Adobe CS5 ships in mid-May, and I can’t wait.
This new release comes packed with a ton of awesome new features, such as content-aware fill, painting, better edge detection and time-saving shortcuts.
But this post isn’t about all of CS5′s awesome features, it’s about why you should actually buy it this time around.
The Situation
In a few weeks, just about anyone will be able to find a torrent, download link or burned copy of CS5. It seems to me that Adobe unofficially condones this, similar to record labels unofficially allowing “leaked” videos on YouTube.
It seems to me that Adobe unofficially condones piracy
Let’s face it: readily available pirated copies of the Creative Suite allow Adobe to retain what is basically a monopoly on this software. Amateur users, who would never actually purchase the software, find illegal copies and not only learn the Creative Suite, but more importantly don’t learn something from a competitor. Adobe then depends on professional users such as design agencies and larger freelancers to actually buy the software.
Of course Adobe would never admit to being OK with it, but I think they’d remove their “verify by phone” licensing option if they really wanted to crack down on piracy.
Now don’t get the wrong picture here: I’m comfortable with ‘morally gray’ and definitely not some Boy Scout. I’m not going to talk your ear off about the ethics of stealing or the poor Adobe devs who need to feed their families.
But there really are a wide variety of reasons to go legit with your software.
1. No Bugs
Any version of CS5 that you download is most likely going to be a cracked version of the pre-release. In other words a ‘late beta’, which will only be 95% there in terms of functionality. All the core stuff will work but there will be little annoyances and bugs throughout the software.
The funny thing is that if you’ve always used these versions you may not even have noticed.
2. Updates
You can’t afford having an inferior version of the Creative Suite
The sad truth is that the Creative Suite still isn’t going to be perfect when it launches. And with the amount of time you spend using the Creative Suite, can you really afford to have an inferior version of the software?
There will always be minor bugfixes, which is why Adobe Updater runs so damn often. But don’t worry, you don’t have to run it every time 
.
On a side note, I’d like to point out that 7/10 of the top Google results for adobe updater are about disabling the updater, or why someone hates it 
.
3. Stop whining about Adobe’s release schedule
I used to be one of the biggest whiners when it comes to Adobe’s crazy release schedule, and I haven’t exactly changed my mind.
It sucks that every 18-24 months Adobe comes out with another version of the Creative Suite that you have to cough up another five hundred bucks for. Couldn’t they package more in each release or offer some enhancements as free upgrades?
But the truth is that Adobe doesn’t need to include anything extra in any of their releases, because each one has been justifiably a complete new version:
- CS2 was released in April 2005 and saw the introduction of Bridge as well as the addition of a number of filters. Additionally, Smart Objects were introduced, which allowed for much better integration between Illustrator and Photoshop.
- CS3 was released in March 2007 and packaged Macromedia’s suite of products in with the rest of the Creative Suite. Furthermore, Adobe made integration improvements between Flash and Illustrator, and added Actionscript 3.0 to Flash. Additionally, smart filters were introduced to Photoshop, which extend the smart object model started in CS2 with vector-based filters.
- CS4 was released in October 2008. It came with a variety of image editing advancements, most notably content-aware scaling, as well as ‘on-image’ controls to adjust Curves, Hue/Saturation, etc. Additionally, efforts were made to improve integration as well as the workspace UI of the various apps. Finally, performance gains were made in Bridge (which has always run like crap).
- CS5 is scheduled for release on April 12, 2010. CS5′s content-aware fill and improved selections are amazing improvements that will save designers a ton of time, and there are a variety of other advancements, such as painting and integration between Illustrator and Dreamweaver.
So I think it’s true that Adobe uses a hectic release schedule in order to suck more money out of the design community. But each of these releases is a “full release” so it’s well worth it, and I say more power to them. After all, would you rather get new releases every 1½ years or every 3?
4. Be a Big Boy (or Girl) Already
Another reason you need to buy CS5 is that it’s time to grow up already.
