I'm confused by the price of software.?

Question

Looking through magazines and official sites, I see prices in the hundreds for such things as CS2 Adobe illustrator or photoshop.

However looking in E-bay, or elsewhere, the prices vary from that down to a few quid.

Same with microsoft word/excel etc. Every computer I've ever had has always had these on it, yet prices for even older versions always seem very high.

so what's going on?

I think you'll find poor people understand money better than anyone!

What about older versions of software? I assume there is a big drop off in price after a few years?

Answer 1

The prices you see on ebay are, for the most part, for counterfeit software.

In addition, companies such as microsoft, adobe, etc will sometimes sell lighter versions of their product, or student versions that are priced differently. Lastly, there is something called "OEM" . When a large computer company such as dell makes a contract to buy, say A MILLION COPIES of office 2003, microsoft doesn't charge them half a billion dollars for it.

What happens is, people will buy these OEM disks, and sell them, even though, legally, they are meant to have gone with a computer system, as part of a "bundle"

Companies that make the computers absorb part of the cost, to get their computers sold.

Adobe Photoshop is for PROFESSIONAL graphics artists, I.e. people who do photo editing work to get paid for it.

Professional graphics artists tend to get paid pretty well.
Because their "tool" is 'virtual' people can't seem to understand why that product costs so much,

Whereas an auto mechanic might spend $5,000 or MORE on a complete set of tools (pneumatic wrenches, tire balancer, 4 point lift, etc..) but, becaust aht's a "tangible" product, it seems ok.


"hobbyists" don't need $700 photoshop. the GIMP is free, and works quite well.

Hobby level letter writers DON'T need microsoft office. Openoffice (also free) works quite well.

An author who sells a book might have a reason for microsoft office, as well as an office worker.


Want "Word", "Excel", "Powerpoint", "visio", "illustrator", "access" and "Photoshop" for free?

http://www.openoffice.org/

http://www.gimp.org/

Answer 2

It also varies on which 'official' supplier you use and what the perceived use is.

I always buy software as an OEM as I've built a computer or two. This means that I can get a genuine copy of Windows XP for about £50 for example

It's always worth trying to buy your software from a US supplier as well as there seems to be a $1 = £1 exchange rate used. You could possibly end up buying VAT-free as well, although HMRC are trying to plug this hole.

Ebay stuff could be genuine but may well be 'pirate' versions of the software and you could end up loading all sorts of 'extra' junk onto your machine even the odd virus or key-logger.

If you're a student or can get a teacher/tutor to sign a form then you can get student discounts on most Microsoft products.

Answer 3

From Indian perspective, impossible to assert. yet often, that's the value the seller can pay for putting it on your arms. Say, he makes a utility to your use which isn't lots worth/little call for interior the marketplace. So his costs (say 5000) might comprise the source code. yet, say, he makes a docs' Chamber administration utility, which will nicely be of advantageous call for interior the marketplace, his costs (5000) is way less probable to comprise the source code (if he provides the source code out in any respect). If he provides it out in any respect, he will charge might nicely be 10-20 circumstances of the quicker one. So, it relies upon on the perpective of the seller.

Answer 4

Don't be confused richy. What's happening is that you're seeing prices quoted for pirated copies of software. Piracy, in case you don't know, is the illegal copying and selling of copyrighted software/movies etc.

If something you know costs a lot of money is going for a ridiculously low price, you can bet your last dollar/pound that it's counterfeit/pirated.

Steer clear of it mate. You're the one that'll lost out when you try to register it and the serial number's already registered to someone else ... and you won't get support from the official distributors either.

Answer 5

Many of the E-Bay sellers are actually selling pirated copies of software. Genuine retail copies of Adobe Illustrator/photoshop really do go for hundreds of dollars.

Answer 6

dont you understand money you poor person

Answer 7

You should try tigerdirect.