Now that I’ve got your attention… 🙂

If you’re reading this, you may fall into one of two categories: 1) You are using someone else’s illegal “copy” of PS, and cannot legally upgrade, or 2) You are brand new to the program, ready to “take the plunge”, and start learning how it works. Either way, the $650+ price tag is holding you back.

You can get a full and legal copy of CS3 for 1/2 to 2/3 of the cost, and here’s how:

Buy an unregistered full copy of Photoshop 7 or later, register it, then buy the CS3 upgrade…

So, where do you buy an unregistered copy of Photoshop 7 or later? Shop on E Bay or a similar auction site.

My wife and I have shopped successfully on E Bay for years, and have yet to get bamboozled (Love that word!) by following a few guidelines (more on this later).

Typically, if you are diligent, you can find an unregistered copy of Photoshop 7 or Photoshop CS for $100 – $250. Then, after registering, you can upgrade to CS3 directly from Adobe or any number of outlets, such as Amazon, etc.

And don’t get discouraged if nothing is immediately available on E Bay – – It is an auction, and very dynamic – – check back every few days.

By the way, there are also some E Bay retailers who have “pre-packaged” this combo for you – – You can find an example of these listings Here and Here. I know quite a few folks who have gone this route and been very satisfied.

And here are the recommended guidelines when shopping on E Bay:

1) Assure that the words “unregistered” are in the description.

2) Check the seller’s feedback rating – it needs to be about 99% or higher.

3) I would NOT buy an “academic” version – – I’m not a student or teacher in a formal school setting, so it’s cheating – – Call me silly, but that’s just me: I respect intellectual property.

4) If you live in the US, I’d be reluctant to buy outside of the US.

That’s it! How about you? Found a way to get the program legally and cheap? Got any good stories to tell, good OR bad? Let’s hear them!

Cheers,

John 🙂