You’re only as professional as the tools you use
Let’s face it: you’re only as professional as the tools you use. So if you’re a professional web designer / developer who uses the Creative Suite software, it’s about time you go legit.
Adobe doesn’t have a lot to gain coming after individuals for piracy, except maybe to send a message. However, an agency, or even a freelancer with enough to lose could definitely be a target.
I’m no lawyer, but it makes legal sense that Adobe could sue you for any money you made using their software illegally.
So if you use something professionally, you had better get the license already.
5. Not a Big Boy? At least act like one.
OK I understand that not everyone is making money using Adobe’s software. But there are plenty of reasons for non-professionals to buy CS5, and if you’re a student Adobe has a special license for you.
Students & teachers can get any of the Creative Suite packages for under $450 (besides the Master Suite). Or get Photoshop alone for under $200 (Extended Version).
Sure $450 isn’t anything to sneeze at, but it’s a steal considering all the great software you’re getting. So start saving up today.
- CS5 Design Premium Student Edition [Mac]
- CS5 Design Premium Student Edition [Windows]
- Photoshop CS5 Student Edition [Mac]
- Photoshop CS5 Student Edition [Windows]
Or if you really want to go nuts, get the Student/Teacher Edition of the Master Suite for under $910. (Normally you’d pay over $2500)
Not a student and still not making money? Maybe you should just use Gimp .
I’d like to mention that Adobe didn’t pay me to write this article (although if they’re listening, a free copy of the CS5 Master Suite never hurt anyone ).
Jon Raasch is a UX nerd and free-lance web designer / developer who loves jQuery, Javascript & CSS.
I would love to buy it, That would mean I had some income and not worried about the chance of me not living indoors month to month.(I am soo thankful for my family supporting me through these trying times) I have put in enough years waking up to go do some hard job 12 hours a day that I hate and wished everyday I would just not wake up.(like being a laborer for a roofer on a cedar shake tear off on a steep pitch on rotted out homes in Detroit and your foot keeps falling though the rotten shacks roof) I love programming and web design and the first thing I will do when I start taking home a paycheck will be pay for a cs license. If you think that is so bad, try walking a while in my shoes and see how you feel after, or since your so high and mighty give me a job.
Five reasons to steal and not buy CS5
1. Its easy.
2. Its free.
3. Its is 100% functional and not cracked or beta, a simple HOSTS file edit prevents the software phoning home.
4. It downloads and updates perfectly.
5. Why not, its easy, free, 100% functional and updates perfectly.
+1 for Shadeyman.
6. Please don t feel sad or whatever for “steeling” a company like Adobe, Nestlé, Macdonald, Apple, Microsoft, Google, Shell,… They still the world not you.
Actually -1 for Gagarine – if you had bothered to read more than the title of this post, you’d see that I don’t care about the ethics of stealing.
Id put my money on you the blogger getting CS5 for free or some type of perk for this blog or maybe you just work for Adobe
Want a solution to pirating? Make it affordable and while your at it.. Lets make it open source so that others can make CS5 and other versions even better…. Nahhhh they wouldn’t do that it! It might not pay for there Rolls Royces and multi-million dollar home purchases =P
-EnD Corporatism-
“You’re only as professional as the tools you use”.
What do you mean with this? Sounds kind of sad. not agree in this one dude.
Hey Jon, you may not be “getting paid by Adobe” to write this post, but if anyone buys CS5 through those affiliate links youve published here you can be sure youll be getting paid by Amazon.
Good reasons to purchase a legal copy of adobe creative suite 5, I ordered one. I feel comfirtable about advertising graphic designing services.
Wow, heated discusson here. I am not a techie but I am a student and I know that affording those programs can be tricky, especially if you are already saving money for buying a MAC (still to expensive but that’s only me).
@Shadeyman loved your comment about the hosts file phoning home
But CS5 seems great though. I honestly must say that I support piracy here, especially for private use.
Great article.
I agree; grow up.
@TheLawyer You can continue to fight with selfish arguments about ending Corporatism and ending the Free Market, blah, blah, blah… or you can be wise and adapt to the world around you.
