie]

Install as normal. Afterwards you can right click and either choose "Troubleshoot compatibility" and go through the wizard, or just choose the version of Windows you want to run it as. I have tried the wizard and sometimes it works, sometimes not. It always work when I choose the version myself, according to the system requirements on the box. Also, click "run as administrator." ;)

[mercat]

Awesomesauce, thanks!

[cumaeansibyl]

[corrinec]

If you are in college (I think alumnis can get discounts too), adobe sometimes gives huge discounts to college students. In the range 50-80% off.

[minimumwager]

Alas no, but it is a good deal for students.

[corrinec]

Could you pay a student to buy it for you, realistically how many students really need to buy it?

[minimumwager]

This is one of those things where I'm blocked by my sense of ethics. If it was a case of desperation, I might take a step like that...but since I have other non deceptive ways of getting what I need, my ethical code won't allow it.

And yes, I realize it's not a major evil, but I have a lot of respect for Adobe....so it's a respect issue for me.

[anonymissity]

Sorry, I misread your post. :P
irrelevant comment is irrelevant.

[orochiyamazaki]

I have Photoshop 7 and Illustrator 10 running on Win7 64-bit, without having to mess with any compatibility settings - the installers set everything up just fine, and I was using both right after resetting the system. After Effects 5.0 wouldn't install, but the 5.5 installer and application worked fine. I kept 'em for a few proprietary plug-ins that just won't run on newer versions.

Sometimes you can get a great deal on a newer package. On Cragslist I was able to recently buy Adobe CS3 "Design" Standard, all still sealed in original packaging, for less (just under $200, shipped) than I sometimes see individual copies of older programs. Maybe it was a fluke deal, but it's worth keeping an eye out for.

[minimumwager]

That's good to know. If the other two will work, Illustrator is the only one I'll need to buy.