Positive change is made by pulling, like gravity, not pushing toward the goal.
Yep. You have your reasons. However, some people are not so keen to buy it. Sometimes, like in this case, it is a good thing to pay in order to get more
that is a strange idea for an article … why would you care what people use? I am not using any adobe stuff so to me it does not matter at all …. ok i use flash player in the browser
cheers
1. Food, Rent or CS5. I can’t seem to earn enough to afford all three. 2500 USD isn’t much, but developing 3-4 projects montly earns me 300-500 USD. Blame the global economy.
No, I’m not moving to the US, thanks, I like it here. No, people don’t die of smallpox here and yes we have water, electricity and the internet.
2. I’d rather be fasting to support the guys at Powerflasher, who actually listen to their community. Flash Builder is an example of how to pretend you have no clientbase, and how copying features from your competition is a dishonorable (yet smart) thing to do. There’s just so much missing functionality you can blame on it being based off Ecclipse.
3. Adobe can survive perfectly well without my support. I on the other hand find hunger lasting more than 2 days to be highly distracting, especially since I get cold when I’m hungry.
4. In fact, every website, interactive quiz, online game or business application* that is done using Flash and not Silverlight, Java or any competing technology is a score for Adobe.
5. Let’s face it, piracy is the reason adobe is the market leader. Wages young people can hope to earn around here are 2 to 3.5 dollars per hour. That affords them a 490$ CS suite after 178 working hours, or give or take a month of constant work.
Now do you really believe that an individual who has worked for a month, (assuming he lives in a cave and grazes on grass for nourishment) will be willing to spend that money on software he’ll mess around with, create a funny animation or game?
Portals like newgrounds traded theoretical money that Adobe would never see for real content that in turn meant more player installations. In addition the people who used Flash for fun will eventually stop working as freelancers and join more or less reputable interactive agencies, and bring their habits and knowledge of tools with them. And companies are subject to greater scrutiny from governmental anti-piracy agencies than anonymous flash developers working from their basement.
*(the term “business” application gets a new meaning if your client agrees to pay 200 USD – after haggling – for two weeks of work of coding the thing)
Piracy of games is a different case, because every pirated copy means one potential sale less. Movies, games and to a smaller extent music are all discardable after being enjoyed. Tools like Flash are not. Once a person has downloaded a movie, he won’t generally buy it on DVD. Same with games. But with Flash, the more you use it the higher the chances you’ll eventually buy it.
And last of all, I think Adobe understands all this and realizes that, perhaps accidentally, perhaps unintentionally, but they DO owe their success to piracy and they do know that the more people steal their software, the more Flash Developers and Designers there are in the world, and that’s nothing but good news.
In the end everybody wins.
Who has used CS5 I am using CS4 and see no need to update.
Another tip for students looking to buy the suite, if you’re in the market for a computer too, look for bundled deals. When I was in college I bought an iMac and because of a deal Apple had running + buying a student copy + Apple’s student discount, I was able to get CS4 Design Premium (Photoshop, Illustrator, Flash, Bridge, InDesign, Dreamweaver, Fireworks + a few other little tools) for $300. Amazing deal!
Also for students – if you’re still in school, you don’t need to buy the latest version either. CS3 or CS4 will suffice.
1. No Bugs
I pirated CS5 Master Creative Suite and have been using it for a total of probably 20 hours and have come across no bugs whatsoever.
2. Updates
Updates work fine for me. I update every week without a single problem.
3. Stop whining about Adobe’s release schedule
I’m not whining. I probably visit the pirate bay around 3 times a month so this really isn’t a problem for me.
4. Be a Big Boy (or Girl) Already
This point is ridiculous. I’m not paying 500 bux to get software when I can get for free just so I can think of myself as a “big boy”. I’m 14 and don’t have a job as I’m in full time education.
5. Not a Big Boy? At least act like one.
Nice referral links. You’re really getting desperate now. Just drop it. For me, paying for software is literally just like throwing money out of the window. I can get it for free with no problems whatsoever.
Maybe you’re just downloading from the wrong places.
Hey mate,
I love your articles but I think this one’s way off the mark.
I also think developers should pay for software, but only so that they can appreciate what their eventual customers feel like.
In truth, very few people even know how much Photoshop costs because very few people have ever paid for Photoshop…
when i have a job that i need adobe i’ll pay for it
until then i take it
its crazy how much they charge
Anybody who is proud to pirate the software is an ass. Is $2500 really that much? The entire master collection includes over 14 million lines of code. You’re paying for software that open source developers are unable to come close recreating. Gimp is good, but everything else is not even comparable, especially when it comes to After Effects (oh wait, you children don’t even know how to use this one do you?). If you were a general contractor, you’d have several thousand dollars in equipment, tools etc.
Spend $4000 on a workstation, $2500 on CS5 and make good work so you can get paid.
If you’re a non-commercial user, take a class at a community college, buy the student edition with your new I.D., and you’ll still save money (plus a free class on how to use the shit!).
Otherwise, shut the fuck up and struggle with Gimp, Inkscape, etc.
who has a link to a site where you can get if for free? anyone? ha i just spent a few grand getting a mac i cant afford to spend a few hundred more dollars to get a program i’m going to use when i’m bored and i’m considered a novice i’m sure for my skill level it wouldn’t be worth paying for it… if i ever get good at it maybe i’ll reconsider paying for it and if i ever get a job using it i’ll defiantly pay for it. and for the link i want cs5 i’ve got an old version on my old PC.
I want to punch the author of this article in the mouth.
This is just an easy way to make money off affiliate links. Of course any big studio is going to buy CS5, by definition they are a BIG STUDIO who can afford the ridiculous cost of this software.
My argument would be this, what if canvases and brushes costs 5 months rent during the renaissance, do you think any of the greats would have been able to develop their art, would they have risked homelessness to do so? I think not.
Photoshop is one of the most used pieces of software of our generation, if you can afford it, fine. But for the army of 14-30 year old remix generation photoshopers out there, this just isn’t feasible.
You should know as well as anyone as a freelance designer that it is almost impossible to buy this unless you are a university student, shame on you Jon, for shame.
errr… this article will do nothing to stop the pirating. Most people who pirate are high school students and college students. And even with the 480$ price tag, come on….. even an $100 price tag is crazy for us. Having to spend money on books, my laptop, cell phone, and other stuff already well adds up to the point were i can’t afford 500$ worth of software. Of course i do not want to pirate it but in some cases i will if i have to. Plus if your a novice and have never tried the adobe bundle before, your not going to chuck 500 bucks just to try it and the trial is only 30days ( way…. not long enough for you to learn the software). and for that idiot Tongus like i said…. OF COURSE WE CAN”T AFFORD IT YET!!!!! its not like as soon as you go to college you get $5000 to buy the stuff… What do you think money comes from trees or you just automatically get jobs!?!?! Yes i will buy the software when i have the money but can’t do that until i get a good lump sum of money.
why the hell would you even get a mac
Adobe works just fine on a PC. Plus, if it’s drawing you’re into, there are far better programs for that that only work on windows.
Even if I was a billionaire I wouldn’t buy CS5 or any other program that I can download off a torrent site for that matter,
Well maybe if I was a billionaire because there is that small chance that I would get caught and be made an example of in which case I have lots more to lose than the average person. Okay, so I will never pay for CS5 except under the 1 condition of my being a billionaire. Which unfortunately isn’t the case.
BTW I think you’re cool and all but I bet you use a pirated suite and are writing this for whatever other reason. I mean come on, why anyone would pay that much for something they can easily get for free? It’s just incomprehensible to me.
am not about to pay more for a proggy than i did for my computer, Adbobe needs to wake up, if they dont want it pirated so bad, make it affordable..what insight…sell millions for $150 bucks instead of a few thousand..at..oh wait they might actually have to provide support to all those people..never mind.
Although i use Open Source products i would still agree that purchasing CS5 is important. Dreamweaver support for Open Source Theming is improving.
Hey guys and gals,
Stealing is wrong period I agree with Jon 100% I am a full time and father of 3 and I am no boy scout,, I have a ‘borrowed ” copy of CS5 and rest assured I will purchase a copy when I can afford it, so stop with the negative responses already, this blog and his tutorials are top notch and is he charging you for it ? are you learning from him ? if you are then shut up and learn from this post. Yea of course companies like Adobe are not going to suffer from their software being pirated, but as a wiser man than I once said, ‘If you are not part of the solution, then you are part of the problem..’
I for one do not want to be part of the problem, but part of a better solution
just had to chime in on this, some of the comments here are a reflection of pure ignorance , I will pray that you will be saved from yourselves …
Thanks for the awesome stuff you do Jon, I just found this site and love the parallax tutorial !!!1 following on twitter too and love your Twitter page lol , you are in my opinion one of the movers and shakers of the web, keep on rocking dude !!!1
-Cheers !!!
Do what I did, I found a wholesale/retail outlet locally that sells OLD software for dirt cheap. A few years back I bought CS2 Web Premium (or equiv.) sealed and in the box for a $100.00 I then went home and bought the upgrade to CS3 and have been paying upgrade prices since.
I have upgraded to CS5 (Master Suite now because I also do video production) and the new, improved tools were worth the original out lay of cash (even when I went through a long dry spell).
Love this article and all the comments
“You’re only as professional as the tools you use” I completely disagree with this statement.
Putz é fogo más a realidade muitas das vezes não é como deveria ser programadores tem trabalhado muito e não ganhando o quanto merece, e se vc é um afortunado de estar trabalhando numa grande agência beleza, más se não o lance é se virar com o que tem e o que se tem é master collection a cada clique, deixe de ser otário e egoísta e rotular quem está tentando chegar lá, quem sabe se ao invés de defendermos uma empresa milionária, unir forças com quem está no mesmo barco que vc, enquanto você faz um discurso politicamente correto a adobe nem sabe que você existe…
Why would a $900 ‘master suite’ include everything but photoshop CS5? Because they want to force us to buy two things. I was totally willing to put down my hard earned cash until that point.
It’s $2500 for someone who isn’t a student, that’s why you don’t pay for it. For $500 I would be in but $2500 is crazy for someone who isn’t working with it professionally.
I actually bought Web Premium CS3. The cost to upgrade it to CS 4 was so stupendous that I decided to skip it. Now here is CS 5.5 and the cost to upgrade is over $1,000 plus tax. That’s a good enough reason to steal it since Adobe has decided to squeeze everyone with its monopoly in this market. How they were able to buy Fireworks and the other alternatives is beyond ridiculous and a total disgrace.
Adobe’s predatory pricing have guaranteed that I will never upgrade the software I have. My software works well enough and it’s relatively powerful enough. The insane copy protection which has failed requires me to beg, scream and plead with Adobe each time I upgrade my system and hard drive. There is no reliable “uninstall” which would allow you to save your installs. Basically they decide arbitrarily whether to accept your explanation.
For all of these reasons, there is no earthly reason why anyone should even consider buying Adobe software. It’s sad that it has come to this.
hello. I am a moslem and its important for me not to steal any thing and not to displeased any one. I am not professional in Photoshop and I want to use this software but the price is high and I cannot afford it. in your opinion what should I do? why Photoshop does not prevent their products to be used freely and make it easy to crack it? is there any one who answer me?
Get off it man
No one who isn’t a pro freelancer is seriously going to spend $450 MINIMUM on a license
when it is freely available online. If people are making bucks from it fair enough but if you are learning you need the opportunity to evaluate in your own time
Why would adobe turn a blind eye if this was not the case?
This is ridiculous.
Oky I know that stealing a digital software is a lot more like stealing a box of software from a store shelves. But who cares when I can download it for free from a remote places on earth without the worry of getting caught?